A Practical Introduction to the Human Rights Act 1998 in Advocacy Work
We are excited to be re-running our bespoke 3 part advocacy open course starting this November, 2026. The course will support statutory and independent advocates to use the Human Rights Act in their advocacy work.
Applications for this open course are open until Wednesday 23rd September 2026.
Why is human rights training relevant for advocates?
With Advocacy Awareness Week taking place on 23rd – 27th November 2026, it is an important time for independent and statutory advocates to equip themselves with tools that they can use to empower and embolden the people they support. The Human Rights Act 1998 gives us all human rights that matter to our everyday lives, but they are particularly important to those in vulnerable situations, who rely on public services every day, and may struggle to have their voices heard.
The Human Rights Act isn’t just a nice idea, it is a legal framework that public authorities must follow, and a practical tool that advocates can use to make sure the rights of the people they support are upheld every day. By learning the legal language of human rights and the frameworks that support it, advocates can better hold public authorities to account and help ensure that every voice is heard.
An advocate equipped with human rights legal knowledge can make a life-changing difference by helping the people they support to enjoy their human rights.
BIHR is a leading provider of human rights capacity-building support in the UK. We have decades of experience training advocacy and community organisations across the UK to feel confident in their understanding of the Human Rights Act and to increase their ability to uphold the rights of those they support.
At the end of the course, participants will:
• Understand the Human Rights Act, the legal duties it places on public officials, and how it is relevant to advocacy work.
• Be able to identify and talk about key human rights in your advocacy work, ensuring that those you support are having their rights upheld when accessing public services.
• Be able to utilise new practical frameworks in your advocacy work to push for rights-respecting decision-making for those you support.
This open course has been accredited by the CPD Certification Service.
Course Costs
Micro (Annual Turnover under £100k) - £240 (£80 per workshop, per person)
Small (Annual turnover from £100K to £500K) - £300 (£100 per workshop, per person)
Medium (Annual turnover £500K to £1m) - £400 (£133.30 per workshop, per person)
Large (Annual turnover above £1m) - £500 (£166.66 per workshop, per person)
Discounts:
10% off for block bookings (book 5 spaces and any additional spaces will get a 10% discount, up to 10 spaces per organisation.)
5% off for returning BIHR clients (since 2023).
*No VAT is payable on our fees. As a registered charity, BIHR is an eligible body under the VAT Act 1994, Schedule 9, Group 6 and our provision of education and training is therefore exempt from VAT.
Tuesday 3rd November 2026
10am – 12.30pm
Tuesday 17th November 2026
10am – 12.30pm
Tuesday 1st December 2026
10am – 12.30pm
Who is this course for?
This course is aimed at statutory and independent advocates. This is for advocacy organisations to empower their staff with the best possible knowledge to empower their clients. We would love to hear from all kinds of advocacy organisations, there is no criteria for what kind of advocacy you do! The more diverse, the better. The only requirements are:
You work in statutory or independent advocacy.
You work for a certified organisation.
You can commit to all three sessions of the course.
Why BIHR?
At BIHR, we empower people to use their human rights. Our extensive work with advocates has shown a clear demand for expert, practical training tailored to their needs. With a proven track record of successful collaboration with advocacy organisations, we have designed and delivered numerous expert human rights training programs with highly positive outcomes.
The HRA's primary function is to hold the state accountable for its public service delivery, much like an advocate's role. As an advocate proficient in using the HRA, you can have a profoundly positive impact on those you support.
Having won the 2023 National Advocacy Award for Best Support of Advocates, we are confident that our programme will enable transformative change and support everyday justice.
How to apply
Step 1: We encourage organisations to send us a booking enquiry via our online form. To complete this form, you’ll need to be someone within your organisation who has the authority to book a training course and/or to have support from a relevant senior leader.
Step 2: BIHR will then get in touch with you by email to check suitability and confirm details.
Step 3: To proceed with your booking, we will then ask you to register online via Ticket Tailor and, when registering, either make payment by card or request an invoice. (Registration and payment will need to be completed no less than 4 weeks before the first workshop).
We are taking bookings until 4pm on Wednesday 23rd September 2026. There is a limited number of spaces on the course, and bookings are made on a first-come, first-served basis. If we reach the maximum number of participants we may close bookings early.
If this open course isn't quite right for your organisation, you can explore alternative human rights training & support offers for public bodies below.