A new right to advocacy services
Published on 12 February 2014 02:00 PM
Age Cymru is celebrating after a debate at the National Assembly yesterday paved the way for advocacy services to be more widely available.
On Tuesday, the National Assembly for Wales voted in favour of amendments to add duties to provide access to advocacy services to the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill, and remove potential powers to charge for these services.
Advocacy services are vital - they give people a voice and control; secure their rights and represent their interests.
These services should now be more widely available in Wales thanks to these amendments.
Age Cymru commends the Welsh Government and National Assembly for Wales on this move.
We have long campaigned for rights to independent advocacy services for older people in Wales.
Age Cymru called for advocacy duties to be included in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill and then for advocacy services to be provided free at the point of use, when the threat of charging emerged.
We are delighted with these developments, which secure in Welsh legislation the provision of advocacy services, free at the point of use.
This is great news for us and all the organisations who joined us in a united call for advocacy in the Bill last year.
Most importantly, it is great news for people in Wales who should benefit from improved access to advocacy services in future.