BATIAS working to empower people with disabilities to have their voices heard.
BATIAS has been providing independent advocacy support for people with learning disabilities in
South Essex for the past 20 years. The BATIAS service works to empower people with disabilities to make informed choices, to speak out, to have their voices heard and their wishes and choices recognised. BATIAS also support people with physical and sensory
impairments and mental health difficulties.
Why the community needs usBATIAS provides advocacy support in 4 different ways:
Formal:
A professional Advocate supports a client with a
specific issue or concern.
Citizen:
A trained volunteer supports a client with social
activities enabling them to have far greater access
to the local community.
Self:
Groups of clients get together on a regular basis
to provide each other with support.
Café4U:
Is a social enterprise café which
offers training and work opportunities to our clients whilst serving a range of fresh food.
Our impact on the communityBATIAS Case Study:having lived at home all her life with her parents, Mary came along to a BATIAS self advocacy group after both of her parents had passed away.
She was nervous about going out on her own but the group supported her and gave her confidence and social skills to try new activities and form new friendships. A volunteer Citizen Advocate was found
and they would meet every week.
Gradually Mary started going to other activities
which included a club where she met the man of her
dreams.
We are always looking for volunteers to fulfil a variety of roles including becoming a Citizen Advocate to work one to one with a person with a learning disability, to offer them support and encourage them in taking part in activities in their local community. Or being a Fundraising Volunteer to help BATIAS through sponsored activities or other fundraising events. If you are interested in volunteering or would just like to know a bit more please contact us at the Grays office on 01375 389869.
