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community engagement
A safe and confidential advocacy service to improve holistic health and well-being of the Caribbean and African Community.
At CAHN, we provide independent advocacy and wellbeing services, alongside emotional support through our counselling team.
Our aim is to also increase our service user’s participation in the services they receive as well as getting their voices heard.
In addition, we focus on offering advocacy support to people of African and Caribbean heritage who feel they are not being heard and to ensure they are taken seriously and that their rights are fully respected.
We do not represent our own views at any point but amplify that of our relevant service users. We empower our clients to advocate for themselves wherever possible and signpost them to appropriate services when required and agreed upon with the client.
CAHN’s proactive model of specific heritage advocacy ensures that all treatment, care, and personal issues are addressed appropriately and sensitively. It is designed specifically to engage the service users who do not feel they have a voice or find it difficult to assert their needs and views. We ensure the voice of the Black community is represented at decision-making tables.
Case Study 1: Client was in an emotionally abusive relationship with partner. Client struggled with low self-esteem and depression. Client was empowered by CAHN advocacy and counselling services. Client now has a positive outlook in life and says, “… CAHN’s advocacy services offered me the support I needed, and I will recommend their services to others….. I am so grateful for the support and appreciate their professionalism”.
Case Study 2: Client’s child has been assessed and diagnosed with autism. Client struggled to understand the child’s condition. CAHN referred client to a partner organisation which is supporting the client in understanding the child’s condition. The child is currently undergoing a plan geared towards self-improvement and fulfilling their academic goals.
We are a non-profit organisation; we do not charge a fee for the services below:
Are you in an unsuitable housing and would like to discuss your options?
Our Advocacy team is here to give you advice and can even liaise with your local housing authority on your behalf.
We can provide supportive letters and telephone your local housing authority on your behalf.
CAHN’s Advocacy Officers can talk you through how to apply and even provide supporting information to help your case.
We provide advice on who to talk to, regarding the adaptations you are entitled to.
If you have already applied for adaptations, for example through a Disabled Facilities Grant and there is something you are not happy with our Advocacy Officers can liaise with your local council to try and change their decision too.
CAHN’s advocacy team can liaise with educational organisations.
Find out more about Education, Health, and Care plans for students at school: https://www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/extra-SEN-help
If you are not happy with a decision on your case, we can liaise with Social Services and the NHS on your behalf.
We can also help bridging gaps and rebuild the long-lost trust between service users from the African and Caribbean communities and statutory services.
We attend meetings with our service users for support either face-to-face, virtual or the method that is best in line with the client’s needs.
As part of our services, we offer support in various languages: French, English, Lingala, Swahili, Portuguese, Spanish etc.
We hold regular update meetings with our service users, so they understand the process at each stage.
Please click the button below for a direct referral:
Please provide as much information as possible. It will be stored in a safe place and used as the basis for providing support for the person referred.
