South Wales Mental Health Advocacy in turn began life as the ‘Hospital Advocacy Service’ in 1995, providing independent inpatient mental health advocacy in Whitchurch Hospital in Cardiff. In 1998 it gained charitable status and became known as SWMHA.

Between 1995 and 2008 the charity expanded its operation to work in ten local authority areas: Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Caerphilly.

In 2003 SWMHA set up a community advocacy model in Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly. This model required the provision of advocacy to patients supported by secondary mental health services in the community. This included patients who were being supported by Community Mental Health Teams, Assertive Outreach Teams, Crisis Teams and Community Intervention Teams.

From November 2008, SWMHA provided the statutory IMHA service across three Health Boards areas in South Wales: ABMU Health Board, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board and Cwm Taf Health Board.

In 2011 the IMHA service in Wales was expanded as a result of Welsh Government legislation. SWMHA was successful in winning the ABMU tender for this service, as well as a new Community Advocacy service in that area. The organisation also negotiated delivery of the IMHA service in Cardiff & Vale and Cwm Taf, pending a competitive tendering process. In Cardiff and Vale, this also included a new Community Advocacy service.

In 2014 ASC successfully tendered for the South East Wales consortium IMCA contract and the Aneurin Bevan IMHA contract. This involved a process of welcoming Mental Health Matters advocates into the organisation in 2015 and, as a result, significantly increased our staff group and service delivery area. In 2018, ASC successfully retendered for the IMCA contract as part of a competitive tender process and is proud to continue to deliver this service from April 2019.

ASC retendered for the IMHA services in 2021-2022 and we were successful in retaining all existing IMHA contracts.