My background is in independent advocacy – helping people to have a voice.  I have over 15 years casework experience of representing a wide range of people: older people, people with learning disabilities, people with impairments, asylum seekers and refugees, mental health service users and looked after children.  It is my experience of supporting people such as these to have a voice and to exercise their rights in law which has compelled me to campaign, demonstrate and write in support of social justice and welfare issues to try to bring about greater equality, fairness, social justice and well-being for all.