Hi, my name is shushkin! Need an advocate

shushkin

Chris75_

Hello @shushkin, welcome along.

shushkin

Ive been ill since 2012 with fibromyalgia and both hips replaced. My neck and knees are also damaged. Yes, its a painful existence.I have been the target of local criminals over the last few years (stolen money, goods and damaged property) as well as stuck in a home infested with rats since 2015. All the stress along with covid has led to even more symptoms. Lack of sleep, tremors and shakes as well as poor cognitive function. It's hard to follow conversation or even speak to someone!I lost the support of my Partner of 20 years a few years ago and I've been in decline ever since.

I really need an Advocate service to give me a voice. The local council won't deal with the adjoining neighbours and all the that rats coming across. We conracted the council as soon as we were aware there was a rat issue and they were helpful back then. We did everything we were told. I fear catching something nasty from the rats. Pest Controllers have investigated and confirmed they are coming across from the adjoining property. No one wants to come in here!

Is it possible to obtain support? I don't have any family so isolated. Friends are far away. The suspicion is that my being disabled meant I became a target for local criminals. I'm trapped in four walls for various reasons. Including fear!

Any help gratefully received.

Mary_Scope

Hi @shushkin and a warm welcome to the community from me!

Thank you for telling us a little bit about your situation, it sounds like you're going through something really stressful

There is POhWER and VoiceAbility who can provide advocacy, have you come across those before?

Have the council said why they won't help with the rats this time? Do you have any support around you at the moment like a social worker or perhaps a housing support worker?

I'm also going to pop you over an email in a while so please keep an eye out for it.

shushkin

Thanks for the welcome. Thanks for the info Mary. Very useful. Social Services have been helpful but there is only so much they can do. They have their remit. I suppose the realisation that my cognitive abilities have declined so much has frightened me and here I am hoping to find some support. It's scary feeling so vulnerable.

Passerby

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1080816#Comment_1080816

I would suggest that you try to find the email addresses of your local MP and councillors and then write to them, explaining and describing your situation to them.

Once you've written to your local MP and councillors, write also to the appropriate office at your local council and CC your local MP and councillors in your email, this would activate your council.

My two cents.