SIAA members Central Advocacy Partners (CAP) have launched a victim support project that provides independent advocacy to victims and witnesses of crime who live within Falkirk district and who identify as having learning disabilities and/or autism.
CAP was formed in April 2011 by the merging of Advocacy into Action and Quality Action Group. They aim to use their twenty years of experience providing positive forward thinking support to people with learning disabilities across the Forth Valley and apply their skills knowledge, experience and passion to support all vulnerable groups across Forth Valley.
Their victim support project is funded through Scottish Governments Victim Centred Approach Fund. It provides independent 1:1 relationship-based advocacy to victims and witnesses of crime 16+ who live within Falkirk district and who identify as having learning disabilities and/or autism. Referrals to the project can be self-referral, friend/family or a service/organisation on behalf of the victim or witness.
Some important elements of the advocacy that CAP offer to victims and witnesses:
- The opportunity to have support from someone who can stand alongside them throughout the journey through criminal justice processes including court and beyond.
- To be a voice for the victim – avoiding them having to retell their story to multiple services.
- Support to make sure that victim/witnesses with learning disabilities and autism experiences, needs and wishes are taken into consideration and are at the heart of any decisions that are made. Promoting a trauma informed and victim centred approach.
CAP also have projects that work with young people with autism, a general advocacy project and a survivors project for women with learning disabilities and/or autism who have experienced domestic abuse. For further info or to refer to any of the projects please email info@cap.scot or call us on 01324 633321.
