An Introduction to C.A. Coalition and the National Coalition of Citizen Schemes The National Coalition of Citizen Advocacy Schemes was founded in 2001. Its aim being to promote and protect informal volunteer citizen advocacy. However, from its earliest days, it has taken on two main roles. One has been to promote informal advocacy within an Advocacy Plus context. The second has been to protect locally based Advocacy groups. The latter has led to our regional groups having a much wider constituency than just those groups involved in informal volunteer citizen advocacy. Indeed, many of our members have never been involved in the latter, but do subscribe to an holistic approach to advocacy. Our national Assemblies in 2007 and 2008 recognised this reality and endorsed a policy of working in partnership with the Advocacy Resource Exchange (ARX) in helping locally based Advocacy groups to meet the challenges that they face. The national Assembly on 14^th October 2009 approved a change in name to National Coalition of Advocacy Schemes. A new Vision and Criteria for Membership and Working Constitution were also approved. The regional representatives form the national Executive Committee of the National Coalition of Advocacy Schemes (NCAS). Joe Monaghan is the elected Chief Officer, and C.A. Coalition facilitates the NCAS. Joe is also Company Secretary of C.A. Coalition.
	The National Coalition of Advocacy Schemes is the national voice for Advocacy groups that are connected to and directed by the communities in which they work. Why Coalition?
	It is a national body with seven regional structures:
	Eastern London Midlands North East North West South East South West Vision Statement
	It promotes the specific importance of the role of informal volunteer citizen advocacy both in facilitating access and in building greater social inclusion
	Its members provide other supports in addition to citizen advocacy and the Coalition promotes an Advocacy Plus approach to the provision of advocacy and related services Criteria for membership
	It has a uniquely democratic structure, with strong networks at local and regional levels Structure
	It provides a conduit for the mutual exchange of information between member groups and other voluntary, community and statutory agencies
	Its publications the 'State of Citizen Advocacy' report (2007) and ‘Citizens and Advocacy’ (2009) define the role that informal citizen advocacy plays in the broader rights continuum
0151 733 6705 enquiries@cacoalition.org.uk