Often people take a friend or family member with them to important meetings, or there are organisations that can help provide someone. They can help you get your views or wishes across.

A person who speaks up on your behalf in this way is called an advocate. 

What can an advocate do?

An advocate can:

• listen to you
• help you to plan any action you may need or wish to take
• write letters and make telephone calls with you, or for you
• ensure your views are heard by attending meetings/reviews with you
• obtain information for you, or put you in touch with someone who can
• spend time with you preparing for meetings
• investigate alternative sources of support
• increase communication levels between yourself and others
• find out what your rights are
• liaise with relevant agencies.

Free centres

Local independent advocacy services are available to help you express your views and concerns. These centres usually offer free and confidential advice on a variety of issues including:

• legal
• money matters
• housing matters
• consumer
• employment
• welfare benefits.

Oxfordshire groups

Oxfordshire Chinese Community and Advice Centre
Tel: 01865 204188

Oxfordshire Carers' Forum
Tel: 01235 520440

Oxfordshire Advocacy Development Group
Tel: 01865 741200

The Relatives and Residents Association advice line
Tel: 020 7359 3136

The Oxfordshire Council of Disabled People
Tel: 01865 792226

All Age Advocacy Dementia Project (ADAPT)
Tel: 01865 742745

Age UK, Oxfordshire
St Edmunds House
39 West Street
Abingdon
OX14 5BW

Tel: 01235 849400

The Direct Payments Information, Advice and Support Service
Tel: 01865 728994

Oxford City groups

Agnes Smith Advice Centre
96 Blackbird Leys Road
Oxford
OX4 5HS

Tel: 01865 770206 (available for residents of Blackbird Leys)

Barton Advice Centre
Underhill Circus
Oxford
OX3 9LS

Tel: 01865 744152 (available for the residents of Barton and Headington)

Rosehill and Donnington Advice Centre
The Cabin
The Oval
Rose Hill
Oxford
OX4 4SF

Tel: 01865 438634 (available for the residents of Rose Hill, Iffley, Littlemore, New Hinksey, Cowley and Donnington)

Age UK Oxfordshire, City and County
Tel: 01235 849400

South Oxfordshire groups

Berinsfield Information Centre
39 Fane Drive
Berinsfield

Tel: 01865 340313

The Abingdon Bridge
Young People aged 13-25 information and support.
Tel: 01235 522375

West Oxfordshire groups

Age UK, Chipping Norton
Tel: 01608 643458

Independent Advice Centre Wantage 
16 Market Place
Wantage
Oxon
OX12 8AE

Tel: 01235 765348

National groups

Age UK
Advice and information.
Tel: 0800 169 6565

Citizens Advice Oxfordshire
The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice.

Asylum welcome 
Independent charity provides free, confidential information, help and guidance for refugees, asylum seekers and immigration detainees in Oxford and Oxfordshire. Open to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (10am – 3pm).
Tel: 01865 722082

Alzheimer's Society
The Alzheimer's Society provides advice and support to people with dementia and their carers. 
Tel: 020 7306 0606

Association of Retired and Persons over 50
A social organisation for people aged 50 and up.

Contact the Elderly
Seeks to reduce isolation for older people who live alone, by providing social occasions such as monthly tea parties. 
Freephone: 0800 716543

Community advocates

• Chinese: 01865 456619 or 456622
• Indian and Pakistani women: 01865 456622
• Bangladeshi women: 01865 456623
• Travellers: 01869 325796
• Caribbean: 01865 456618

Legal advice

The Community Legal Service Fund helps people who cannot afford legal services as long as they meet certain conditions. The scheme, which replaced Legal Aid, is run by the Legal Services Commission. A solicitor or adviser will tell you if you qualify for help.

Many organisations, such as Citizens Advice Bureaux and law centres, offer a free service. It is possible that you may have to pay for some charges, such as photocopying, to cover the organisation's costs.

Solicitors

Some organisations, including solicitors, offer a set period (often 30 minutes) of initial free advice. For example, the Accident Line scheme offers a free initial interview with a solicitor for those who have suffered a personal injury because of an accident. For more details of Accident Line you can call their free telephone helpline on 0500 192939.