About Appletree Advocates (CIC)
Appletree Advocates is a Community Interest Company (CIC) which enables, empowers and educates people with disabilities, additional and special educational needs and their families with the knowledge required to access support services they are entitled to. It was set up in response to the necessity of brigding the gap in knowledge of recipients of social care, education, welfare benefits as well as information around decision making and mental capacity according to current legislations whilst empowering others to advocate on their own behalf as well as those they care for.
This resulted from our experience of successfully advocating on behalf of children and young people with diagnoses of autism, severe learning disabilities and Neurofibromatosis (nf1) and 30 years experience working in the voluntary sector supporting other families who struggled to make sense of the staturory system, as well as working in partnership with statutory the sector co-producing support services. We run empowerment programmes including workshops and sessions enabling self advocacy skills. We believe in the power of having the relevant information at the appropriate time in order to exercise one’s rights.
We were set up in response to bridging the gap in knowledge of recipients of social care, education, and welfare benefits"
Founded by Shirley Barber whose experience also include participating in various forums involved in the design of services for children on the Autistic Spectrum, disabilities and their parents and carers on a voluntary basis, to a career progression into setting up a Carers advice and support service in East London where she was an advocate for 10 years followed by another 10 years as Director, leading in the delivery of services in partnership with other voluntary and statutory organisations.
Building a network of likeminded facilitators, our skills include training relating to social care, education and welfare benefits legislations whilst empowering others to advocate on behalf of those they care for.
"We are passionate advocates of disadvantaged people especially disabled children and children experiencing difficulties which could be remedied with the right support in place."
For more information -
Please contact: appletreeconsultancy7@gmail.com
