Every day we make choices and decisions, however small, that affect us. Most people take it for granted that their views and wishes will be taken seriously by those who matter. However, there are people for whom this does not happen.

There may be a number of reasons - language or comprehension difficulties, social isolation, health problems, or being labelled as someone incapable of forming their own opinion, perhaps because they have a learning difficulty or dementia.

Oxfordshire Advocacy Development Group (OADG) responds to this need by providing trained and supported volunteer advocates who work with individuals so that they are able to say what they want and be heard by those concerned.

Gill Howe, a trustee of OADG said: "This can make a real difference to the individual's circumstances, through increasing their self-confidence, helping them to feel less invisible and to know that they too have rights and entitlements."

OADG runs three schemes. One is for people who need help with a short-term issue or crisis, one is for people with learning disabilities, and another for people with dementia.

In the latter two schemes, advocates will spend longer getting to know the person, so that they can find out their views and wishes.

An OADG advocate has recently enabled an elderly person to have her request for a transfer to a residential home nearer her family to be acted on.

Another helped someone who was distressed by an inaccuracy in her medical records to have that information corrected. While one advocate supported a mother with a learning disability to work with the children's services to enable her to continue to care for her child herself.

One perosn who used the service said: have made comments like "I felt less on the front line when facing the indifference of authority," and, "My advocate helped me with what I wanted to say at the meeting - and I said it!"

OADG volunteers attend a three-day training course, followed by a day's training. They are supported and supervised throughout. The initial training course leads to a recognised qualification accredited by the Open College Network.

Gill said: "Our volunteers come from all walks of life, starting at 18 and with no upper age limit. For some people, the training and qualification has proved a useful addition to their CV. Other volunteers come from businesses or public bodies that support their employees to become involved in voluntary work."

For more information, contact OADG (logo shown above) on 01865 741200, email oadg@oadg.org.uk or visit www.oadg.org.uk