Building Community Advocacy

Building Community Advocacy (BCA) provides free and confidential advocacy services to patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 who reside with forensic care settings across Birmingham. We are now also an awarded supplier to NHS North of England Commercial Collaborative (NOE CPC) for Advocacy Services across other parts of England.

Our Birmingham service provides

As advocates, we provide independent information and options that enable people to make their own decisions on issues that affect their lives. We provide 1:1 advocacy and group advocacy.

We are completely independent from the NHS and other services. 

Our advocates are fully trained Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHA’s). We are also trained as Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCA).

What does an advocate do?

Our advocates work specifically around health, wellbeing and care, for example, if you are accessing mental health support services or NHS health services. Advocates provide free, independent advice to help:

• You understand your rights
• Ensure your views and preferences are heard
• You to access services
• Challenge decisions
• Navigate health systems
• Ensure you can make informed choices and have control over your care and treatment 

Our experience

BCA has over 38 years’ experience of providing independent advocacy in hospital, home and community settings, working with groups, such as:

• Those who are D/deaf or hard of hearing
• Those of Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority ethnicity
• LGBTQ+
• Older adults – both with Organic and Functional illnesses
• Children and adolescents
• People with eating disorders
• Mother and Baby units

Download our BCA leaflets

You can download leaflets about the advocacy services we provide at Ardenleigh, Reaside and Tamarind forensic care settings below.

Further information

BCA is part of BID Services.

We are also an awarded supplier to NHS North of England Commercial Collaborative (NOE CPC) for Advocacy Services.