More information about Cambridge House Law Centre
What is a Law Centre?
Law Centres are staffed by solicitors and legal caseworkers with specialist knowledge in areas of law which are most relevant to local people. Their purpose is to provide legal advice and assistance to relatively disadvantaged members of society in areas often referred to collectively as ‘Social Welfare’ law.
Why is Cambridge House Law Centre Special?
Cambridge House Law Centre is an important component of the range of services Cambridge House offers. It is also a member of the Law Centres Federation, and has good working relationships with other local Law Centres in Southwark and Lambeth.
The Law Centre offers confidential advice, assistance and representation in Employment, Welfare Benefits, Community Care and Housing. In some ways the Law Centre is like private solicitors’ firms which carry out work in the same areas of practice. However, like other law centres it is a ‘not for profit’ organisations funded through charities, trusts, local government grants as well as by the Legal Services Commission. It has a wider role in seeking to influence policy development at a local level. For example, the Law Centre’s Manager, Stuart Hearne, is involved in consultation with Southwark Council’s Social Inclusion project. Welfare Benefits Solicitor Grace Abu together with trainee Solicitor Richard Hand provide a valuable Welfare Rights outreach service in Dulwich and Peckham. Housing Solicitor Angus King is a member of the Law Society’s Housing Committee where he seeks to ensure that the Law Society is aware of the tenants’ perspective when proposed changes to the law are discussed.
The Law Centre is a not for profit organisation which is funded through specialist contracts with the Legal Services Commission, local government funding and through grants from organisations like Sure Start and the Equalities Commission. Unlike some other law centres, we can assist a limited number of people who live outside the borough who qualify for ‘Legal Aid’. This flexibility is valuable as not all London boroughs have Law Centres. However most of the Law Centre’s clients are local, and the main reason they decide to contact the Law Centre is because we are a friendly and approachable.
Beryl Peckham, Law Centre Receptionist and Administrator
People are sometimes reluctant to approach solicitors in private practice because their offices seem remote. They are also unsure of what kind of legal help they need. Where we are unable to assist directly, we can at least encourage people to approach specific local firms of solicitors which offer specialist services and legal aid where relevant. We also point people in the direction of the Citizens Advice Bureau and Council-run advice services. A lot of this work is carried out by the Law Centre’s long standing administrator and receptionist Beryl Peckham. Beryl has now worked at Cambridge House Law Centre for over 20 years.
London Legal Sponsored Walk 2011
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http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=CambridgeHouseLawCentre
On 16 May 2011 members of the Law Centre’s staff took part in the London Legal Sponsored Walk. Over 4,600 participants from all parts of the legal sector including the Law Courts, high street practices, the not for profit agencies and City firms walked through central London attempting to beat last years' figure of over £380,000. The London Legal Support Trust which organises the walk was set up to provide additional funding to Voluntary sector legal agencies in London and the Home counties that employ solicitors or retain the services of solicitors as volunteers to provide free legal advice to poor or disadvantaged members the public. Law Centre staff took heart from the event as the numbers of participants and the funds raised shows that there is some appreciation of the work we do and that the continued existence of the Law Centre and others like it is as important as ever.
Work carried out over the past year
Between 1st September 2008 and 31 August 2009 344 new cases were opened, including 144 housing cases, 67 employment cases, 119 welfare benefits cases and 14 community care cases. A further 129 people who approached the Law Centre were given one-off advice by one of the Law Centre’s solicitors or caseworkers. However, statistics like this do not tell the full story, and it is difficult to quantify the benefits that an organisation like the Law Centre brings to a local area. A lot of clients are experiencing financial difficulties, deteriorating and long term health conditions and insecurity over their housing before we assist them. Where a client has a complex range of intractable problems we are prepared to carry out a lot of work on their case over a range of time to get to the bottom of the issues. Without this kind of assistance people are at greater risk of long term indebtedness, homelessness and exacerbated mental health problems.
Focus on Welfare Rights
Welfare Benefits were introduced after the Second World War to assist people who have low incomes or who are unable to find work, or unable to work through ill health or because they are in unpaid work such as caring for family members. However, because Benefits laws and regulations are so complex people are often unaware that they are entitled the some form of benefits, or, if a negative decision has been made, that there are grounds to challenge it. The Law Centre’s housing solicitors often represent people facing eviction for rent arrears where a significant factor has been problems with obtaining Housing Benefit and other benefits.
For example, Mr W had significant rent arrears when he was taken to Court by the Council for rent arrears. He was confused by the relationship between his housing office and the Benefits Service as they are both Council departments, and he did not understand some of the jargon used by the benefits service. We were able to help him obtain backdated housing benefit payments of over £1,000. His housing office was willing to put the Court action on hold while he pays of the remaining arrears in manageable weekly sums.
Mr L’s mental health impairment was being made worse by his fear of being made homeless due to rent arrears and non-payment of Council Tax. He was receiving Incapacity Benefit but this meant part of his rent was not covered by Housing Benefit. The Law Centre’s Benefits Solicitors were able to help him obtain a Discretionary Housing Benefit to cover the shortfall in his rent and also successfully applied for Council tax exemptions. His ability to manage his affairs and as a result his health have both improved.
While the media often focuses on benefits claimants who are wrongly receiving benefits when they are not entitled to them, the fact there are people who are refused benefits despite being incapable of work receives less coverage. Such decisions cause extreme financial hardship to those on the receiving end. Mrs E had several operations on both her arms leaving her with a loss of sensation and inability to hold items. She was found fit for work, but after the Law Centre helped her with her Appeal and attended the Tribunal with her, she won her appeal and her Incapacity Benefit was backdated.
Unpaid carers who are often close family members provide vital support which would otherwise cost the State a lot of money. Mrs J’s young daughter was diagnosed with a severe learning disability and behavioural problems and she was struggling to provide all of the care that her daughter needed. With assistance the review of her claim was successful and she was given the highest rates of DLA to provide the 24 hour support needed.
Employment Adviser
Godline Pushparajan took over Wonta Ansah-Twum’s position as Employment adviser in September 2009. Godline previously worked for a telephone advice agency and she enjoys having a closer relationship with clients now she will be giving more face to face advice. She is also enthusiastic about seeing cases through to the final Tribunal Hearing, and to providing advocacy where appropriate. Together with colleagues at Southwark Law Centre, Godline also runs a weekly drop-in service for one off employment advice at Southwark Law Centre (Hanover Park House, 14-16 Hanover Park, Peckham London SE15 5HG) for people who would like legal advice about their rights at work or problems with their employer.
