The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance have released the 5th biennial map of advocacy.

The document is a breakdown of funding and provision across Scotland from research conducted by the SIAA: membership organisation that advocates for independent advocacy in Scotland.

This edition of the Map covers the period from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016.

Key points;
• The most striking finding is that advocacy organisations have reported an increase
of 11.5% in the numbers of people they have supported during the 2015/16 year
• Statutory funding has decreased by 4%
• Advocacy organisations supported 30,500 people
• There has been a reduction is the numbers of paid advocates
• There has been a reduction in the number of volunteer advocates
• Advocacy managers have been successful in securing some funding for short term
projects to work with specific groups
• Advocacy organisations are prioritising people who are in crisis meaning that they
are operating extensive waiting lists
• Some groups who should be able to access independent advocacy due to mental
health issues are still not able to do so, including children and young people

Full findings available below