We’re currently working with the Westbridge mental health resettlement service in North Tyneside and as part of a co-production project we’ve met with residents who have experience of mental health inpatient units, private hospitals and prison across North Tyneside and Newcastle.

October is ADHD Awareness Month, so I'm going to do something that makes me slightly uncomfortable and talk about my own brain.

Being heard is only the beginning: why lived experience needs to shape what happens next

Your Voice Counts has been awarded a new contract by Gateshead Council to continue delivering statutory advocacy services in Gateshead, alongside an expanded offer that includes general advocacy, a self-advocacy grants scheme and new opportunities for co-production.

Two of our dedicated advocates, Julia and Andy, quickly began working with the residents affected by the closure.

Gem O’Connor is one of our Senior Advocates, leading the Newcastle team of advocates who deliver statutory advocacy services to people who need support to be involved in decisions about their lives.

We know many people refuse the support of an advocate simply because they are overwhelmed by the number of professionals in their lives. However, we also know that sometimes people just need us to approach them in a different way.

Emma has been working with us as an Advocacy Support Volunteer for the past six months, supporting people living with dementia to have their voices heard and ensuring they are listened to with dignity and respect.

At Your Voice Counts, we provide tailored support to help people with learning disabilities and autistic people take positive steps to improve their health and wellbeing. This support ranges from raising awareness of healthy lifestyle choices and organising wellbeing activities to offering one-to-one support that helps people access the health services they need.

We are proud to celebrate #CoProductionWeek but at Your Voice Counts co-production happens every week of the year.