The Age UK Essex Citizen Advocacy Service is delivered by trained volunteers under the supervision of professional advocates and provides the relevant support to help people:

- Say what they want
- Secure their rights
- Represent their interests
- Obtain relevant services

What do our Citizen Advocates do?
 
- Our advocates work in partnership with the people they support
- They listen and try to understand their point of view
- They find out what makes someone feel good and valued
- Help someone to identify and objectively review their options
- Empower the person to have control over their life by taking up issues on their behalf
 
Our Citizen Advocates will not:
 
- Make decisions for someone
- Befriend someone
- Offer care and support work
- Tell someone what they should do
- Speak for someone when they are able to express their own views
- Act in a way which benefits other people rather than the person they are advocating for