Advocacy Service Review 2026 - Consultations

Have your say on Advocacy services in Bolton

Advocacy is a statutory duty of Councils under the Care Act 2014.  Bolton Council are presently undertaking a review of the current advocacy structure and would welcome your comments on your experience of advocacy for you, a family member, or the organisation you represent.  

The council operates an all age advocacy service, which brings together a comprehensive service supporting both children and adults.  The services provides a single pathway and referral route into advocacy, making the navigation of services easier for both professionals and service users.  

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is when someone speaks up for a person, acts on their behalf or helps them to express their needs 
and wants. Someone would need a social care advocate if they would struggle to make decisions or explain 
what their needs and wishes are around the way their health and social care is provided. Under the 2014 Care 
Act, the Mental Health Act 2005 and the Health Social Care Act 2012, local councils must provide an advocate 
if someone has no-one who can advocate for them, such as a relative or good friend. 

Who can access Advocacy?
Both children and adults can access Advocacy. The Advocacy Service helps children who need support to 
speak for themselves, or need someone to speak for them so that their rights are respected, their views heard 
and their needs met. The service also provides support for Adults who need help because of a learning 
disability, mental health issue, physical, sensory or autistic spectrum condition, or the effects of ageing. 
Advocacy is also available to the carers, parents and guardians of those receiving social care. 

Bolton Council now invite service users, families and carers, voluntary groups, health and social care providers, care homes and staff to make comments.

Survey

If you require a paper copy of the survey or would like support to complete the survey, please contact the consultation team on 01204 334875, leaving your name, address and telephone number and the name of the consultation you are interested in, ‘Advocacy Review’. 

You can also submit your comments by email to: Consultations@bolton.gov.uk or in writing using our freepost address (you do not need a stamp): Freepost RTTT-YTEL-YSXS, Consultation & Research Team, 2nd Floor, Town Hall, Victoria Square, Bolton, BL1 1RU.