Our advice service will be closed on Tuesday 2 February 2016 to carry out administration work. Our drop-in advice service will be open again from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday 9 February 2016.
The change from incapacity benefit to Employment Support Allowance has meant an increase in our caseload
Despite what people may have heard about the new welfare reforms being delayed by computer problems, the government has brought in most of the new restrictions plus a vicious sanctioning regime well in advance. The change from incapacity benefit to 'Employment Support Allowance' for many long-term sick and disabled and has meant an increase in …
We are working together with other organisations to tackle ‘system failure’
The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association (FNA) has joined with several other local advice agencies to continue to offer free advice to Westminster residents in the wake of a 100 percent cut in our grant for advice by Westminster City Council. One initiative is the ‘Reform Advice in Westminster Project’, funded from the Cabinet Office and administered …
Continue reading "We are working together with other organisations to tackle ‘system failure’"
The Bar Council’s guide to representing yourself in court
The Bar Council have produce a booklet A Guide to Representing Yourself in Court to help those who have to go to court without a lawyer, following the recent cuts to the legal aid budget. The 70 page guide is written in relatively plain English and is essential reading for anyone dealing with the law …
Continue reading "The Bar Council’s guide to representing yourself in court"
We will be closed for advice this Tuesday 5 February for staff training
Our advice and information service will be closed this Tuesday to enable staff to attend welfare rights training. Our women-only drop-in session on Wednesday will be open as usual from 11am to 1pm. Our Tuesday advice sessions will be open as normal from 10am to 1.30pm from Tuesday 12 February.
Why our housing advice service is so important
It's been a difficult couple of weeks and our advice service remains busy with enquiries about housing. In March we supported three tenants against a very large rent increase -- the landlord wanted to triple the rent for one of the tenants and double it for others. We were successful in arguing a case for …
Continue reading "Why our housing advice service is so important"
Free criminal legal advice drop-in clinic in Soho
Dalton Holmes Gray solicitors have written to us to say they are offering free criminal legal advice this year for anyone arrested for or charged with criminal (or extradition) offences or requires Prison Law advice. If you have been arrested of charged with an offence and need legal advice, you can get free legal advice …
Continue reading "Free criminal legal advice drop-in clinic in Soho"