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Supreme Court decision on Human Rights duties for Courts & Local Authorities - DWP & “Bedroom Tax”
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
The Supreme Court clarified today that Courts & Local Authorities can set aside government regulations that are incompatible with human rights legislation. The case stemmed from challenges to the 2013 housing benefit changes widely labelled the 'bedroom tax'and was supported by human rights organisations Liberty, Child Poverty Action Group and Public Law Project (PLP), with international firm Herbert Smith Freehills. PLP director Jo Hickman said: 'This judgment re-affirms that people should be able to enforce their human rights under the European Convention on Human Rights in any court or tribunal, without having to bring separate legal proceedings - just as the Human Rights Act says they should be able to.
Housing Law - Findings on proposal to abolish s21 “No Fault Evictions” - by Frontline Network
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Frontline Network ran a seven-question survey, asking frontline workers for their views on repealing s21 of the Housing Act 1988 (No Fault Evictions). The findings confirmed that frontline workers strongly believe landlords should no longer be able to evict tenants at short notice, and without good reason. Key Findings: * 73% of frontline workers believed that Section 21 (Housing Act 1988) should be repealed, in contrast to 12% who didn’t (15% were unsure). * Most significantly, 84% of frontline workers stated they have supported individuals who have been made homeless as a result of receiving a Section 21 eviction notice. * A further 75% of frontline workers believe that Section 21 (Housing Act 1988) has either a negative or very negative impacted upon their ability to prevent homelessness. * Most frontline workers, 71%, believed that repealing Section 21 (Housing Act 1988) would have a positive or very positive impact on their ability to prevent homelessness in the future.
New funding for support with problem gambling recognising affected women - with GamCare
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
GamCare is a charity offering advice and support around problem gambling, offering a helpline, online forum and a range of treatments. GamCare has recently received funding for a new programme to reach more vulnerable women affected by gambling problems across England, Scotland and Wales. Each year around 30% of callers to the National Gambling HelpLine are women, and the number of calls has increased significantly over the last five years. Approximately half of women call about their own gambling and half about someone else’s gambling, and around 21% of clients in GamCare treatment services are female.
Seminar for Health Charities on fundraising from patients - 28 November 2019 by Blackbaud
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Fundraising in the Health Sector? Seminar on "Unlocking How Health Charities Can Raise More" - looking at the psychology and neuroscience behind giving by patients and family members. Thursday November 28 2019 at 2:00pm GMT This practical and actionable session also considers how health charities can effectively and respectfully engage key allies and stakeholders to advance this very niche area of donor engagement.
Watch! Video of Solicitor General on how to make Pro Bono Costs Orders
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
How much do you know about Pro Bono Costs Orders? Watch our video of the Solicitor General talking about Pro Bono Costs
System Reflect - Free one day event in February 2020 on 1:1 service delivery - by Mayday Trust and Frontline Network
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Free one day event on Tuesday 4th February 2020 with Mayday Trust and Frontline Network to share learning around developing and delivering a truly person-led service. This session is experiential and allows for reflection on the current deficit based system, debunking some of the myths around people going through tough times. It aims to challenge mind-sets and behaviours around ‘fixing’ and power dynamics, explores how strength-based approaches work in practice and how internal culture and external systems need to change to create the environment for people to genuinely take the lead.
ONS statistics on deaths of homeless people in England & Wales reveal significant increase over 5 years (22%)
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
The ONS has released its Experimental Statistics on the number of deaths of homeless people in England and Wales, for deaths registered in the years 2013 to 2018. * “The deaths of 726 homeless people in England and Wales recorded in 2018 represent an increase of over a fifth on the previous year. That’s the largest rise since these figures began in 2013 * “A key driver of the change is the number of deaths related to drug poisoning which are up by 55% since 2017 compared to 16% for the population as a whole. * “The ONS estimates are designed to help inform the work of everyone seeking to protect this highly vulnerable section of our community.”
Launch - Frontline Worker Survey 2019! (For those working in homelessness)
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
The Frontline Network wants to hear from you if you're a "frontline worker" in homelessness. This is a great opportunity to share your ideas and expertise. What are the challenges you face? Tell them about the great work that you do to overcome some of these challenges. "Decision makers need to listen to frontline workers when developing strategies to reduce homelessness. Help us amplify the voice of frontline workers and develop resources guided by you. The survey has 8 sections and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete". Frontline worker is defined as a paid worker who directly supports people who are experiencing homelessness, inc. those working in the Voluntary, Statutory, and Public sectors.
Survey for Immigration Practitioners on Paths to Regularisation - still open
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants is still collecting responses to a short survey aimed at immigration practitioners who represent or advise undocumented migrants seeking to regularise their status in the UK. They are collecting this data to inform their project looking at how best to advocate for new and better paths to regularisation. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]. The "Routes to Regularisation" Survey should take around 5 minutes. All answers are anonymous.
Fundraise & have fun with colleagues & friends - host a Great Legal Quiz on 20th November!
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Would you like to join in with the Great Legal Quiz on 20th Nov? Host your own fundraising quiz on Wednesday 20th November to raise some unrestricted funding for your free legal advice organisation. Engaging your supporters in a fun evening couldn’t be easier – we provide the questions which are like a pub quiz, not on the law! All you need to do is find a venue! Could be your office, a bar or whatever suits your team! You then feed back your top scores the next day and we will announce the top teams in the country! A shield goes to the highest scoring team, and another to the highest fundraising quiz organisers.
It’s PRO BONO WEEK! Are you going to one of our events?
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Pro Bono Week - We have a calendar of events all week with something for everyone. Let's celebrate and promote pro bono legal work, with networking and knowledge sharing opportunities to help your career. Get along to a pro bono week event and find out more about local opportunities that could benefit your organisation.
Vacancy: Interim Family Solicitor at RCJ
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Vacancy: RCJ Advice Interim family solicitor Location: High Holborn Salary: £38,403 p/a FT until March 2020 Hours: 35 p/w Deadline: 5pm, Monday 18th November
Vacancy: South West London Law Centre - Immigration Solicitor/Caseworker
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Vacancy - South West London Law Centres - Immigration Solicitor / Caseworker Location: Croydon with outreach Salary: Up to £33,000 Hours: Full time, 2 years FTC Deadline: 12pm, Monday 25th November SWLLC are running a rolling recruitment and interviews for this post and may close this process earlier. Applications should be sent by email to [email protected], in the form of CV & covering letter.
Event: “This Can Happen” - Mental Health in the Workplace - 25th November
Published 06/11/2019
This Can Happen - award winning conference on Mental Health in the Workplace - returns on 25th November, attracting delegates from 150+ companies to share, learn, and discuss practical solutions for dealing with workplace mental health. The UK's largest corporate mental health event features 20+ sessions and over 80 speakers from diverse industries and will address critical issues such as The Future Workplace, Faith & Diversity, Grief, Post Natal Depression and the Importance of Internal Communications.Podcasts also available on website.
New study of the “lawtech ecosystem” - funding awarded to Oxford’s Saïd Business School
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
A new study by Oxford's Saïd Business School will be launched to study the lawtech 'ecosystem'. The 18-month project will 'map the movement of people and finance in and out of the system,' and aim to enhance the innovation and startup scene by identifying principal players. The government's Economic and Social Research Council has provided £213,000 funding. The project will complement existing University of Oxford research, also funded by the research council, which is seeking to ’unlock the potential for AI for English law’.
FREE workshop with Just Fair North East & TUC - 22 November
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
FREE workshop with Just Fair North East! Friday 22 November | 13:00 - 16:00 | TUC Northern Office, Unite Building, John Dobson Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8TW Come along and join the conversation about how we can work together to advance social rights and tackle inequality across the North East! Talk. Act. Change - advancing social rights and tackling inequality.
New report - Devolution of justice in Wales?
Published 06/11/2019
New 556 page report by Commision on Justice in Wales has made 78 recommendations for reform, concluding that that Wales should take over control of both policy and funding from Westminster. Recommendations include: A new justice department of the Welsh government led by a cabinet minister, a Welsh High Court and Court of Appeal, and a criminal legal aid system run on ’Nordic’ public defender lines.
Charity Leaders’ Summit - One Day Conference on 31 March 2020 (London) - Bookings now open!
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Charity Leaders' Summit - leading through challenging times. Spend the day learning from exceptional leaders and hear how they overcame challenges similar to those you’re facing. You will leave inspired, with fresh perspectives and renewed purpose. Early Bird tickets available until 13 December 2019.
New report on poverty in Scotland
Published 29/10/2019
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has produced a new report with some shocking findings about levels of poverty in Scotland. Nearly one in five adults and one in four children live in poverty and the report focuses on the tools that government has to tackle this issue, focusing largely on the role of housing, work and social security.
Financing gender inequality: why public-private partnerships leave women worse off
Published 29/10/2019
The Equality Trust has produced a policy briefing on the issue of public-private partnerships through a gender lens. It outlines why strong public services are essential for achieving gender equality, how the rise of public-private partnerships risks undermining this, and offering policy recommendations that seek to meet the needs of women around the world.
