Protecting human rights-based independent advocacy models amid funding threats

Read about the recent proposed funding threats for collective advocacy provision across Edinburgh.

A new Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) position paper documents substantial challenges in independent advocacy provision, highlighting particular concerns in funding and commissioning collective and citizen advocacy models. The position paper titled “Lang May Yer Voice Sound: Sustaining Collective and Citizen Advocacy Models” was published in mid-May in response to independent advocacy organisations sharing news of the proposed defunding of collective advocacy in Edinburgh, by the Integrated Joint Board. Additionally, Angus Independent Advocacy announced that their Citizen Advocacy Project ended on 28th March 2025 due to a lack of funding.

Independent advocacy is about speaking up for, and standing alongside individuals or groups, and not being influenced by the views of others. Fundamentally it is about everyone having the right to a voice: addressing barriers and imbalances of power, and ensuring that an individual’s human rights are recognised, respected, and secured.

Despite the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 establishing a clear right of access to independent advocacy for all people with a ‘mental disorder’ – including those not subject to compulsory measures – the reality falls far short of the legal promise. Health and Social Care Partnerships are interpreting independent advocacy rights increasingly narrowly, with only 5% of those legally entitled to independent advocacy actually able to access these vital services in Scotland. It is important to note that the right under the 2003 Act applies to a number of groups defined by the Act under the outdated term ‘mental disorder’. The right to independent advocacy therefore includes, people with a mental illness, people with a learning disability, autistic people and people with dementia.

Key statistical indicators related to the groups with a right of access, underscore the mounting pressure:

• Guardianships have doubled in the past decade
• Compulsory mental health detentions increased in 2023-24
• Reported mental health conditions rose from 4.4% in 2011 to 11.3% in 2022

These statistics aren’t just numbers – they represent real people facing increasingly complex barriers to realising their human rights. In fact, seventy-one percent of SIAA member organisations reported unmet advocacy needs, indicating a widening gap between need and available resources. Independent advocacy organisations are reporting not just more referrals, but advocacy partners experiencing more complex barriers to having their rights realised which demands significantly more time with advocacy partners to respond to effectively. Many independent advocacy organisations, for the first time in their histories, have begun operating waiting lists, a clear indication of the mounting pressure.

There are several models of independent advocacy, two of which, citizen and collective advocacy, are under particular threats from funding cuts or reductions. 

• Collective Advocacy: Creates spaces for people to explore shared issues and amplify their voices
• Citizen Advocacy: Involves unpaid citizens developing long-term, supportive relationships with community members who need additional support

Public services are increasingly facing challenges in upholding people’s rights, such as rights to health, housing or a decent standard of living. In this context, it is essential to support models of independent advocacy, such as citizen advocacy and collective advocacy, which enable communities to develop long-term solutions to their rights-related issues. These models of independent advocacy empower those most directly affected by public service design and decision-making.

In fact, economic analysis from the Social Finance ‘Independent Advocacy for Independent Lives’ report provides a compelling argument for sustained advocacy funding. Research indicates that for every £1 invested in advocacy services, approximately:

• £7 is saved by the National Health Service
• £5 is saved by local authorities

SIAA members are clear about their independence, the quality and accessibility of their work and can support local authorities and health boards to identify areas of independent advocacy need. High quality independent advocacy provision is essential for ensuring the voices of the people in Scotland are heard, and their rights are upheld.

SIAA is calling for proposed funding cuts to collective and citizen advocacy to be halted and immediate action on:

• Strategic Planning: Health and Social Care Partnerships must develop and maintain up-to-date strategic advocacy plans, in line with their duties under the 2003 Act.
• Quality Evaluation: Use existing toolkits, like the SIAA Outcomes Framework, to better understand and commission independent advocacy services.
• Prevention-Focused Funding: Reframe independent advocacy funding as a strategic investment in community well-being, prevention and embedding a human rights-based approach.

With international human rights conventions like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), national law like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, as well as local policy emphasising participation and voice as a critical part of a human rights-based approach. These proposed cuts to independent advocacy represent more than a budget issue – they’re a fundamental challenge to human rights.

As Scotland grapples with increasing challenges in providing public services, the message is clear: independent advocacy isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

For more information or to get in touch directly with the Scottish Independent Advocacy Association (SIAA), visit their website.

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