Connected Voice Advocacy Wins 'Outstanding Service' Award
We are delighted that Connected Voice Advocacy has just won the Outstanding Service award again at the 2022 National Advocacy Awards! Thank you to those who nominated us: Gateshead Council for our safeguarding work to protect people from harm and abuse and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner for our Hate Crime Advocacy.
Winning this award again is such an honour. We are proud to have received the awards from our industry peers in recognition of our hard work and impact through advocacy. We would like to thank our staff, volunteers, commissioners and funders who have all helped to make this possible.
Organised by Kate Mercer Training and sponsored by Irwin Mitchell, the National Advocacy Awards recognise and celebrate people and organisations who go the extra mile. Over 50 nominations were submitted to the 2022 awards.
Connected Voice Advocacy was shortlisted for three awards this year before winning overall for Outstanding Service (safeguarding):
- Outstanding Service (safeguarding):
The judges were impressed with how Connected Voice has promoted safeguarding throughout its service, particularly demonstrating the impact they are having.
Highlights from the nomination that stood out to the judges included:
- Receiving 100% on their quality audit from the council
- Through the pandemic safeguarding became a priority and welfare calls were made to people drawing on advocacy
- Being pro-active (checking Care Homes and hospitals were not making blanket decisions and maintaining a person centred approach)
- Having regular contact with the safeguarding team
- Being a member of the Safeguarding Adults Board and feeding in life experiences from people who have been through safeguarding processes
CVA Advocates are tenacious and do not shy away from tackling challenges. They have stood up to the Information Commissioners Office and taken case to the Court of Protection to uphold people’s rights
Commissioner
I am delighted that your outstanding service has been nationally recognised. A recent Safeguarding Adults Board quality assurance event identified the strength of our partnership working and your well-deserved award helps to demonstrate the result of this work.
Carole Paz-Uceira, Gateshead Safeguarding Adults Board
- Outstanding Service (Hate Crime Advocacy Service)
The judges said:
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria funds an impressive advocacy scheme ran by Connected Voice, Their collaborative work with other voluntary sector organisations was particularly strong. The project, which focuses on anti-discrimination has gone from strength to strength, evolving to meet the needs of victims, society and changing policies. They don’t just hold people’s hands through the Criminal Justice System, but they give people who need it a voice whilst offering the practical support that’s needed from housing to health support. They also provide insight so as a commissioner I can better understand people, patterns and needs. Then there is the bigger picture. The tireless campaigning they do to reduce victim re-housing and to address racism and homophobia in social housing. They also push for changes in the system such as a single point of contact for victims, person centres approaches and respectful demographic recording.
Thank you for the brilliant work you do. This is so well deserved.
Kim McGuiness Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner
- Best Contribution to Equalities:
The judges said:
Support included dedicated advocacy for ethnically minoritised groups, people who identified as LGBTQIA+ as well as refugees and asylum seekers. The Hate Crime project also addressed experiences of discrimination. The organisation is also commended at providing wide range of training for staff on equalities related topics.
