Making a real difference The priority for receiving Advocacy support will be that an individual is in a situation or crisis in which their vulnerability is magnified, they are disempowered by virtue of their learning disability and possible lack of family and/or professional to challenge unfair practices or abuse. The majority of the work will be protection of vulnerable adults (POVA) Physical mental and emotional health and well being of the individual will be promoted by Making their voice heard Accessing Services Achieving Basic Rights Opportunity for legal recourse/complaints Developing skills in the individual to self –advocate Priority areas will be: •Working with those directly involved in formal adult protection proceedings •Advocacy for those experiencing changes in their living arrangements and/or in their Health and Social Services and where their voice needs to be expressed and heard •Treatment issues – capacity to give consent •Difficulties accessing services Ensuring Access to Independent Advocacy Support CASBA has an established track record providing issue based advocacy in these areas and clear evidence of need through a robust system of monitoring and evaluation. Currently only 50% of the level of demand for the learning disability population in South Birmingham can be met by CASBA due to limited funding. CASBA is the only Organisation in South Birmingham that specialises in providing advocacy for adults with learning disabilities – which means that vulnerable people are left without access to independent Advocacy support. £100K will fund an independent Advocate for 3 years. The Advocate will co-work with an experienced Crisis Advocacy Worker on CASBA Staff Team who is currently only able to respond to 50% of referrals.