Thank you to everyone who attended our AGM this year.  It was a good one!  It was great to hear colleagues, the trainers, members and volunteers speak out about their work.  It felt like a real community of people working together to make people’s lives better.  A living example of our Values.

Dawn Dixon, CEO

We’ve had an amazing year at Swindon Advocacy Movement (SAM), making a real difference in the lives of 614 individuals in our community!

From helping people maintain independence and access vital services to advocating for those facing complex challenges, our work continues to grow stronger.

Here’s what we’ve been up to this year:

• Supported 153 people under the Mental Health Act to understand their rights and advocate for themselves.
• Helped 144 individuals through our Community Advocacy programme, with 67% self-referring for support when they needed it most.
• Empowered 92 people through Project Boost, with 31 achieving qualifications and others gaining confidence and skills to live more independently.

Project Boost has been a cornerstone of our work this year, empowering 92 individuals with learning disabilities to gain new skills, confidence, and independence. Here’s what we’ve achieved together:

• 31 participants proudly earned AQA unit awards for their accomplishments.
• 70 individuals accessed community activities, sports, and courses through partnerships with other organisations.
• 22 people joined our Peer Community Support Group, building connections and supporting one another.

A special shout-out to our seven amazing volunteers, who contributed 331 hours of their time to run activities like cookery, reading, music, and sign language sessions.

In addition, 37 participants took part in the government’s Skills for Life Multiply programme, focusing on numeracy, and one of our members even became a Lead Co-trainer in delivering impactful sessions.

Project Boost is all about helping individuals reach their potential, and we’re so proud of everyone involved!

We’re also thrilled to have played a leading role in delivering the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, helping health and social care professionals deliver safe and compassionate care for autistic people and those with learning disabilities. This year, 12 of our amazing Project Boost members became Co-trainers, using their lived experience to make a real impact. Together, they’ve trained over 10,000 NHS staff across the Southwest—the highest number in the UK!

The training sessions have been a mix of face-to-face and virtual delivery, with one of our Co-trainers even stepping into a leadership role as a Lead Co-trainer. It’s been an incredible journey of empowerment, skill-building, and advocacy, showcasing what’s possible through

At SAM, we’re all about empowering voices, and our Speak Up! Group is at the heart of that mission. This new initiative brings together 15 individuals with lived experience who are passionate about making a difference in their community. Together, they’re speaking up about issues that matter, sharing their experiences, and supporting one another.

Six members have already taken on active roles in shaping SAM’s future. They’re helping us by providing feedback on easy-read documents, sitting on interview panels, and even attending committee meetings.

The group meets at our Community Hub, where they’re building confidence, learning new skills, and preparing to challenge, change, and inform not just SAM but services across Swindon Borough Council and beyond.

We’re excited to see the group grow and take on projects like the relaunch of the Learning Disabilities Partnership.

Thank you to everyone who supports us, from funders and volunteers to the incredible individuals we work with every day. Together, we’re building a community where every voice matters.

Read the full AGM report here.