dumfries and galloway advocacy service

What dumfries and galloway advocacy service does

Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service (DG Advocacy) is a Scottish registered charity (SC036075) and voluntary organization, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Dumfries, that delivers independent adult advocacy services across the Dumfries and Galloway region. It is the only Independent Adult Advocacy Service in the region, operating under five Scottish statutes covering mental health, adults with incapacity, adult support and protection, self-directed support, and carers. The organization serves vulnerable adults including those with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, autism, dementia, unpaid carers, and individuals subject to guardianship or adult protection proceedings, providing instructed and non-instructed advocacy across case conferences, tribunals, and care reviews.

Service delivery is free to clients and human-led, with no proprietary technology platform; the organization uses standard office systems and electronic filing for case management. Its nine core service lines (Independent, Mental Health, Learning Disability, Autism, Carers, Adult Support and Protection, Self-Directed Support, Power of Attorney, and Welfare Guardianship advocacy) are supplemented by Easy Read accessibility resources and a trained volunteer Independent Advocate program. The technology footprint is minimal: no mobile app, no public API, no documented integrations, and no AI/ML capability.

The revenue model is grant- and commission-funded rather than commercial. D&G Health and Social Care commissions the core advocacy services as the primary funder, with supplementary income from Holywood Trust, Bank of Scotland Foundation, the Scottish Government's Carers Act Fund and Patient Rights Act Fund, and individual donations via PayPal. Customer acquisition is referral-driven, sourced through NHS, social work, and GP channels plus a self-service online referral form. Distribution is regional only, with no stated geographic expansion plans.

Name

dumfries and galloway advocacy service

Legal name

Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service

Website

https://dgadvocacy.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service is a Scottish charity delivering free, independent advocacy for vulnerable adults across the Dumfries and Galloway region. It serves individuals with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, autism, unpaid carers, and adults under guardianship or protection proceedings, commissioned primarily by D&G Health and Social Care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Care Advocacy Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Independent advocacy services
• Adult social care
• Mental health advocacy
• Learning disability support
• Carer advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Dumfries

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government/Public Sector Funding: The organization is commissioned by D&G Health and Social Care to deliver advocacy services free of charge to clients. Additional government funding comes from Carers Act Fund and Patient Rights Act Fund (Scottish Government).
2. Charitable Grants: Funding from charitable foundations including Holywood Trust and Bank of Scotland Foundation.
3. Donations: Accepts donations via PayPal for one-time or recurring contributions to support operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service provides free, confidential, independent advocacy for vulnerable adults and unpaid carers across the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland. Services span mental health, learning disability, autism, adult protection, self-directed support, power of attorney, welfare guardianship, and carer advocacy, delivered via commissioned public-sector funding and charitable grants.

Product overview

Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service is a single, unified nonprofit advocacy organization delivering independent advocacy services across Dumfries and Galloway since 1993. The service offers multiple interlinked advocacy specializations including Independent Advocacy, Mental Health Advocacy, Learning Disability Advocacy, Autism & Asperger Syndrome Advocacy, Advocacy for Carers, Adult Support and Protection, Self-Directed Support, Power of Attorney Support, and Welfare Guardianship. The organization also provides Easy Read resources and operates a Volunteer Independent Advocate program. All services are free, confidential, and person-centered, commissioned by D&G Health and Social Care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Independent Advocacy Core advocacy service providing individuals with the opportunity to be heard. Advocates are separate from other organisations and do not make decisions for clients, instead ensuring they have relevant information to make informed choices. For adults and carers across Dumfries and Galloway.
• Mental Health Advocacy Independent Advocacy for clients subject to the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, protecting the rights of those with mental disorder and speaking for those unable to speak for themselves. For adults experiencing mental health conditions in Dumfries and Galloway.
• Learning Disability Advocacy Advocacy services for people with learning disabilities, supporting those who can express their views and providing non-instructed advocacy for those who cannot express their wishes verbally. For adults with learning disabilities in Dumfries and Galloway.
• Autism & Asperger Syndrome Advocacy Advocacy support for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Asperger Syndrome, providing either instructed advocacy (person instructs advocate of wishes) or non-instructed advocacy (acting upon best interests of client). For adults with autism in Dumfries and Galloway.
• Advocacy for Carers Independent advocacy support for unpaid carers covering education, complaints, NHS/GP conversations, Self-Directed Support reviews, housing adjustments, and dementia care support. For unpaid family carers in Dumfries and Galloway.
• Adult Support and Protection Advocacy support for adults at risk under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, including attendance at Initial and Review Case Conferences. For vulnerable adults at risk of harm in Dumfries and Galloway.
• Self-Directed Support Advocacy services helping individuals understand their SDS rights, explore support options, make informed choices, and navigate the SDS process from beginning to end. For adults receiving or seeking social care support in Dumfries and Galloway.
• Power of Attorney Support Information and support regarding Power of Attorney arrangements, including guidance on appointing attorneys for financial and welfare matters. For adults in Dumfries and Galloway considering or managing Power of Attorney.
• Welfare Guardianship Advocacy support for individuals subject to welfare guardianship orders under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, including financial and welfare guardianship matters. For adults subject to guardianship in Dumfries and Galloway.
• Easy Read Resources Accessible information materials in easy read format, including booklets and posters to help clients understand advocacy services. For clients with learning disabilities or communication difficulties.
• Volunteer Independent Advocate Program Volunteer program recruiting Independent Advocates who provide support to clients after completing training covering advocacy, mental health, human rights, and safeguarding. For community members wanting to volunteer as advocates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 416 people in 2018 (April onwards), with 82 referrals in single month - highest ever
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SIAA (Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational membership organization for independent advocacy services in Scotland. DGAS adheres to SIAA Principles, Standards and Codes of Best Practice.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• VoiceAbility: UK-wide independent advocacy charity providing independent advocacy for adults with mental health needs, learning disabilities, autism and other vulnerabilities. Closely comparable in mission, statutory remit and target client cohorts to DG Advocacy, but operating at national scale rather than a single region.
• POhWER: One of the largest UK independent advocacy charities, delivering statutory advocacy (IMCA, Care Act advocacy, NHS complaints) across multiple regions. Directly comparable service mix to DG Advocacy including mental health, capacity and safeguarding work, but at substantially greater geographic and operational scale.
• Advocacy Focus: UK independent advocacy organization providing statutory and non-statutory advocacy for vulnerable adults including those with mental health needs, learning disabilities and older people. Closely aligned in service scope and target populations to DG Advocacy's independent adult advocacy remit.
• People First (Scotland): Scottish advocacy and self-advocacy organization led by and for people with learning disabilities. Directly comparable to DG Advocacy's learning disability advocacy and non-instructed advocacy services, with overlapping Scottish statutory footing.

Regional players

• Edinburgh Advocacy and Representation Service (EARS): Independent advocacy service covering Edinburgh with a remit parallel to DG Advocacy's D&G role: mental health, learning disability, capacity and protection advocacy under Scottish statute. Highly comparable in model but operating in a different Scottish region.

Others

• Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA): National membership body for independent advocacy services in Scotland, of which DG Advocacy is a member. Sets the Principles, Standards and Codes of Best Practice that DG Advocacy adheres to — an umbrella/enabling peer rather than a direct service competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: UK's largest learning disability charity, providing advocacy, advice and services at national scale. Overlaps with DG Advocacy's learning disability and capacity advocacy work but offers a much wider portfolio of services beyond advocacy.
• Mind (National Association for Mental Health): Major UK mental health charity delivering information, services and advocacy support. Comparable to DG Advocacy's Mental Health Advocacy service under the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, but operating as a broad national incumbent rather than a specialist advocacy provider.
• National Autistic Society: UK-wide autism charity providing advocacy, information and services for autistic adults. Comparable to DG Advocacy's Autism & Asperger Syndrome Advocacy service, but at national scale and with a much broader service portfolio.
• Carers Trust: UK-wide charity network supporting unpaid carers, overlapping with DG Advocacy's Advocacy for Carers service under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. Operates a broad portfolio of carer support services rather than specialist independent advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7ZQL5EJd5uah08ve6Szx5g/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/DGAdvocacy
• Instagraminstagram.com/dgadvocacy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about dumfries and galloway advocacy service