Henry Smith Charity: New data showing that funding good advocacy saves the Government Money
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Easy Read Introduction: Understanding Advocacy and Why It Matters
What is This About?
This blog is about advocacy. Advocacy means helping people speak up for themselves and making sure their voices are heard.
Some people find it hard to say what they need. This can be because of a learning disability or being autistic. Advocacy gives them support to make choices about their lives.
Why is Advocacy Important?
- It helps people understand their rights.
- It makes sure people get the right support for health, housing, or work.
- It gives people confidence to speak up.
- It helps people live more independently.
💡 Example: If a person has trouble getting the right care, an advocate can help them talk to doctors or social workers.
What is Non-Statutory Advocacy?
Some people get an advocate because the law says they must. This is called statutory advocacy.
But many people need help that is not covered by the law. This is called non-statutory advocacy. It gives support for things like:
✅ Finding a safe place to live
✅ Getting help at school or work
✅ Understanding important decisions
What Did the Henry Smith Charity Project Do?
Between 2022 and 2025, 15 organisations gave advocacy support to 1,667 people across the UK.
📢 The big results:
✔️ 58% of people reached their main goals
✔️ Every £1 spent on advocacy saved £12 for services
✔️ People felt listened to and more confident
What Needs to Change?
Even though advocacy is very helpful, it does not have enough funding. More money is needed to:
💰 Keep services running
💰 Help more people
💰 Make sure everyone gets a fair chance
👥 People can help by:
✔️ Telling the government to support advocacy
✔️ Talking about why advocacy is important
📅 Big Event:
There is a meeting at the Houses of Parliament on February 6th. This will help bring more support for advocacy.
Final Thought
Advocacy changes lives. It helps people get support, stay safe, and live independently.
🔎 Read the full blog below to learn more! ⬇️
The Transformative Impact of Non-Statutory Advocacy for People with Learning Disabilities and Autism
Introduction
In a groundbreaking initiative, Social Finance and the Henry Smith Charity have collaborated to provide independent, non-statutory advocacy for individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people. The programme, which ran from 2022 to 2025, has demonstrated how advocacy can improve lives, prevent crises, and generate economic benefits for society.
With around 1.5 million people with learning disabilities and 700,000 autistic individuals in the UK, there is a growing need for support that helps them make informed decisions and access the services they need. While statutory advocacy exists for specific legal scenarios, many require a different form of independent advocacy—one that provides long-term, flexible, and personalized support.
What is Non-Statutory Advocacy?
Unlike statutory advocacy, which is legally mandated in specific cases, non-statutory advocacy helps individuals across a wide range of issues, including:
- Health, education, and employment support
- Navigating housing challenges
- Understanding legal rights
- Building confidence and independence
- Developing social connections and self-advocacy skills
This form of advocacy ensures that people have a voice in crucial decisions and are not left struggling in a system that can often be complex and difficult to navigate.
Why Non-Statutory Advocacy Matters
💡 Key Findings from the Programme:
- 1,667 people were supported through advocacy services funded by the Henry Smith Charity.
- 58% achieved their primary advocacy goals, while an additional 35% made progress toward them.
- For every £1 invested in advocacy, £12 of financial benefits were generated—with £7 in savings for the NHS and £5 for local authorities.
- Advocacy reduced reliance on costly crisis services, such as hospital admissions and social care interventions.
- Self-advocacy and peer support groups helped individuals gain confidence and integrate more fully into society.
🔍 A Real Impact on Lives: One participant, William, had lived in isolation and struggled with self-confidence. After engaging in an advocacy programme, he learned to navigate public transport, made long-term friendships, and even co-authored a book. His journey is just one of many that highlight the empowering effects of advocacy.
The Economic and Social Benefits of Advocacy
The cost-benefit analysis from this programme showed that non-statutory advocacy is a cost-effective investment in social well-being:
💰 Financial Impact:
- £2,400 per person per year was the estimated cost of providing advocacy support.
- £28,200 per person per year was the estimated net benefit.
- A total of £11.5 million per year in savings was achieved through better service access and crisis prevention.
🏥 Healthcare and Social Care Benefits:
- Reductions in hospital admissions and emergency services use.
- Improved access to preventive health and social care services.
- Greater independence and improved quality of life.
A Call for Policy and Funding Support
Despite the undeniable benefits, non-statutory advocacy faces funding and policy challenges. Many organisations providing advocacy struggle with financial stability, relying on local authority contracts or charitable grants.
🚨 Recommendations for Action:
- Government Leadership – A dedicated policy team should be established to oversee independent advocacy for autistic individuals and people with learning disabilities.
- Sustainable Funding – A national advocacy fund of at least £10 million over five years should be introduced to expand advocacy services.
- Improved Integration – Advocacy services should be better integrated with health and employment support programmes.
- Stronger Sector Collaboration – Advocacy organisations should work together to create a unified voice for policy change.
📅 Join the Conversation: On February 6th, an event at the Houses of Parliament will bring together stakeholders to discuss the future of non-statutory advocacy. Now is the time to act!
Final Thoughts
Non-statutory advocacy is not just about helping individuals—it’s about creating a more inclusive, cost-effective, and sustainable system that prevents crises and empowers people to lead independent lives. Investing in advocacy is investing in a fairer future.
🔗 Learn more at: Social Finance Website