We are continuing our ‘Why I became an Advocate’ series today by talking to Clare Kidd, an Independent Advocate for our Calderdale Advocacy Service
This week is Advocacy Awareness Week, a special time to celebrate the power of advocacy in creating positive change, lifting up voices, and building stronger communities. Advocacy is all about speaking up for those who may not always be heard, standing together, and making a difference in ways both big and small.
How long have you been an Advocate?
I started as a volunteer with Calderdale Advocacy Service in 2019, prior to lockdown. At the beginning of 2021, I took on a temporary contract as an Engagement Worker with Cloverleaf. I then worked as an Advocate with Central Services and joined the Calderdale team in 2022. Before becoming an Advocate, I was a mental health social worker, and I had a career break after having my third child.
What does advocacy mean to you?
It means really listening to people and supporting them to have a strong voice and representation in their lives.
What first made you interested in becoming an Advocate?
My experience in social work and a desire to work with and support vulnerable people.
What do you find most rewarding about being an Advocate?
I love the variety — the range of people I support in different settings and for different reasons. Sometimes I work with people for a long time, supporting them to make the positive changes they want gradually; other times, I’m involved only briefly when a decision needs to be made and implemented quickly. It’s the variety I love, and working directly with people — supporting them to have a say in their lives.
