Your guide to Advice Services in

September 2016 What kind of advice do you need? Services available to everyone in Leicester: CC Community care: Welfare Rights Service, (W) • I need advice about how to apply for equipment and Advice line: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 1.00pm – 4.00pm services so I can live independently. Appointments available in children’s centres. • I think my community care assessment is wrong. leicester.gov.uk/welfarerights CP Consumer problems: [email protected] • I’m not happy with something I bought. 0116 454 5570 • I want to change my mobile phone contractor/gas/ Citizens Advice (CC, CP, D, E, F, H, I, W) electricity provider. Provides drop-in and telephone advice, home visits, and D Debt and finance management: specialist casework as part of the Advice Leicester contract. • I’ve taken out a loan and I can’t afford the repayments. Webchat service available at: adviceguide.org.uk • I can’t pay my bills. Email advice available through the website: leicscab.org.uk/ • My benefits have been cut. contact-form E Employment: 0300 330 1025 • I’m having problems at work. • I’ve lost my job. Drop in: Monday-Friday 9am – 4.30pm 3rd Floor, 60 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FB F Family: Appointments booked using the above number at Charles Street • I’ve separated from my partner and I want to see my and outreach sessions at the following community venues: children. • I’m thinking of getting divorced. The Brite Centre Appointments: Alternate Mondays 9.30am – 12.30pm H Housing and homelessness: Braunstone Avenue, Leicester, LE3 1LE • I’m worried about losing my home. The Oak Centre • What can I do if I become homeless? Appointments: Alternate Mondays 9.30am – 12.30pm I Immigration: Bendbow Rise, Leicester, LE3 1QA • I need advice about my right to remain in the UK. Library • I need help with my application for British citizenship. Appointments: Wednesdays 2pm – 5pm • I need to claim benefits. 321 Aikman Avenue, Leicester, LE3 9PW W Welfare benefits: Tudor Centre • I need help to claim benefits and tax credits. Appointments: Tuesdays 10am – 1pm • I need advice about how to challenge a benefits decision. Bewcastle Grove, Mowmacre Hill, Leicester, LE4 2JU Netherhall Community Centre Appointments: Alternate Fridays 10am – 1pm Armadale Drive, Leicester, LE5 1RT 2 3 Hamilton Library Leicestershire CAB ( Leicester City) Appointments: Alternate Fridays 10am – 1pm 0300 300 1025 Maidenwell Avenue, Hamilton, Leicester, LE5 1BL Appointments: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am – 1pm Southfields Library 3rd Floor, 60 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FB Appointments: Wednesdays 2pm – 5pm Renaissance House Saffron Lane, Pork Pie Island, Leicester, LE2 6QS 0116 225 6400 Appointments: Thursdays 12.30pm – 4.30 pm Wesley Hall Community Centre 20 Princess Road West, Leicester, LE1 6TP Appointments: Alternate Tuesdays 9.30am – 12.30pm 76 Harrington Road, Leicester, LE2 0GN Widening Horizons 0116 229 4035 St Matthews Tenants and Residents Association Appointments: Tuesdays 12.30pm – 4.30pm Appointments: Alternate Tuesdays 9.30am – 12.30pm 2 West Street, Leicester, LE1 6XP 88 Manitoba Road, Leicester, LE1 2ST Cobden Street Library 0116 262 0400 Appointments: Tuesdays 2pm – 5pm (only available to people involved with the Probation Service) Beaumont Way, Leicester, LE4 1DS Appointments: Wednesdays 10am – 3pm Compassion Centre Probation Service, 2 Cobden Street, Leicester, LE12LB Appointments: Thursdays 9.30am – 12.30pm Housing Court duty possession scheme for Leicester Trinity Life Church, Upper Tichborne Street, Leicester, LE2 1GL Monday to Friday 9.30am – 12.30pm; 1.30pm – 4pm St Barnabas Library County Court desk Appointments: Tuesdays 2pm – 5pm Revenues and customer support, Leicester City Council (D, H, W) French Road, Leicester, LE5 4AH leicester.gov.uk/housingbenefits Community Advice and Law Service (CALS) (D, H, W) leicester.gov.uk/counciltax Advice, casework and representation on debt, housing and 0116 454 1006 (housing benefits) welfare benefits, form-filling/note-taking services 0116 454 1005 (council tax, business rates and council tax cals.uk.net reduction) [email protected] Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 8.30am – 5pm 0116 242 1120 Wednesday: 9.30am – 5pm Friday: 8.30am – 4.30pm 1st Floor, Epic House, Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 3SH Community support grant team, Leicester City Council Appointments available at Epic House and at outreach sessions Crisis and support grants to assist with financial hardship. at the following community venues: Telephone applications only. Beaumont Leys Library leicester.gov.uk/csg 0116 252 1120 0116 454 1019 Appointments: Thursdays 9.30am – 1pm Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5pm Beaumont Way, Leicester, LE4 1DS Out of hours contact the emergency duty team on 0116 255 1606 4 5 Housing options, Leicester City Council (D, H) Advice services for particular groups or Advice on housing and homelessness. leicesterhomechoice.co.uk communities: [email protected] 0116 454 1008 Mosaic: shaping disability services (CC, D, W) Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am – 5pm Who can we help? Disabled people and carers. Tuesday 1pm – 5pm mosaic1898.co.uk Friday 9am – 4.30pm 0116 231 4425 Monday – Thursday 9am – 5pm Christians Against Poverty (D) Friday 9am – 4.30pm Specialist advice on budgeting, debt management, bankruptcy 2 Oak Spinney Park, Ratby Lane, Leicester, LE3 3AW and evictions. capuk.org Age UK (CC, W) [email protected] Who can we help? People over 50 years of age. 0800 328 0006 ageukleics.org.uk All Nations Church, 10 Frog Island, Leicester, LE3 5AG 0116 299 2233 Advice line: Monday – Friday 11am – 4pm Trinity Money Advice Leicester (D) Clarence House, 46 Humberstone Gate, Leicester, LE1 3PJ Specialist advice on budgeting, debt management, bankruptcy and creditor negotiation. Bangladeshi Youth and Cultural Shomiti (CC, D, H, W) trinitymoneyadvice.org.uk Who can we help? Primarily Highfields and St Matthews [email protected] residents. 0116 319 2636 or 07512 677072 bycs.org.uk Trinity Hall, Trinity Lane, Leicester, LE1 8DP 0116 275 5855 Drop in: Wednesday 10am – 1pm, Thursday 10am – 1pm Shelter Housing Aid and Research Project (SHARP) (H, W) Appointments: Monday 10am – 4.30pm, Thursday 10am – 1pm leicestershelter.org.uk 30 - 32 Biddulph Street, Leicester, LE2 1BF 0116 254 6064 Monday to Friday 10am – 2pm Moneywise Leicester (D) 13 Welford Road, Leicester, LE2 7AD Support people in social housing and give advice on money management, budgeting, accessing grants and improving financial confidence. getmoneywise.org.uk 0116 242 1153 Drop-in sessions: Monday-Friday 10am – 2pm 165 Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 6FE Monday 10am – 13pm The Bridge, Salvation Army, Kildare Street, Leicester, LE1 3FY 6 7 Thursday 10am – 12pm tenants’ advice line: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm York House, 91 Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 6FB No public address but appointments can be arranged. Thursday 10am – 12pm Race Equality Centre (H, I, W) Open Hands Compassion Unit, Who can we help? Refugees 23-25 Highfield Street, Leicester, LE2 1AB theraceequalitycentre.org.uk Highfields Centre (CC, D, E, F, H, I, W) 0116 2042790 Who can we help? Primarily Highfields and St Matthews Appointments: Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm residents. Advice on welfare benefits, housing, debt, 2nd Floor, Phoenix Yard, 5-9 Upper Brown Street, Leicester LE1 immigration, nationality, education and general. 5TE Provided in English, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Kutchi. Supporting tenants and residents (STAR) (D, H, W) highfieldscentre.ac.uk STAR provides tenancy support for new and existing council 0116 253 1053 tenants to prevent homelessness and help sustain tenancies. Drop in sessions: Tuesday 9.30am – 12.30pm Appointments: Self-referrals and agency-referrals accepted. Monday 12.00 – 3pm Email: [email protected] Saffron Resource Centre (D, H, W) Beaumont Leys Who can we help? Freeman, and 0116 225 4780 residents. Braunstone & City srcentre.org.uk 0116 454 6420 [email protected] 0116 283 7212 St Matthews & Highfields Appointments: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm 0116 454 6000 432 Saffron Lane, Leicester, LE2 6SB New Parks Somali Development Services (D, H, W) 0116 291 4655 Who can we help? Refugees and other migrants. Advice Saffron/ Eyres Monsell and support with benefits, housing, health, utility bills, debt, 0116 229 3610 education and immigration. Also acts as intermediaries for other businesses. Welfare Rights (Mental Health) Leicester Partnership Trust Who can we help? Telephone advice for people with mental sds-ltd.org health conditions, and their carers. 0116 285 5888 Drop-in sessions: Monday to Thursday 10am – 3pm lampdirect.org.uk

Appointments: Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm 0116 225 6222 Advice line: Tuesday – Friday 9.30am – 12.30pm 39 Abingdon Road, Leicester, LE2 1HA Brandon Mental Health Unit, Leicester General Hospital, Income management team, Leicester City Council (D, W) Gwendolen Road, Leicester, LE5 4PW Who can we help? Council tenants only 0116 454 1007 – ask for income management team LCC 8 9 Legal aid private solicitors in Leicester The following list includes private solicitors who have a contract with the Legal Services Commission: Legal aid can help you pay for legal advice, mediation or Immigration advice (I) representation in court if you can’t afford it. You might be able to Midland Immigration Services get legal aid for problems like: misuk.org • being arrested, questioned or charged by the police 0116 266 9697 • debt – for example, where you might lose your home 255 Melton Road, Leicester, LE4 7AN • housing – for example, if you’re being evicted Duncan Lewis Solicitors • family issues, such as getting a divorce duncanlewis.co.uk • education, such as disagreeing with a special educational 0116 442 2104 needs decision about your child 60 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FB • community care – for example, if you’re unhappy with care being provided for an older or disabled relative. Immigration Advice Service iasservices.org.uk/leicester To find out if you are eligible and to claim legal aid, you can 0116 352 7004 contact Civil Legal Advice. If appropriate they will direct you to a Imperial House, St Nicholas Circle, Leicester, LE1 4LF local organisation that can help you. Burton & Burton Solicitors Civil Legal Advice 0845 094 2500 gov.uk/legal-aid 19b Kent Street, Leicester, LE5 3BD deaflawcentre.org.uk/community-legal-advice 0345 345 4 345 French & Co Solicitors Minicom: 0345 609 6677 0116 326 3636 5 Museum Square, Leicester, LE1 6UF Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm, Saturday 9am – 12.30pm SKR Legal Solicitors Calls cost 4p a minute from a BT landline. Mobile calls usually cost skr-legal.com more. 0116 254 6246 You can ask Civil Legal Advice for a free call back – use the online 131a Road, Leicester, LE2 1QJ service at gov.uk/legal-aid or text ‘legalaid’ and your name to Family advice (F) 80010. The Smith Partnership They will call you back within 24 hours and also have a free smithpartership.co.uk translation service if English isn’t your first language. You can also 0116 247 2000 get advice in British Sign Language. Court, 5B New Walk, Leicester, LE1 6TE Bray and Make sure you have details of your and your partner’s: Bray Solicitors • benefits braybray.co.uk • income, savings and spending 0116 254 8871 • national insurance number(s). 36-42 Humberstone Road, Leicester, LE5 0AE 10 11 Scutt Beaumont Solicitors Web addresses and telephone numbers for sbs-solicitors.co.uk 0116 254 4200 welfare, debt and consumer advice 102 New Walk, Leicester, LE1 7EA Community Legal Advice Direct Emery Johnson Solicitors legaladviserfinder.justice.gov.uk emeryjohnson.com 0345 345 4345 0116 255 4855 3 - 5 Welford Road, Leicester, LE2 7AD National Debt Line nationaldebtline.org Johar & Company Solicitors 0808 808 4000 johars.com 0116 254 3345 Citizens Advice Consumer Service 70 Road, Leicester, LE2 0QD citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer_advice 0345 404 0506 Nelsons Solicitors nelsonslaw.co.uk Trading Standards 0116 222 6666 tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/consumer-advice Provincial House, 37 New Walk, Leicester LE1 6TU Citizens Advice Debtline Dodds Solicitors LLP leicscab.org.uk/money-advice dodds-solicitors.co.uk 0300 330 1025 0116 201 8566 Benefits Advice 32 Friar Lane, Leicester, LE1 5RA turn2us.org.uk Jones & Duffin 0808 802 2000 jonesduffin.co.uk ACAS (advice and guidance) 0116 222 1555 acas.gov.uk 142 Narborough Road, Leicester, LE3 0BT 0300 123 1100 Cartwright King Solicitors Shelter housing advice line cartwrightking.co.uk shelter.org.uk 0116 253 9222 0808 800 4444 Floor 5, Horsefair, 3 Horsefair Street, Leicester, LE1 5BP The Insolvency Service [email protected] 0300 678 0015 StepChange Debt Charity stepchange.org 0808 138 1111 Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm, Sat 8am – 4pm 12 13 Debt Advice Foundation Map of advice services debtadvicefoundation.org 0800 043 4050 Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm Tax Help for Older People taxvol.org.uk 0845 601 3321 The Pensions Advisory Service pensionadvisoryservice.org.uk 0300 123 1047 1

How much do these telephone calls cost? 3 0800 or 0808 Freephone numbers 1 A number of organisations use freephone numbers that start 0800 or 0808. 4 Calls are normally free of charge from landlines but charges may 2 apply from mobile phones. However, the operator must make an announcement before the call is connected telling the caller that 3 they will be charged (the announcement does not state the exact charge). Calls from mobiles typically cost up to 40p per minute. 5 1 Community Advice & Law Service 0845 numbers 2 The Race Equality Centre Calls are typically charged at between 1p and 11.5p per minute 2 6 3 Age UK depending on the time of day for landline customers. Calls from 4 Citizen’s Advice Bureau mobile phones generally cost between 20p and 41p per minute. 5 Leicester City Council Shelter Housing Aid & 6 More information on a range of topics is available at gov.uk Research Project (SHARP) 1 Clock Tower

2 Leicester Market 3 Town Hall

Some venues may change so please consult the agency website for further details before visiting 14 15 This booklet has been prepared in partnership by the Social Welfare Advice Forum and Leicester City Council.

It aims to tell people in Leicester about the free social welfare advice services available in the city.

You have to contact most services by telephone or email. Only a few services offer drop in sessions where no appointments are necessary.

The information in the booklet gives the key areas of advice that services provide. Many also may have specialist areas of expertise.

Most services provide free advice. However, some can only be provided free with legal aid and this is subject to an eligibility test.

Leicester September 2016