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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 1d

Even people who get favourable Employment Tribunal judgments do not end up getting their payouts. Now, once again, the government is considering introducing fees for making claims.

This is a step backwards that will harm workers’ rights.

Thousands of workers who won at Employment Tribunal yet to see a penny

Investigation finds that nearly £36m out of £46m in ET awards over the past decade remains unpaid.

www.lawgazette.co.uk

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Reposted by Law Centres Network

Greater Manchester Law Centre @gmlawcentre.bsky.social · 8d

The government is coming under renewed pressure to scrap the two-child benefit limit. The two-child limit deprives parents of further child benefit when their third or later child was born after 6/04/17. It now affects 1.67 million children.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Scrapping child benefit cap makes economic sense, Rachel Reeves told

Senior Labour MP and leading economist urge the chancellor to scrap the two-child benefit cap.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 4d

Vauxhall Law Centre in Liverpool is situated in one of England’s most deprived areas.

The Law Centre’s new impact report is a must-read for anyone working on solutions to #UKPoverty and homelessness. 👇

Impact Report 2024 – 2025

Developing community-led access to justice

heyzine.com

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 7d

Structural barriers like unaffordable childcare, harsh welfare rules and insecure employment trap women in poverty.

Learn how @ce-lawcentre.bsky.social is helping women challenge injustice and build financial security.
🔗 www.wbg.org.uk/publication/...

A title that reads:
Gendered poverty

Text below which reads:
• 4 out of 10 single-parent households are in poverty
• 9 out of 10 single parents are women

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 10d

FLOWS is a national service that supports women experiencing domestic abuse. It provides free legal advice to keep survivors and their loved ones safe.

FLOWS could be a lifeline to you or someone you know. Chair of RCJ Advice, Lord Justice Peter Jackson, leads a call to spread the word.

Lord Justice Peter Jackson, Chair of RCJ Advice

Hear from the Chair of RCJ Advice, speaking about the work of our national service that supports survivors of domestic abuse, FLOWS (Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors). The service helps…

www.youtube.com

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 13d

Dr Liz Curran and Central England Law Centre's Claire Stern discuss legal secondary consultations, a collaborative approach to working with vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

Approaches like this deliver better outcomes for the community and save money for public services.

Reaching underserved communities to tackle inequality

A recent report highlighted the critical role of trusted intermediaries. It provides “fresh evidence to inform early intervention and public legal education strategies".

www.legalfutures.co.uk

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 16d

LCN has contributed to a new report on the importance of volunteering to UK society.

Volunteers have played a key role in the Law Centres movement since its origins in the 1970s. And to this day, volunteers keep justice alive in places where it is needed most.

Learn more: www.works-4u.com/what-if

A black and white photograph of Law Centres lawyers and supporters standing outside the office of North Kensington Law Centre in the 1970s. Writing on the window of the office reads ‘please come in and sign our petition.’

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 19d

“If they allowed the players equal footing, there would be no need to take away our precious public park.”

Driven by community power, @pilc-campaigns.bsky.social is fighting to save London green space.

New legal challenge to plan for Spurs football academy in London park

Campaigners crowdfund £26,000 to seek judicial review of move to construct pitches in wildlife-rich area

www.theguardian.com

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 21d

This week, the Employment Rights Bill entered its final stages. The reforms are missing a key opportunity to strengthen workers' rights.

In our February newsletter we discussed the need for #AccessToJustice provision.
🔗 mailchi.mp/adb9d58994f9...

In a blue graphic, an image of Julie Ehlen, chief executive of Equality & Employment Law Centre.

A quote from Julie which reads: “These changes risk becoming meaningless if people cannot access free employment advice.”

Text below which reads: "Employment Rights Bill."

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 26d

Southwark Law Centre is supporting a community campaign to challenge a controversial housing development in South London.

Campaigners argue that the scheme will displace local businesses and is likely to increase house prices in the area.

Help the people of Peckham to fund their legal team! 👇

Peckham Not For Sale

A local resident, who is extremely concerned about the social and economic impacts on Peckham, if this monstrous Berkeley Homes plan gets the go-ahead. Member of Aylesham Community Action.

www.crowdjustice.com

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 27d

Last year, we published a report into UK police standards and practice. We found inconsistency in how police forces collect and record victims’ language needs.

There’s a way forward—one that will get us closer to equal treatment for all victims of crime, regardless of language proficiency. 👇

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www.lawcentres.org.uk

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Sep 8

❌ Child interpreters
❌ Inconsistent training
❌ Poor data collection

Victims with language support needs are being locked out of justice. 🔒

Our research has worrying implications for police competence and transparency. 👇

Language support for victims of crime: “a big mountain to climb”

A guest blog contribution from The Bell Foundation: The Law Centres Network recently submitted Freedom of Information Requests to 49 police forces across the UK and analysed the responses to understan...

www.clinks.org

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Sep 5

“It was like someone had finally turned the light on in a really dark room.”

📢 NEW REPORT

Learn how a Law Centre service is supporting women experiencing domestic abuse to access life-saving legal protections. 👇

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www.lawcentres.org.uk

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Sep 1

It’s one of several Law Centre health justice partnerships that is delivering better outcomes for patients and savings for the NHS! 💰 (2/2)

@ce-lawcentre.bsky.social

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Sep 1

Treating NHS patients with… justice? ⚖️

Legal problems—like problems with housing and benefits—can be the cause of ill health. Central England Law Centre has been working alongside local GPs to solve them. (1/2)

A title which reads:
“The impact of a health justice partnership”

Bullet points which read:
•Nearly £1 million in financial gains for patients from benefits, debt relief and grant applications

•17 households supported to access emergency accommodation

•Half of patients saw a reduction in clinical appointments

Behind the text:
A background image of a stethoscope

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Aug 29

Different origins, same Law Centre spirit!

Two of our members celebrated anniversaries this summer: South West London Law Centres and Greater Manchester Law Centre.

Learn a little about their histories in the latest edition of our newsletter.
🔗 mailchi.mp/53b00013c6f8...

A banner for the former Battersea & Wandsworth Law Centre. It has been displayed on the wall of South West London Law Centres’ office, and situated in front of it are framed accolades for the Law Centre and its staff.

Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Aug 26

Target reached ✅

The Save Whitewebbs Park fundraiser has smashed its target of £20k meaning @pilc-campaigns.bsky.social can go ahead with a legal challenge.

PILC is fighting with local residents to save the London park from privatisation.

Crowdfunder launched to pay for fresh Whitewebbs legal challenge

The Guardians of Whitewebbs group wants to launch a judicial review against Enfield Council's decision to award planning permission for Spurs to fence off part of the park

enfielddispatch.co.uk

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Aug 22

The government has committed to co-producing the upcoming Timms Review with disabled people.

But for co-production to be conducted meaningfully, we have four recommendations. With @turn2us.org.uk and 16 other charities, LCN has written to the Minister for Social Security and Disability. 👇

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www.lawcentres.org.uk

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Aug 19

By the government's own analysis, 150,000 more people will be living in relative poverty by 2030.

Greater Manchester Law Centre breaks down the Universal Credit Bill. 👇

On the disability benefit cuts (the ‘Universal Credit Bill’) – Greater Manchester Law Centre

GMLC campaign volunteer Elliot Ross writes on the Universal Credit Bill, arguing we should continue to oppose it despite concessions.

www.gmlaw.org.uk

Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Aug 16

Many stations across the UK lack the services or facilities that disabled people require to use them.

Derbyshire Law Centre is working to build a fairer rail system. Learn how:
🔗 www.lawcentres.org.uk/news/the-fig...

A graphic which reads:
Across Derbyshire’s 33 stations…
•A third have no step-free access
•91% have no ‘national key’ disabled toilets
•73% have no staff help available
•18% have no ramp for train access
•None have changing places

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Aug 13

PILC interviewed Emma from South Norwood Community Kitchen who discussed the impact on local people.

See further coverage in MyLondon. 👇

(2/2)

Mums and babies left waiting near flyover after housing drop-in shut

Croydon Council has been described as a "dumping ground" for housing cases across London, leading to immense pressure on local services

www.mylondon.news

Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Aug 13

⚖️ Legal challenge:

@pilc-campaigns.bsky.social is taking Croydon Council to court for its decision to close walk-in homelessness services.

The Law Centre argues that this kind of council gatekeeping discriminates against people who lack computer literacy or internet access. (1/2)

PILC launches High Court challenge to closure of walk-in homelessness support •

Earlier this month, PILC issued a claim for Judicial Review against Croydon Council, challenging its decision to end all walk-in access at its main housing service offices. This change means residents...

www.pilc.org.uk

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Aug 10

Hetticia McIntosh was supported by Southwark Law Centre to secure compensation for #Windrush injustice. Now, she’s calling on the government to provide legal representation to all Windrush survivors.

‘It’s about justice’: the couple pushing for legal aid for Windrush scandal claims

Home Office behaviour has convinced Hetticia and Vanderbilt McIntosh that only experts lawyers can change system

www.theguardian.com

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Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Aug 7

This work has brought greater stability to the community, reduced strain on public services and boosted the local economy.

Entering its second decade, the Law Centre assures us that it will continue to swim against the tide—louder, braver, and more rooted in community than ever! (3/3)

Law Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · Aug 7

At a recent anniversary event, the Law Centre reflected on ten years of impact:

🪙 Securing over £10 million in benefits income for local people

🛡️ Shielding over 2,000 people from homelessness

💪 Training over 300 volunteers, with 18 going on to become barristers

(2/3)

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