Advocacy Services

Our Advocacy service provides one-on-one support in 12+ community languages for people facing complex challenges. Languages spoken by our team include Arabic, Amharic, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Tigrigna, Turkish, Somali and more. We assist people with no recourse to public funds, those experiencing homelessness, dealing with mental health issues, living with disabilities, coping with bereavement, carers, refugees, asylum seekers, and more. Our service helps people access benefits and entitlements, secure specialist support, address housing issues, access healthcare services, and respond to safeguarding concerns in collaboration with social care services.

“So many places pushed me away but Manor Gardens helped me with my disability.”

We also offer early intervention and prevention in food bank settings across the borough, work in partnership with Islington Council’s Access Hub to ensure access to residents facing language barriers, and we provide crisis grants to help clients overcome urgent challenges, such as moving to safety from domestic abuse or purchasing essentials for those in poverty.

We focus on empowering our clients to self-advocate, develop their understanding of their rights and entitlements, navigate services, and build independence. Our service follows a trauma-informed practice, ensuring that support is empathetic and sensitive to the experiences of our clients. Many of our bilingual advocates have lived experience of the issues we address, such as navigating the asylum system, fleeing domestic violence, and surviving FGM, which enhances their ability to provide effective support.

During 2024 – 25 our Advocacy service supported 1,160 clients, the majority of whom were from black and minoritized backgrounds and all of whom relied on welfare benefits.

• 97% of our clients would recommend our service and
• 74% of clients noted an improved in at least one key area including mental wellbeing, housing and finances.

“You’ve given me so much help and you’ve never made me feel guilty or pressured.”

Clients shared deeply personal journeys. D.S., a woman facing a large debt and language barriers, was supported through advocacy, translation and a referral to debt support. With our help, her debt was erased, and she secured a hardship grant—transforming her situation from crisis to stability:

“I didn’t just get help with money. I got someone to stand beside me when I couldn’t even explain what I needed.”

For more information on our range of services, please contact our team.