Help for Veterans and Their Families

Help for Veterans and Their Families

Off By Ed Hanna

Veterans can face a complex mixture of health, housing, financial, family and social problems. Our specialist advocates support Veterans to access services to them to help to improve their quality of life, health and wellbeing.

seAp Advocacy works completely independently of all health and social care service provision. Our advocates strive to uphold the rights of vulnerable people and support them towards living more secure, independent and fulfilled lives. We enable people to understand their options, communicate their preferences and ensure they are heard. Advocates support their clients to negotiate their next steps, whilst addressing the barriers that are holding them back.

seAp currently provides our specialist Military Advocacy Service in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Plymouth, Berkshire, North Hampshire, Wiltshire and Essex.

We have supported veterans to gain in confidence and self-reliance, see improvements in their mental health, have their rights better understood by other services and make sure they get the benefits or financial support they are entitled to.

Our CEO, Marie Casey, says that “advocacy support complements all the great work done by military charities and we value working in partnership with those charities to provide tailored support to those veterans with the greatest need.”

In the words of one client: “My advocate has gone out of his way to understand my illness and difficulties and I am truly grateful for all the support he has given me. He has given me hope, courage and empowered me to find coping mechanisms and ways to challenge difficult situations.”

To contact your local Military Advocacy Service call 0330 440 9000 or email: info@seap.org.uk

About seAp Advocacy

seAp is an independent charity that specialises in the provision of advocacy and related services. High-quality independent advocacy services support people, especially those who are most vulnerable in society, to have their voice heard, access their rights and have more control over their lives.

seAp was founded in 2002 but its predecessors began delivering advocacy services in Hastings in 1994 as part of Hastings Voluntary Action. seAp is now one of the largest charities in East Sussex and provides advocacy services across the South of England from Essex to Kent and across to the Isles of Scilly.

Advocacy support is provided through well-trained and highly-motivated advocates who enable their clients to express themselves, ensuring that everyone who uses health and social care services can have their voice heard on issues that are important to them.

Staff are committed to the central advocacy principles of independence, confidentiality and empowerment.

Training is provided for advocates, volunteers and professionals who need to understand the role of advocacy in health and social care services.

seAp stands for the following values

  • Supporting people to express their views and wishes, especially those who are vulnerable, isolated or marginalised.
  • Empowering people to have their voice heard so that they can access their rights and take a central role in decisions that are made about their lives.
  • Advocating on behalf of our clients to ensure that their views influence the planning, delivery and development of services that affect their lives.
  • Promoting the value of advocacy by sharing our knowledge, experience and values with others and championing the involvement of service-users in the design and delivery of health and social care services.