Organisation:

Ceartas is a Company Limited By Guarantee, recognised as a charity by HM Revenue and Customs, registered in Scotland with Companies House SC264199, and registered with OSCR SC025369.

Ceartas has a Board of volunteer Trustees, to provide top-down scrutiny and oversight. You can find out more about the Board here.

Ceartas also has a Service User Forum, comprised of volunteers who have used Ceartas’ service, and who provide an invaluable view from the perspective of people who have used the service and want to contribute to our service improvement. To find out more please get in touch.

Ceartas is a membership organisation: membership is open to anyone with an interest in our work who supports the values that we promote across East Dunbartonshire. You can download a copy of our membership application form here.

Ceartas staff team has a wide range of skills, and many years of experience to call upon. You can find out more about the staff team here.

Our Mission Statement:

“Ceartas provides an advocacy service for people in East Dunbartonshire irrespective of their cultural background, gender, beliefs or sexuality.

We are committed to providing a service based on the principles of equality, fairness and justice. We strive to ensure that the views and opinions of individuals are heard and respected, affecting in a positive way the lives of people using the service.

We have a responsibility to provide this service, ensuring the rights of individuals are always central, in compliance with national advocacy standards.”

Outcomes:

Our work will be driven by the achievement of the following agreed outcomes:

  1. To ensure more people are involved, in control and able to influence decisions affecting them.
  2. To provide independent accessible services which are responsive to the needs of the people and communities we serve.
  3. To enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of Ceartas services.

For more information about the history of Ceartas or what the name actually means, visit our Frequently Asked Questions.

  • Even a ten minute chat on the phone made me feel so much better.

    Service User
  • I was glad it was Monday this morning as I’ve got this group on Mondays. I like this wee group.

    Group Member
    A Bite and A Blether
  • Very interesting and good source of information and good company.

    Group Member
    De Café
  • I enjoy time with friends.

    Group Member
    De Café
  • Very understanding of my memory issues and love the related activities.

    Group Member
    De Café
  • For me, it was meeting other, new people that benefited me most.

    Group Member
    Walk 'n' Roll
  • Just a quick message of thanks to you guys.  You’ve made me feel welcome at a low time in my life.  The lowest I’ve ever faced.  I really appreciate it.

    Group Member
    Walk 'n' Roll
  • [Staff member] helped me so much when I lost my husband, she made me feel like I was needed again, which is exactly what I needed at the time.

    Volunteer
    A Bite and A Blether
  • It’s a safe group to come to and nobody judges you for anything.

    Group Member
    Art Project
  • The group is educational and I now see things in different ways.

    Group Member
    Art Project
  • Before I started [the group], I thought that I could never do this, but as weeks go on, I have found it getting much better

    Group Member
    Art Project
  • I look forward to writing every week.

    Group Member
    Art Project
  • I like coming here because I know people’s faces and don’t have to worry about saying the right thing.

    Group Member living with Dementia
    A Bite and A Blether
  • Good confidence builder!

    Group Member
    A Bite and A Blether
  • It was wonderful to you see again and be with friends, joining in at Bite and Blether. The loneliness was certainly put aside and replaced with love and laughter being amongst everyone.

    Group Member
    A Bite and A Blether
  • He looks forwards to his lunch club and I think his speech and mind benefit from it afterwards having been stimulated.

    Family
    A Bite and A Blether
  • I come here to be cheered up.

    Group Member
    A Bite and A Blether
  • I want to express my deepest gratitude for the wonderful experience and the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful cause.

    Volunteer
    A Bite and A Blether
  • I was out visiting a client yesterday, she comes to both Bishopbriggs & Kirkintilloch groups, she is really struggling but has nothing but praise for you all.

    Local Area Coordinator
  • Thank you so much for everything you do. You have no idea how much this means to us.

    Group Member
    A Bite and A Blether
  • [Staff] do a great job supporting us in many ways especially emotionally when we are having a bad day.

    Group Member
    A Bite and A Blether
  • It has been great for her, she has come on so much since starting to come along.

    Family
    A Bite and A Blether
  • Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done without you and Ceartas. I need to stop talking as I can feel my bottom lip quivering.

    Advocacy Partner
  • What a good job you've done focusing and empowering me so many thanks!

    Advocacy Partner
  • Everyone makes you feel welcome. Staff and volunteers make you feel welcome. They are great.

    Group Member
    A Bite and A Blether
  • I really enjoyed the group yesterday, it was really interesting with lots of good info.

    Group Member
    ABI Café
  • Thanks again, class was really good, lovely people.

    Group Member
    Art Project
  • I enjoy volunteering and its really good to get to know everyone.

    Volunteer
    De Café
  • De Café is essential for families and carers living with dementia alike, it makes both feel not so alone living with dementia.

    Group Member
    De Café
  • It’s a lovely wee group from the volunteers to the folks who attend.

    Group Member
    De Café
  • Thank you for all you do for me and my husband.

    Carer & Group Member
    De Café
  • I much look forward to the outing every month.

    Group Member
    De Café
  • What a team you all are. Thank you to Ceartas. I wish I’d known about you when I cared for my mum. On the way home, [my friend] said she was so happy and felt totally uplifted from her afternoon out.

    Carer & Group Member
    Ceartas Groups
  • Coming to this group has enhanced my 'OAP life' tremendously. I would be absolutely lost without the cheery camaraderie of this lovely group meeting.
    Group Member
    A Bite and A Blether
  • Thank you for your prompt and informative reply. It’s appreciated more than you will know.

    Advocacy Partner
  • Thanks so much, this is almost a miracle!

    Advocacy Partner
  • Absolutely thrilled with the service. I wish my family all stayed in East Dunbartonshire and could access it!

    Advocacy Partner
  • It’s a really tricky role you’ve had in this case but you’ve done so effectively.

    Social Worker
  • I am usually apprehensive about contacting organisations in fear of being passed pillar to post. I was delighted when I contacted Ceartas: although I didn’t need advocacy, you talked me through local services that I needed.

    Service User
  • There is always someone there at Ceartas for me, no matter who takes the call.

    Service User
  • When I call Ceartas everyone is always so kind and helpful. They are all a really good group of people.

    Service User
  • Thank you for your support at the last meeting. It’s great having somebody independent in my corner: not sure what I would have done or where I would be otherwise.

    Advocacy Partner
  • After waiting months, you got the ball rolling with a number of things and for that I thank you.

    Advocacy Partner
  • Thanks for discussing things and then sending us some information in the post. We have now started the Power of Attorney process.

    Service User
  • I can pick up the phone and advocacy support is always there, ready to listen and help me understand things better.

    Advocacy Partner
  • I didn't know that there was anything I could do about my situation, let alone that I had options. I feel so much better knowing that I can turn to Ceartas for information when I need it.

    Service User
  • I felt like I was facing a brick wall until I started receiving support and information from Ceartas. The outcome of that has led to a much better relationship with the rest of the family, and now we are all pulling in the same direction.

    Advocacy Partner
  • I was becoming frustrated and annoyed at not getting what I needed from services, but talking to my Advocacy Worker kept me grounded and stopped me from losing the rag with anyone.

    Advocacy Partner
  • It's really nice to know that someone is listening to me and taking me seriously. Other people seem to think that my problems are trivial and aren't worth bothering about, but that is not true. My Advocacy Worker helped me to make my point in such a way that I couldn't be ignored, and now things are starting to improve as a result.

    Advocacy Partner
  • I live quite a long distance away from my sister. When she needed to get some more support in place for her dementia, the information about local services and support that you were able to give me was invaluable. I can't thank you enough.

    Service User