Advocacy Shetland is an independent advocacy organization run by a combination of paid and voluntary staff. The service we offer is free and confidential. We maintain the independence of our service through the integrity and commitment of both board and staff to the principals of Independent Advocacy. The core principles can be summed up as follows:

• Enabling people to gain access to information, explore and understand their options, and make their views and wishes known
• Empowering those who need a stronger voice through enabling them to express their need and make their own decisions
• Safeguarding the rights of those who are vulnerable and discriminated against or whom services find difficult to serve
• Speaking on behalf of those who cannot speak up for themselves

We are here for the individual, focusing on them to ensure that all the services they are dealing with are listening to their views, needs, wishes, hopes and aspirations. We are here for the people in Shetland who find they are unable to speak up for themselves for what ever reason.