Working to protect your legal rights Annual Report 2016 - 2017

Owned by the community • Accountable to the community • Serving the community Our Mission

ur mission is to increase access to l Ensuring that the Law Centre is well governed by justice for disadvantaged the community and has appropriate and well Ocommunities through the provision trained staff to deliver its services. of quality assured, accessible free and low cost legal advice, information and representation to individuals and groups across Derbyshire. We do this through: “I would like to l Provision of free quality assured specialist legal advice and representation in social welfare law; thank all staff, my

l Undertaking project work; life is back on track”

l Provision of an accessible initial diagnostic and “Big thanks to all. signposting service to all callers, both by Would recommend telephone and in person; to anybody.” l Increasing and diversifying funding coming into the Law Centre to secure its longevity;

l Raising awareness of the Law Centre’s work and providing information to groups and individuals on the law and its effects.

Registration details: The Law Centre is a company limited by guarantee: 2453081 Registered Charity No: 702419 Solicitors Regulation Authority: Practice No 71302 Auditors: Barber Harrison & Platt, 57-59 Saltergate, Chesterfield, S40 1UL Bankers: Lloyds TSB, 30 Rose Hill, Chesterfield, S40 1LR Derbyshire Law Centre, 1 Rose Hill East, Chesterfield, S40 1XZ. Tel: 01246 550674 Fax: 01246 551069 Text: 07781 482826 Email: [email protected] www.derbyshirelawcentre.org.uk Offices throughout Derbyshire: Bolsover, Buxton, Chesterfield, Eckington, Ilkeston, Matlock and Ripley.

2 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 Contents

Big Changes - Chair’s Report 4 Specialist legal projects 17-20 - Legal Education Why Derbyshire needs its Law Centre? 5 Living Rights for EU Citizens 17 Specialist Legal Advice service 6-16 Derbyshire Pro-Bono Service 17 Community Care Intensive one to one support services 18-20 - We listen and get the right support 6 We help people to integrate 18 Housing and Homelessness within the community - We prevent homelessness 7 We help people to develop Money 19 - We represent tenants who cannot 8 Management skills afford a solicitor at Chesterfield County Court We help people to become Work Ready 20 - We achieve results for our clients 9 through partnership working About Derbyshire Law Centre 21-27 Debt Volunteers Assessment Team 21 - We prevent mortgage repossession 10 The staff team that helps the residents 22 - We support clients to manage 11 in Derbyshire their debt Who do we help? 23-24 Employment Financial Review 25 - We protect people’s rights in work 12 List of Directors 26 - We empower litigants - Litigants in Person Service 13 Individual and Organisational 27 members Discrimination - Consumer - We help people to overcome 14 barriers - We help people who want to 15 access services Immigration and Asylum - We help people to enter and 16 stay in the UK “Thank you for everything, I might not be here now otherwise.”

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 3 Big Changes! - Chair’s Report

hat a year it has been! I am Wvery proud to present this annual "I would like report to you, which I to say thank hope will give plenty of you to all at examples of how we Derbyshire work hard to protect Derbyshire residents’ Law Centre." legal rights. Councillor Michael Gordon, Chair, Derbyshire Law Centre’s I would like to thank our Management Committee. volunteers including the Management Committee, for giving their time and their wisdom in supporting the Law Centre. I would also like to thank our staff who have worked hard all Thank you to all the organisations that have given year round, in the provision of specialist legal the Law Centre, an independent agency, financial services, securing funding and setting up new assistance during the period 1.4.2016 – 31.3.2017: services. Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, We have seen an expansion in the staff team and we Bolsover District Council, Amber Valley Borough are now delivering 16 projects and services across Council, Legal Aid Agency, A B Charitable Trust, Big Derbyshire, from our main and six outreach branch Lottery Fund, National Lottery through the Heritage offices. With funding from local Councils, the Legal Lottery Fund, East Midlands Money Advice Aid Agency and others, for which we are grateful, Partnership via Money Advice Service, Law Centres we have been able to help more people ensuring Network, Access to Justice Foundation, Big Lottery they are supported in the prevention of Fund and the European Social Fund. homelessness, having food on the table, bills being paid, getting and staying in employment.

Finally, I would like to pay a personal tribute to Cameron Philpot, who sadly passed away earlier this year. We are immensely grateful for his commitment to the Law Centre since 1994 and he will be sadly missed.

I hope you enjoy reading about our achievements this year and commend this report to you.

Councillor Michael Gordon, Chair of Derbyshire Law Centre’s Management Committee

4 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 Why Derbyshire needs its Law Centre

here are many threat of reasons. We think homelessness or we are fairly unmet care needs. T Call the adviser a unique. We enable ‘navigator’ or residents of Derbyshire ‘buddy’, the "I have to access free specialist approach on a home legal advice. these projects is the same - holistic We employ solicitors, legal – looking at the now." executives, and experienced person and not caseworkers who are Tony McIlveen just the single specialists in their fields. We issue, to try and can’t cover all areas of law, but we offer free advice help them turn in areas of law that affect ordinary people in their their lives around and manage their lives and everyday lives, and is not available elsewhere. A finances better. Some services have been re- legal remedy is only a true remedy if people can invigorated, such as our immigration service, where actually access it. We can give detailed advice, take a we have supported families with precarious case on, negotiate on behalf of people, draft and file immigration status, worried EU nationals and, I claims and defences. Most importantly, we can should add, worried British spouses of EU nationals. continue with their case and represent them in court or tribunal. This past year we have worked on many joint initiatives such as working closely with local Councils We have legal aid contracts to secure public funding to prevent homelessness and looking at how we can for some cases, have financial support from our local best support people in Chesterfield Borough and Councils to fight cases at no cost to the client and North East Derbyshire as they migrate onto Universal secure project funding to use innovative ways to Credit. This is already rolled out in Erewash and improve lives and improve access to justice for those soon to cover the rest of Derbyshire. most in need. We are working in partnership with 50+ voluntary We have always prided ourselves on being free, but sector agencies across Derbyshire and Derby city financial constraints and the reduction in the areas facilitated by the Opportunity and Change and covered by legal aid have meant we have started to Money Sorted in D2N2 projects. These projects are charge for some of our work that cannot be covered funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European by other funding. Where we do charge, we try to Social Fund. Our vital work is helping people and keep our charges as low as possible as a not for their families through difficult times, thus making a profit agency. huge difference in their lives. We have also taken on our own in-house social worker and advocate who This last year we have run 16 projects and core supports Opportunity and Change's participants to services and taken on additional staff to resource gain access to social care and mental health services them. Some services are new and provide different if they need them. solutions for people in need. For example, we have three new projects Our services improve clients’ health and well-being, providing one to keep a roof over their heads, reduce their debts and one ongoing help people feed families and pay the bills. These are support for people the reasons why we need a Law Centre in who may have FACT: Derbyshire. We are similar to a solicitor’s firm, but disabilities, Only solicitors here solely for the benefit of our community. We language think this is what makes us unique and an essential difficulties or in or authorised service for Derbyshire residents. We hope you can complete crisis litigators can support us in many ways – as volunteers, members, where they have take court advocates, representatives and partners and we, in become preceedings. turn, will continue to do our best to support the overwhelmed with people of Derbyshire. the issues they face, be it debt, Tony McIlveen, Senior Solicitor

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 5 Specialist Legal Advice Service - Community Care We listen and get the right support

he Community Care team has been advising disabled and older people and How the Law Centre helped me Ttheir carers on getting the support they - Mrs Atkin need. As well as preventing withdrawal of “I have always enjoyed visiting my local day centre care packages, we have been able to prevent three days a week, as it gave me an opportunity to get reductions or unfair changes in support. out of my house and socialise with other people. I have mobility difficulties and mental health issues We’ve helped people to get the support that they which mean that I struggle to do this on my own. need such as assistance with personal care, meal preparation and help to access the community. Someone from Adult Social Care came to see me and We have also helped people access education and told me that they planned to remove all support, social facilities. including my cleaning call that I have on days when I visit the day centre. I was upset and alarmed at the The core of our Community Care work is advising on same time. The Law Centre helped me to the availability of services and the duties of the communicate with Adult Social Care to explain how Adults Social Care Department to assess someone’s vital these services were to me. The Law Centre also needs and to arrange for those needs to be met. This explained the significant risks of removing them and can be done by providing information and advice or eventually we came to a compromise. I kept my home by providing services or via a ‘personal budget’ cleaning service and attend the day centre one day per whereby the person is given the money to purchase week. My social worker and I are exploring other services themselves. appropriate services to help me to access the The difference our service has made: community other than through the day centre.”

The Community Care Legal Advice Team have: Without the Law Centre’s involvement Mrs Atkin would have stopped attending the day centre l Improved the health and well-being of disabled altogether; would have lost friendships; and and older people and their carers. would have returned to being socially isolated. This would have impacted on her overall health l Reduced the stress and anxiety for our clients and wellbeing and would likely have caused her faced with the prospect of losing or having their to need more social care support in the future. care packages reduced. We helped to find creative new ways of meeting Mrs Atkin’s eligible social care needs in a cost effective way. Mrs Atkin is now happy to be able to attend the day centre and enjoy other FACT: activities in the community as well.” We are the only “I now feel stronger by being advice agency to have a community able to assert myself.” care legal aid contract in Derbyshire.

6 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 Specialist Legal Advice Service - Housing and Homelessness We prevent homelessness

he last year has seen the Housing team continue to provide specialist Tadvice and representation to a high volume of clients; the majority of whom are facing eviction as a result of rent arrears. FACT: We have We see tenants and mortgagees by appointments at prevented our main office in Chesterfield and at branch offices across the county in Bolsover, Buxton, Eckington, homelessness for Ripley and Staveley. Our team has given specialist 238 families in advice on a range of problems faced by tenants, Derbyshire during including possession proceedings, eviction and the year. homelessness.

Some local Councils in Derbyshire support our early prevention work to avoid possession claims being issued if possible and this work is proving successful. We are grateful to Amber Valley Borough, Chesterfield Borough, North East Derbyshire District and Bolsover District Councils who fund this work through their homelessness funds. How the Law Centre helped The difference our service has made: Ms Bow The Housing Legal Advice Team have: “Ms Bow is a single parent with two dependent children aged 10 and 6 years old. Her only income was l Advised and assisted nearly 1500 families and Child Benefit and Tax Credits totalling £149.55 a week. individuals with housing and homelessness problems Ms Bow used to be on Employment Support Allowance and Housing Benefit, but that came to an l Increased Councils’ rental income end and she was not sure when or why. Her health l Saved on Councils’ legal fees has been very poor recently. She believed that she was paying the rent after a November court hearing. l Improved tenants’ health and well-being and However, her 17 year relationship with the father of reduces stress on families. her children then ended and two further blows were the death of two close friends.

Ms Bow has a history of anxiety and depression but this deteriorated. She found it difficult to leave the house and did not open her mail. Her family took turns taking her children to school and other trips that “Knowing how needed to be made.” close I have come to us With the Law Centre advice and support she has: all being on the street, I asked my family for help l Re-claimed ESA and they took me to the l Reapplied and claimed Housing Benefit Law Centre. l Prioritised paying the rent and reduced the arrears. I’m so grateful to you for keeping a roof over my l Signed up to Opportunity and Change programme childrens’ heads.” to support her to take practical steps in dealing with her finances, become confident and work ready. With the Personal Navigator’s support she has seen her GP and obtained support she needed.

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 7 Specialist Legal Advice Service - Housing and Homelessness We represent tenants who cannot afford a solicitor at Chesterfield County Court ur specialist housing and debt team Why Law Centres are operates a duty scheme at OChesterfield County Court providing different to other advice a free representation service to people agencies? facing eviction from their rented or mortgaged homes. The Law Centre employs solicitors which means that they can run legal cases on behalf of clients. Under This is important, not only in terms of the provision the Legal Services Act 2007, only solicitors or of legal representation at Court, but also in authorised litigators can take court proceedings. This providing the emotional support for clients at a very means the Law Centre can pursue cases in court. stressful time. Our legal experts work until the very last minute in exploring ways to prevent eviction. For example, our solicitors often pursue cases in court against private landlords. Where there was an The difference our service has made: unlawful eviction, our solicitors can issue injunction proceedings. Similarly, in disrepair cases, because the The Housing Legal Advice Team has: Law Centre employs qualified legal staff, Derbyshire l Represented tenants who cannot afford a solicitor at Law Centre can commence court proceedings to get court by attending twice a week for the past year a landlord to carry out repairs.

l Prevented at least 93 families being evicted by The services that Derbyshire Law Centre and other providing legal advice and representation to keep advice agencies deliver are complementary and we them in their own homes, thus providing stability continue to work in partnership in the joint effort of achieving the best outcomes for the residents of l Through one-to-one support we encourage them Derbyshire, thus protecting their in get their lives back on track legal rights.

l Improved tenants and their families’ health and well-being by reducing stress

FACT: We have represented 93 families through “I cannot speak of Derbyshire Law Chesterfield Centre highly enough. County Court - Absolutely fantastic Duty Scheme. people who do a fantastic job. People like me would have nowhere to go.”

8 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 Specialist Legal Advice Service We achieve results for our clients through partnership working

he Law Centre has achieved fantastic results over the year for our clients How the Law Centre helped me Toften with little need for court and – Mrs Gaitskill tribunal action. “Mrs Gaitskill first came to the Law Centre when she We find that creditors, landlords, councils, employers was facing court proceedings from her local authority and businesses often want to resolve issues quickly as landlord. Mrs Gaitskill had become estranged from her possible. The fact that our caseworkers are extremely children and recently suffered the loss of her mother knowledgeable in their fields and can discuss issues who had given her considerable support. In addition with authority can make all the difference when her long term partner had left the family home. These seeking a speedy resolution to a dispute. events only isolated her further. It became clear that Mrs Gaitskill was struggling with depression and other We have developed and maintained good mental health issues, and she also suffered from relationships with local councils, social landlords and agoraphobia, which prevented her from dealing with many other agencies that we have regular dealings the most basic of tasks. with on behalf of clients, which mean that we are often able to resolve disputes without the need for Unable to deal with benefit claims for her rent and not prolonged and costly litigation. realising she was subject to bedroom tax (she lived in a 3-bedroomed house), her arrears became substantial. The difference our service has made: The Law Centre worked together with Rethink and the local Council. We successfully arranged for Mrs Our legal advice teams have Gaitskill to claim a Discretionary Housing Payment l Resolved issues quickly for the benefit of our which reduced the rent arrears, along with an mutual clients agreement from Mrs Gaitskill to pay a minimum payment every week for the remaining arrears. This l Worked in partnership with third parties to reach enabled the local Council to find a more suitable, resolutions quickly to minimise need for court smaller,property for her thus making her home action, thus save taxpayers' money affordable and freeing up a family home for the Council to re-house another family.” l Promoted stability for our mutual clients and their families Since moving, Mrs Gaitskill has made substantial changes to her lifestyle and has re-established her l Promoted awareness of the law through hosting relationship with her children. In addition, Law Practitioners groups and training sessions for through support from various agencies like those working in the advice and public sector. Rethink and the Money Sorted in D2N2 project run by the Law Centre, Mrs Gaitskill has taken control of her budget and, with support, feels able to manage her financial matters much more effectively.

The success of this case is an example of everyone “I could be working together to provide the best outcome for the tenant and the landlord, and evidences homeless. I was how, when working in partnership with each really scared. I other, positive outcomes for all parties are didn't know the achievable. consequences. Very grateful.”

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 9 Specialist Legal Advice Service - Debt We prevent mortgage repossession

longside our legal aid service, we continue to provide legal advice and How the Law Centre helped Aassistance to home owners facing Ruth and Simon repossession, either through direct contact “Ruth and Simon came to the Law Centre assuming from clients, identified at County Court, or that they would lose their house. They had been told through referrals from the Local Authority. by their mortgage company that their offer towards the arrears they had made was not enough. Court This can involve us requesting an adjournment and proceedings had been started and a court date was working with clients to look for a long term solution looming. The arrears had built up after Ruth was made to enable them to stay living in their homes. We redundant, but she now had a new full time job and sometimes make a referral to our partner benefit the income, combined with the additional family specialist agencies where benefits are either being income of child benefit and some tax credits was under claimed, or not claimed at all, which can make enough to cover the normal monthly mortgage the crucial difference in saving clients from eviction. payments, plus an affordable contribution towards the The difference our service has made: arrears. We were able to reassure Ruth and Simon that the mortgage company were being unreasonable in The Debt and Housing Legal Advice team in their what they were asking them to pay, and we were mortgage repossession work have: confident the court would agree to accept a much lower sum. l Prevented families being evicted, We went through Ruth and Simon’s finances with l Saved local authorities thousands of pounds – in them, and prepared a detailed financial statement for resources and the prevention of homelessness, the court to support an offer of £20 per month l Enabled stability for the families while getting towards the arrears, rather than the £100 per month further legal advice on debt and employment that the mortgage company had been demanding. At issues, court, Ruth and Simon were able to show from the financial statement what their household income was, l Reduced stress on families. and had, on our advice, taken all necessary paperwork to court such as wage slips, and tax credit award letters. The court was happy to accept the amount they had offered, and made an order allowing them to stay. Ruth said if they hadn’t known to come to the Law Centre, they may have just taken the mortgage company’s word for it, and not turned up at court, “I'm so glad I which could have resulted in their eviction.” came to the Law Centre, I’ve been given another chance in life. Thank you so much.”

10 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 Specialist Legal Advice Service - Debt We support clients to manage their debt

hrough funding from the Money The difference our service has made: Advice Service, managed regionally by The Debt legal team has: Tthe East Midlands Money Advice project, we have helped over 880 l Advised and assisted 880 clients and their families individuals and families this year with their to help them to manage or write off debt. debt problems. l Prevented disconnection from gas and electricity. We provide a free specialist debt advice service and help with all debt related problems. Our advice has ranged from providing emergency advice on bailiff visits, to negotiations with local councils about repayment of council tax arrears, to general financial management. Our expertise helps us to be able to react quickly, working alongside the housing team in “The people at cases involving rent and mortgage arrears, and we the Law Centre have had an excellent track record of preventing clients facing eviction over the year. couldn’t have helped more. We have a good working relationship with our local councils which is vital when contacting them about They were clients in debt with rent arrears and council tax. We excellent.” also see a large number of people who, through pressure, pay the ‘wrong’ debts first, often putting themselves and their families at risk of eviction. We work closely with our clients to help them re-organise what to pay first.

How the Law Centre helped Anna a fresh start. She met all the conditions for that procedure, and was able to save up for the £90 fee, a “Anna came to see us about her debts, which had built lot less than the fee payable on a bankruptcy up after she had to give up her job when she was application. diagnosed with a long term illness. Anna accepted she was not likely to be able to go back to work or increase On behalf of Anna, we made sure that there were no her income, and was going to be relying on benefits for other debts that she was not aware of, and then the foreseeable future. Anna knew she would never be prepared the application for her, which was submitted able to pay off her debts, and felt under a lot of stress on-line from our office. Anna did not have to go to court. from constant hassle from her creditors, who would call, Now, legally, Anna’s creditors cannot chase her for the and text all the time. When she tried to block the calls, debts, and after a year, assuming her finances have not they would just phone again from a different number, changed for the better, all of the debts will be written off. and Anna felt worn down by this. Anna felt very relieved about this, as she felt it would enable her to concentrate on paying for essentials such as As soon as Anna came in to see us, we contacted the contribution towards rent and council tax that she everyone she owed money to, and asked them to put was liable for plus gas, electricity and water charges. chasing action on hold, which they all agreed to do for Without doing the DRO, Anna admitted she would have 28 days, following accepted guidance within the credit ended up falling behind on these essentials, which could industry. This gave Anna a bit of breathing space, and have ended up with her losing her flat and being made we discussed all of the debt options open to her, such as homeless. Anna also said that her anxiety improved after offering creditors small payments each month, or the Debt Relief Order went through, as she could see writing her debts off. Anna’s debts were under £20,000 light at the end of the tunnel.” in total, she lived in a rented flat, and did not own anything of value or have a car worth more than £1000. This meant that Anna could use a process called a Debt Relief Order (DRO), to freeze her debts initially for a year, and then write them off altogether to give herself

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 11 Specialist Legal Advice Service - Employment We protect people’s rights in work

roviding a free service in employment employment rights than their employers are law continues to be challenging due to prepared to acknowledge and if in doubt, Derbyshire Pthe lack of government funding in this Law Centre’s specialist advice should be sought. area of law (legal aid has been withdrawn The following case study demonstrates a type of nationally) and demand easily outstrips work we have been dealing with in this area: resources. In recent years, a major barrier to pursuing a case at How the Law Centre helped the Employment Tribunal has been the cost of Mr Grant Tribunal fees. For example, the fees to have an unfair dismissal claim heard at Tribunal were £1,200. “Mr Grant was recruited through an agency to work However, on the 26 July 2017, the Supreme Court as a delivery driver from a regional depot for a large handed down a landmark judgment in the case of R national company. He was told he was ‘self- (Unison) v Lord Chancellor. Unison’s appeal was a employed’. He was provided with a van, but had to challenge to the lawfulness of Employment Tribunals pay for its insurance and also any mileage that was fees. The Court found that the fees unlawfully not accountable to delivery routes. He was paid by hinder access to justice. ‘invoices’, which were prepared by a separate company, who also charged him for dealing with his The effect of this judgment is that the fees have tax deductions. He had to work when required but been found to be unlawful from the time they were was paid a fixed daily rate. In fact he often worked introduced: not only are they no longer payable, but 12 hours or more in a day. He was not paid for any applicants who paid fees in the past should holidays and when he gave his notice in to leave, he ultimately be reimbursed. The government will be was not given any shifts to work during his notice issuing guidelines on recovery of fees in due course. period. The company then refused to pay his final wages, claiming damage to the vehicle. This is fantastic news for our clients, many of whom have been dissuaded from taking action in the past The case with our help eventually went to tribunal, by the fees regime. where it was found that M was a ‘worker’ and so entitled to be paid the national minimum wage, holiday References to the ‘gig’ economy have been a major pay and had suffered unlawful deduction from wages. topic in the press recently. We have seen an upturn in enquiries in which employers have sought to avoid This is not an untypical case. Workers from the employment European Union are particularly vulnerable to this type legislation designed of exploitation. We have advised a client who was to protect from the EU and worked on an assembly line, but had individuals on the been told that he had to become ‘self-employed’, basis that workers “Ellen was freeing the employer from paying National Insurance are classed as self- extremely Contributions, sick pay and holiday pay. Sadly employed, or helpful, employees in this situation are often fearful of employed under a informative challenging this clear breach of employment law in zero hours contract. and easy to case they lose their job, but unless challenged, this It is often the case deal with.” practice will continue.” that individuals have many more “Tony was fantastic. Went above and beyond.”

12 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 Specialist Legal Advice Service - Employment We empower litigants - Litigants in Person “The litigants in (Lip) Service person service listened, gave advice arlier this year, Derbyshire Law Centre and gave me the was awarded funding by the Ministry chance to pursue my of Justice through its Litigant in Person E case whilst on a low Support Strategy which supports people taking court action without legal income. Thank you” representation. We applied for funding to Daniel Kay. support litigants in person with employment claims because: l There’s great demand for our Employment service, and we’re the only voluntary agency with a comprehensive specialist employment service in l We have expanded our existing employment the D2N2 area. telephone helpline and can now provide telephone support for litigants in person l Our research showed that there was a gap in throughout the D2N2 region, with face-to-face provision for litigants in person taking claims to appointments for those who can’t access support the Employment Tribunal. by other means.

l Since the project started in April, we’ve advised How the Law Centre clients at various stages of their claim, including: - starting a claim, including time limits and early LiP Service will help conciliation through ACAS - drafting an Employment Tribunal claim

Litigants? - calculating the value of a claim

l We are developing dedicated pages on Derbyshire - attending a hearing Law Centre’s website to guide clients through the Employment Tribunal process, including links to further sources of advice and information.

l When we identify gaps in coverage we will develop our own materials to add to the web pages, and we hope that eventually we’ll be able to include video guides as well as written information. The difference that this service has made:

l The Employment Legal Advice Team enforced employment rights which is crucial in helping FACT: clients in low-income households. Support in taking l Helped people to stay in work, or helped them a claim to the recover money they were owed when a job Employment ended. This can make a huge difference to a Tribunal improves household’s finances. confidence and l Supported people in taking a claim to the wellbeing. Employment Tribunal, reducing stress and increasing self-confidence.

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 13 Specialist Legal Advice Service - Consumer Discrimination We help people to overcome barriers

Deaf client experienced difficulties in accessing public services due to her How the Law Centre helped me Afirst language being in British Sign “My name is Sherry Glover. My solicitor has asked me if Language. We challenge discrimination I would be willing to share my story with you. I said yes, within the legal aided work we do via our as I am so grateful for what she has done for me and housing and community care legal aid with her support she has resolved problems for me. contracts. I am signing to one of the Law Centre’s staff who can also sign which is great! She is writing this for me as I The case we assisted on resulted in a huge, positive do not have good English skills due to my first impact, not just for Sherry and her partner, but for language being British Sign Language, I also have a others who have a hearing impairment. poor reading ability.

I have been having ongoing difficulties lasting over a period of two years in trying to resolve rent arrears due to communication barriers between myself and the Housing Office. Rent arrears have built up over a period of time due to my partner having cancer and he had to leave work for treatment.

I have supplied all the information required by the “She is brilliant! Housing Office but found that they have not applied My solicitor is very the changes to my housing benefit. I then found that my rent arrears were a lot higher than it should have good and helpful. been. There were significant communication barriers With her help I which resulted me being taken to court unnecessarily by my landlord which caused me and my partner have stopped unnecessary stress and worry. With my solicitor worrying.” support she has had my rent arrears written off, made sure I was on the correct level of housing benefit and saved my partner and I from being evicted – all caused by a signer not being provided. Since then my solicitor and I have voiced our concerns to the council to put in place appropriate communication support.

14 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 Specialist Legal Advice Service - Consumer Discrimination We help people who want to access services

erbyshire Law Centre provides a specialist service on consumer Ddiscrimination. Funding is obtained on a case by case basis. This is a case that was funded by Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). On this case we assisted a disabled boy and his family who would like to be able to use Alfreton Railway station but could not due to lack of disabled access.

We have sent a letter to the Railway Company to start a claim and have obtained a Barrister’s opinion which said the “Lisa is very changes should be helpful, she made. We have applied makes me feel at for legal aid and when ease and I can we have confirmation of chat comfortably Lisa Haythorne, Solicitor with Tara Porter mother of that we will start court to her.” disabled son, Owen. proceedings which if successful will change the station for all users.

With courtesy from Derbyshire Times 9.3.2017

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 15 Specialist Legal Advice Service - Immigration and Asylum We help people to enter and stay in the UK

erbyshire Law Centre continues to The Home Secretary has indicated that the Home give specialist immigration advice Office will not insist on this requirement if it is the over the telephone and by email. only reason that an application fails, but this has not D been our experience. Tony McIlveen, our immigration solicitor, is accredited at Level 2 senior caseworker and We have also expanded our charged for service, supervisor level under the Law Society offering clients a service to prepare and submit applications to the Home Office or Embassies and an Accreditation Scheme. application checking service. In the absence of other A lot of enquiries are from people wanting to bring funding, and the lack of private practice firms their spouses to the UK, or renewing their leave as a offering specialist immigration advice in Derbyshire, spouse and struggle to deal with the application we have decided that this is the only way to provide forms and how to prove that they meet the a service to local people. We have tried to price the requirements. The main problem is that they must service competitively at not for profit rates. have a minimum income of £18,600 per year to qualify for Leave to Enter or Remain, which continues How the Law Centre helped me to be a huge barrier for ordinary families. In July 2017, the Home Office have reviewed this requirement, “Mrs P came to the UK in 2004. Having separated from possibly making it easier for some families who do not her husband due to violence, she relocated to meet this threshold. We will have to wait and see if it Derbyshire. She worked and brought up her son as a makes a difference in practice. single parent. Unfortunately, in 2016, Mrs P lost her job and soon fell into rent arrears and built up other debts. The effect of BREXIT has led to more clients from EU She hit crisis point in December 2016, when her private countries contacting us about their status and that of landlord obtained a possession order against her and she their families in the UK. Some have been here for was due to be evicted. At the time that she was facing many years, but again, proving that they have been eviction, her leave to remain was also due for renewal. exercising their treaty rights through work or being She could not afford the fee of over £800 to pay for the self-sufficient has led to them encountering application and was overwhelmed by her situation. Her difficulties with the Home Office. Many people, if leave lapsed, which meant that she could not get not all, who have been here for many years as self- homelessness assistance. She was separated from her sufficient (not relying on public funds) have been son, who had to go and stay with his father as Mrs P completely unaware of the additional requirement was having to sofa surf, until she was found lodgings that they must also have had comprehensive sickness through the Salvation Army. We saw her initially to help insurance to cover with her homelessness application and try and assist her them during the scheduling her debts. When we saw that her leave to required 5 year remain in the UK had expired, we immediately submitted period. This has a late application to the Home Office that she should be led to applications allowed to remain in the UK as the parent of a British for recognition of “Tony was citizen child and also applied for a waiver of the fee as the right of exceptional she was destitute. Happily that application was granted Permanent and extremely after a couple of months and we are continuing to help Residence being Mrs P secure a home for herself and her son so she can rejected. helpful.” get her life back on track.”

16 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 Specialist Legal Projects - Legal Education We inform migrants of their rights

t the end of 2015, we were awarded Fellow later in the year to start in January 2018. funding as part of a National Law Not only this, but one of our paralegals, who ACentres Network project - Living originally came to us on a university law degree Rights. The project is part funded by the placement has been awarded Diversity Access Rights, Equality and Citizenship (REC) Scheme funding by the Law Society, which will Programme of the European Union. The enable us to provide him with a fully funded Trainee Solicitor post for 2 years, from 2019. work educates EU citizens of their rights whilst living in the UK, as well as We have also worked closely with Nottingham Trent informing agencies working with University and their Law Clinic, in exploring pro bono EU citizens of their rights. advice opportunities and making suitable referrals of Employment Tribunal cases to them for their The original intention was to help EU citizens experienced law students to represent at hearings. integrate into British society, informing them on how to vote, accessing education, rights at work and the The difference this initiative has made: like. Following the decision to hold a referendum l More residents can access our free legal service, and then leave the EU, this work has focussed almost entirely on addressing the concerns that EU citizens l Improved relationships between Universities’ Law have about their status in the UK post BREXIT. We Schools and Derbyshire Law Centre, have delivered presentations, workshops and advice drop-ins for several groups and organisations l Accessed financial assistance to place Law and working with EU citizens across Derbyshire and Social Work students with us, Nottinghamshire and its two cities. l Increased Law and Social Work students’ understanding of social welfare law and how We enable people these apply in practice, l More support for the legal casework team.

to build work skills l Increased the number of skilled social welfare law advisers in Derbyshire. University placement volunteers

This year the Law Centre has worked with Derby and Sheffield Hallam University to achieve a dual outcome of increased resources for us to help clients and deliver our services and placements for university students to enable them to get practical experience and increase their skills in areas of social How the Law Centre helped welfare law. me as a volunteer During the year we interviewed five law students - Matthew Brown and one social work student. Three law students started their placements with us, two of whom went “I have loved being here since on to become Paralegals at the Law Centre. We have the end of September 2016 also agreed to offer a social work student a when I initially started on a placement to work within our Community Care Unit university work placement. I for 5 months to start in October 2017. have developed new skills which I would not have been Matthew Brown - This year, we were also successful in our application able to do in my studies. A very Former Law Student to the Legal Education Foundation to become a Host small minority of my from Derby University and Paralegal organisation for the prestigious Justice First friends/course colleagues will Fellowship. This will enable us to have a fully funded have had any experience of being on placement trainee solicitor for 2 years. The applicant will have a within the profession, let alone being a paralegal for demonstrable interest in social justice and welfare as long as I have. Thank you for the last 12 months, law and will be a huge asset to the organisation. We don't think I can really show how grateful I am!” are delighted and look forward to appointing the

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 17 Specialist Legal Projects - One-to-one Personal Navigation Service We help people to integrate within the community

erbyshire Bilingual Crisis Buddy Service is a one-to-one personal FACT: Dnavigation service for people whose first language is not English and are in Research shows crisis, such facing homelessness, debts or there is no having no essential household appliances. similar project They often struggle more than most in overcoming in England. crises such as requiring them to engage with courts, statutory agencies and creditors. This is due to the communication barriers. The services primary purpose is to recruit and train representatives from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) organisations to become bilingual buddies who operate in Derbyshire and Derby City. Due to the nature of the project, How the Law Centre helped us: buddies must have a good understanding and knowledge of spoken and written English, as well as “A woman approached one of the partners as she was their first language. pregnant and bleeding. Both she and her husband spoke no English at all. Her buddy took her to hospital Long term, the project hopes to encourage and provided translation services for the emergency beneficiaries to integrate into their local community and subsequent treatment. She is now attending ESOL and society in general by helping them to improve classes and volunteering at a local group.” their understanding of the English language by attending ESOL classes and by developing their “A man approached one of the partners after giving awareness of mainstream advice services/ up his accommodation due to ill health and going on organisations and networks available locally and long term sick from his place of work. He took this nationally. action as he believed he could not afford the rent and did not want to be evicted. He was subsequently This is a 5-year partnership project funded by the Big admitted to hospital, was diagnosed and received Lottery Fund and delivered by six treatment. When ready for discharge, he essentially partner originations; Derbyshire Law became a ‘bed blocker’ as he had no home to return Centre, Derbyshire Unemployed to. The buddy assisted in helping him to get housing Workers’ Centre, LINKs Council for and employment advice from Derbyshire Law Centre Voluntary Service, Direct Help and and benefits advice from Derbyshire Unemployed Advice (lead agency), St James Workers Centre. With help, appropriate alternative Centre and Community Action Derby accommodation secured, he was discharged from from Derby City. The service hospital. He will return to his employment when fit to operates county wide including do so.” Derby City and started in May 2016.

18 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 Specialist Legal Projects - One-to-one Personal Navigation Service We help people to develop Money Management skills

he Money Sorted in D2N2 programme is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and TEuropean Social Fund via their Building Better Opportunities programme. With support from our funders and our Lead Agency, Advice Nottingham, our Personal Navigation Service has been able to assist the housing and debt team to support their clients to gain confidence to learn and gain skills on money l Teaching them to budget well management. l Helping them to increase their incomes

The difference that our service l Improving their financial awareness on how to has made: make good decisions involving managing money better Money Sorted in D2N2 has already made a difference to the people we have supported by: l Reducing family stress related to financial problems l Improving their financial capability and planning finances better l Encouraging them to save money in a bank account

How the Law Centre helped Brendan has also accessed advice from Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre, who have managed to Brendan appeal an incorrect ESA decision and ensure that Brendan is now receiving the correct benefit Brendan came to us as he was having trouble with his entitlement. energy bills and needed some support getting back on top of his finances. We are continuing to work towards increasing his household income, decreasing his outgoings, and I have been working with Brendan since March 2017. In allowing Brendan to feel more confident about his that time, we have successfully secured a Discretionary financial future moving forward. Housing Payment which has helped Brendan to clear a small amount of rent arrears before the arrears got out of control. We have also successfully applied to Severn Trent Trust Fund to reduce Brendan’s water bills in the short term, which has given him some breathing space to review his budget.

Brendan has changed energy supplier to a much “Thank you cheaper tariff, separating the energy debt which allows Sally. him to make a minimum offer of repayment to his previous supplier without risk to his current energy I appreciate all supply. This allows him to stay on a cheaper direct debit you’ve done tariff rather than having a compulsory pre-payment meter. Brendan and I are now pursuing a complaint to so much!” the Energy Ombudsman regarding his previous supplier, as we have not been able to reach a suitable resolution to settle the arrears on the old account.

Pictured right: Sally Preece - Money Sorted in D2N2 Personal Navigator

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 19 Specialist Legal Projects - One-to-one Personal Navigation Service We help people to become work ready

his service is supported by the Opportunity and Change project. Our TPersonal Navigation service supports those who require intensive one to one support to turn their lives around through learning how to manage their tenancies and mortgages, as well as gaining confidence to become work ready, How the Law Centre helped me This project is funded by the Building Better - Mr Pell Opportunities programme via the Big Lottery Fund Mr Pell is in his fifties and was referred to the and The European Social Fund. Opportunity and Change programme by Adults Social Care department. He currently is a witness in a The difference our service has made: modern day slavery case. Mr Pell had been abducted by a group of people and We have enabled and supported unemployed and was forced to work and live under horrendous economically inactive people with multiple and conditions for many years. He was rescued by the complex needs to learn how to: Police and with their assistance Mr Pell moved into the l Maintain bicycles and decorating, be more Derbyshire area and rented a house from a local confident and assertive, landlord. Obviously Mr Pell’s past experiences had a significant effect on l Improve their move into education or training, both his physical and mental health. He is very vulnerable and an easy target for local bullies. l Undertake job search and move into employment or self-employment. After visiting Mr Pell at his home it became apparent that it was not fit for habitation and Environmental We also identified the barriers that participants have Health were called in. We liaised with the council and that prevent them from accessing the programme. managed to get Mr Pell moved into temporary We make arrangements to overcome these barriers accommodation and then into a one bedroom flat. such as: We have successfully applied for Employment Support l Reducing/writing off debts, Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Housing benefit. Throughout this time we were in l Increasing their incomes, constant contact with the Police who are dealing with Mr Pell’s case. He has now settled into his new l Gaining better housing, accommodation and in his words is feeling much better and ready to start a new chapter in his life. l Keeping them safe from exploitation and trafficking. “Lorraine who is my Personal Navigator (my brick) asked me if it was okay to share my story with you. Obviously I agreed. I am told my case is quite an unusual one. Lorraine has been so supportive as she has urged me to do things to help me to get my life back on track. I am really proud of my new home and have been decorating it throughout to show my appreciation for all the work that Lorraine and her colleagues have done for me. The Police have been brilliant too and so supportive that two of them actually helped me to move house.”

20 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 About Derbyshire Law Centre - Meet the Staff We enable people to gain work experience and skills - Volunteers Assessment Team

erbyshire Law Centre’s Assessment Derbyshire Law Centre, we were able to offer short service continues to be provided by a term employment to two of the law students as Dcommitted team of volunteers, Paralegals. operating from our main office in We take this opportunity to say thank you to all the Chesterfield. This year we have been volunteers who have volunteered with us over the supported by a small team of eleven last year and in particularly the assessment team who have coped admirably with the temporary volunteers and due to their commitment, relocation. dedication and belief in the Law Centre - we continue to have two volunteers with Volunteers (Past and present 2016-2017) support from the session supervisor Vanessa Edwards Katie France providing the assessment service each day. Nancy Fox Tim Mak Jewels Orton Nadine Trythall This year we also provided unpaid work placements Isabel Wade for three law students from Derby University and one placement for a student from Chesterfield Students College needing business administration experience. Hazel Ford-Lewis Matthew Brown The placement of the law students highlighted the Amber Sutton Oliver Challands benefit to the Law Centre of having a paralegal in

How the Law Centre helped I feel I have made a contribution to the Law Centre by helping to meet our disadvantaged clients’ basic needs me as a volunteer? and also helping to prepare legal documents, undertaking research, interviewing clients and witnesses - Hazel Ford-Lewis and assisting in civil billing preparation. I was over the “I had always wanted to study law and go to university, moon when the Law Centre offered me a temporary but as a single parent it was not something I could ever Paralegal contract in October 2016. do. However, as my daughter left home to follow her own pathway, I was given the opportunity to study Law. I sold my home and moved to Derby to start studying at the University in Sept 2014. I was the first of the Law Student placed by Derby University. I started one day a week work placement at the Law Centre, in June 2016.”

I immediately felt welcome and included in the housing and debt team. I really enjoyed the experience I now hold a as it reinforced my learning and enabled me to meet and engage with real people, not just scenarios. Bachelor of Law Previous to my work placement I had not considered Degree with specialising in Social Welfare law. However, after seeing the impact it has on individuals and families it 2:1!” is something I now feel very passionate about. I therefore volunteered to do an extra day, even before my work placement came to an end. My volunteering day continued after my placement had finished and a new student from my course was in place.

Hazel Ford-Lewis

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 21 About Derbyshire Law Centre - Meet the Staff The team that helps the residents in Derbyshire

Sue Allard Wendy Bell Matthew Brown Sharon Challands Solicitor Administrator Paralegal Co-ordinator (Housing & Debt) (Reception) (Offices & Resources)

FC Jane Crossland AF Hazel Ford-Lewis Administrator Administrator Advocate for Paralegal (Finance) (Caseworker Support) Opportunity & Change

Lisa Haythorne Wyllie Hume Tony McIlveen Lorraine Mellors Solicitor Advice worker (Care Senior Solicitor Administrator (Housing, Debt & Act) for Opportunity (Immigration & (Caseworker Support) / Community Care) & Change Employment) Personal Navigator – Opportunity & Change

Andrew Montgomery Sally Preece Advice Worker Personal Navigator Ellen Taylor Steve Taylor (Housing & for Money Sorted in Advice Worker (Employment Advice Worker (Housing Employment) D2N2 & Litigants in Person project) and Community Care)

Teresa Waldron Nikki Tugby Coordinator Coordinator (Reception (Partnerships, Projects and Assessment and Social Policy) Services)

22 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 About Derbyshire Law Centre

Who do we help? Initial legal advice relates to: he Law Centre is open 11.5% Other 35 hours a week. Most T people’s first contact 4% Community Care is by telephone, although 1.5% Money Guidance an increasing number of 26% Housing people contact us by email 7.5% Family via our website as well as 0.5% Discrimination by text and in person. 3.5% Consumer

How many people 15% Debt 25% Employment have we assisted during the year? 1.5% Welfare Benefits 4% Immigration During 2016/17, we have: l Advised 4075 callers l Assisted 969 clients on complex cases Where do our enquiries come from?

37% Chesterfield 3% Derby City About our clients’ economic status: 3% Outside Derbyshire 1% South Derbyshire l 57% of clients are out of work. 8.5% Amber Valley l 3% are carers. 1% NFA l 23% of clients are insecure employment 5.5% High Peak l 14% not answered. 5.5% Erewash 17% North East l 3% are retired. 3% Derbyshire Dales Derbyshire 15.5% Bolsover

Type of cases: 6% Community Care

29% Debt The Specialist Casework Service 969 complex cases assisted on during this period. 45% Housing 15% Employment

1% Immigration 4% Money Guidance

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 23 About Derbyshire Law Centre Who do we help? Where do our casework l Prevented homelessness for nearly 96% of tenants and mortgagees represented at court by clients live? Derbyshire Law Centre. 4% NFA l 100% of the families with mortgages who 16% Bolsover received representation and after-court work 2% Derbyshire Dales were not made homeless.

7.5% Amber Valley l Secured accommodation for 48 homeless clients 42% Chesterfield 5% Erewash with no fixed abode.

17% North East Feedback from clients Derbyshire Of the 913 cases closed, only 86 (9%) feedback questionnaire were returned. The questionnaires 2% Derby confirmed that Derbyshire Law Centre had helped 1% South Derbyshire and that: 3% High Peak 0.5% Outside Derbyshire l 59% had increased their knowledge of their rights

Profile of casework clients l 41% had increased their confidence, self- 19% of clients identified themselves having a esteem, and /or well-being disability or long term health condition. l 63% had reduced their stress / anxiety levels 6% defined themselves as BME - Black or from another Ethnic Minority group. l 31% had reduced their depression 63.5% of our clients are female. l 30% the advice received had helped them to settle/stay in their accommodation

Age of our clients l 13% said the advice received helped them to 8% are under 24 years of age stay in work or seek a new job 66% are between the ages of 25 and 50 26% are older people (Age UK’s definition) l 59% are more confident about seeking advice when required 21% are more confident in Outcomes achieved for clients dealing with their own affairs For our clients we have: Complaints l Concluded 94% of all cases successfully It is with pleasure we can report that during this l Secured award/compensation for 68% of our reporting period we had no complaints from employment clients. clients who have received advice from a caseworker, legal executive or support worker. l Prevented eviction for 91.5% of all clients that we However, we did receive an expression of have represented at county court duty scheme. dissatisfaction from someone trying to access the service whose claim was out of time. Although a l Prevented eviction for 89.5% for all housing copy of our complaints leaflet was sent, no clients. written complaint was received.

24 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 About Derbyshire Law Centre Financial Review 2016/17 proved to be a successful year in How we spend our money terms of funding. The financial year ended with an overall surplus of £17,663. Of this, 2% Information and Resources £10,754 increased our unrestricted funds 5% Premises to £129,900.

We have increased income and funding from some 13% Administration existing sources and were successful in obtaining new European funds through partnership working with Advice Nottingham, Framework and Law Centres Network. This has given rise to four new projects, three of which required additional staff 80% Staffing members. These started in late 2016 and early 2017.

In January 2017, as part of the Chesterfield Borough Council’s asbestos removal programme at the Town Hall, Derbyshire Law Centre moved offices from the people bringing claims to Employment Tribunal. . lower ground floor to the ground floor. This has resulted in a rent free period for 2 months of the A new fund from North East Derbyshire District financial year 2016/17 (and continues into 17/18). Council has allowed Derbyshire Law Centre to This underspend is extremely beneficial financially employ its first Paralegal staff to provide additional for our organisation, despite the disruption caused service for the clients we advise and assist by by the move. increasing the number of Discretionary Housing Payment applications. Employment advice remains the most difficult area of law to fund. We have been successful in Our Legal Aid contract continues to perform well. obtaining new Access to Justice funding for the The office at Staveley was not meeting the needs of Litigants in Person Service (LiPS) which will guide our clients and so, early in 2017, we moved our office to Eckington Library. We regularly review the needs Income and expenditure of clients and assess which offices are best for them. As always, we are grateful to all the organisations Total Income 2016/2017 that fund our services, both directly and indirectly. The continued support from 3.2% Charged Service Income Chesterfield Borough Council, 2.4% Amber Valley Borough Derbyshire County Council, 1.5% AB Charitable Trust Council - Project Funding Bolsover District Council and 6% Bolsover District Council North East Derbyshire District 0.7% Living Rights Project - Grant and project Council, despite austerity 1.1% Access to Justice measures, is essential for the Pro Bono Project survival of our organisation as 22.6% Legal Aid Agency 6.1% N.E. Derbyshire District they provide core grants. This (Housing and Debt Contract, Couuncil - Grant and project costs then enables the Law Centre County Court Duty and profit costs) to retain the excellent 12.5% EMMA Project - specialist legal advice service Homelessness Prevention to Derbyshire’s residents and helps to lever in additional 10.7% Chesterfield 0.99% Miscellaneous funding. Thanks also to: Legal Borough Council Aid Agency, National Big (Grants and Projects) 17.9% Derbyshire County Lottery, Access to Justice Council - Grant and Foundation, Money Advice project funding 9.1% Big Lottery Fund - Service, The AB Charitable Building Better Opportunities Trust, Big Local, Derby 0.3% Grassland 4.9% Big Lottery Fund University, European Union Hasmoor Project - Help through crisis and Amber Valley Borough 0.1% Police & Crime Council. Commissioner - Project funding

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 25 About Derbyshire Law Centre List of Directors 2016 - 2017

Sharon Blank Derbyshire County Council David Shaw Citizens Advice Chesterfield - until May 2017 Julie Skill Derby and District Law Society Howard Borrell Chesterfield Borough Council from 2.11.16

Chris Collard Individual Member Derrick Skinner Clay Cross Parish Council (Vice Chair) Marion Thorpe Touchstone Community Alan Craw Chesterfield Liberal Democrats Development Ltd Secretary - until 13.2.17 Elaine Tidd Staveley Town Council Mary Dooley Bolsover District Council - until May 2017 Jumoke Tuwuru African Caribbean Community Association John Duncan Age Concern (Treasurer) (Chesterfield and District) Sarah White Individual Member Secretary from 13.2.17 Jenny Flood Chesterfield Borough Council

Angelique Foster Derbyshire County Council from 4.5.17 Obituary Tricia Gilby Derbyshire County Council - until 24.4.17 Cameron Philpott Michael Gordon North East Derbyshire (Chair) District Council Earlier this year it was with great sadness that Colin Hampton Derbyshire Unemployed we learned of the death Workers Centres of Cameron Philpot. Cameron was a member Mary Honeyben Individual Member of Management Committee for over 25 years and was in the role Barry Lewis Derbyshire County Council of Vice-Chair over a considerable length of time from 23.6.17 during that period. His contribution and dedication to the aims of the Law Centre was John Morehen Staveley Seniors immeasurable. He was big supporter of the Law Centre Movement. He had been an Executive Committee Member at Law Centres Karl Reid Bolsover District Council Network. We miss his support and offer his from 4.5.17 family our sincere condolences.

26 Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 About Derbyshire Law Centre Individual & Organisational members

Individual Member Bamford with Thornhill Parish Heath Properties Tenants Council Association Keith Brown Belper Town Council Hulland Ward Parish Council John Alan Craw Bradwell Parish Council Links CVS Chris Collard Bretby Parish Council Matlock Town Council Andrew Cross Brimington Disabled Club Muslim Welfare Association - Chloe Doxey Brimington Parish Council Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Rachel Driver Burnaston Parish Council North Derbyshire Domestic David Eccles Violence Action Group Chesterfield Ability Graham Fairs North Derbyshire Womens Aid Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Terry Gilby Tinnitus Support Group NE Derbyshire Labour Party Patricia Gilby Chesterfield Constituency Labour North Derbyshire Community Drug Mark Grayling Party Team Mike Greenhalf Chesterfield Liberal Democrats North Derbyshire Forum for Mental Health Carers Mary Honeyben Chesterfield Muslim Association Old Bolsover Town Council Linda James Chesterfield Town Centre Genet Morley Children’s Centre Our Vision Our Future Kevin Morley Citizens Advice Chesterfield Overseal Parish Council Dennis Mullings Citizens Advice Derbyshire Districts RELATE Chesterfield Catherine Muyunda Clay Cross Parish Council Rural Action Derbyshire Jackie Norris Community Mental Health Team - SAIL Martin O'Kane Chesterfield Sanctuary Housing Cameron Philpot Cross Counties Development Trust Shirland and Higham Parish Council (deceased Feb 2017) Cruse Bereavement Care Sight Support Derbyshire Enid Robinson Deaf and Hearing Support - SPODA Hazel Rotherham Chesterfield Staveley Seniors Forum Y Sorefan Derby and District Law Society Staveley Town Council Marion Thorpe Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service Stenson Fields Parish Council Margaret Vallins Derbyshire Coalition for Inclusive Stoney Middleton Parish Council Living Tom Vallins Stonham Housing Association Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group Alison Westray-Chapman The Volunteer Centre - Chesterfield Sarah White Derbyshire Unemployed Workers and North East Derbyshire Centre Tibshelf Parish Council Dronfield Baha'is Organisational Members Tontine Road Carers Support Group Eckington Parish Council 50+ Inspired Group Touchstone Community African Caribbean Community Elmton with Creswell Parish Development Ltd Council Association TRUST Grassmoor, Hasland and Winsick Age Concern - Chesterfield and UNISON - CBC District Parish Council UNISON - NEDDC Age UK - Derby and Derbyshire Guinness Northern Counties Housing Association Unit 10 Aldercar and Langley Mill Parish Unstone Parish Council Council Hartington Upper Quarter Parish Council USDAW - Chesterfield Asian Association of Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Heanor and Loscoe Town Council Whitwell Parish Council Ault Hucknall Parish Council Heath and Holmewood Parish Wingerworth Parish Council Council Baha'i Faith Community Winster Parish Council Wirksworth Parish Council

Derbyshire Law Centre • Annual Report 2016-17 27 Branch offices Bolsover Eckington Bolsover Library, Church Street, Bolsover, Eckington Library, Market Street, Eckington, S21 4JG Derbyshire, S44 6HB Ilkeston Buxton In the office of Citizens Advice Derbyshire Districts, In the office of Citizens Advice Derbyshire Districts Albion Leisure Centre, East Street, Ilkeston, DE7 5JB Bureau, 26 Spring Gardens, Buxton, SK17 6DE Ripley Chesterfield In the office of Amber Valley CVS, In the offices of VHS Fletchers Solicitors/Banner 33 Market Place, Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3HA Jones Solicitors, 2 Marsden Street, Chesterfield, S40 1JY

Designed by North East Derbyshire District Council. 8725