ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017
The Service Community Law Service (Northampton and County) is a registered charity and an independent specialist social welfare advice provider. The aim of the organisation is to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents through tackling social and financial exclusion, alleviating poverty and advancing education. This is achieved through the provision of specialist advice, information, representation, training and consultancy services currently in the fields of Welfare Benefits, Debt, Financial Capability, Energy Advice, Housing, Employment Law and Immigration / Nationality Law. CLS has held the advice Specialist Quality Mark since 2000 and our services range from one-off specialist advice to a comprehensive specialist casework service and representation at court and tribunal. Our services are for all but are particularly focused on supporting vulnerable client groups and we offer a mixed model of service delivery aimed at promoting equality of access to services. This includes community outreach services, home visits, advice centre appointments and advice by telephone or email. We have well developed partnerships and referral arrangements in place with a wide variety of agencies across Northamptonshire and contribute to local social policy development in respect of social welfare issues. CLS maintains a diverse funding base including support from Northampton Borough Council, East Northants Council, the Legal Aid Agency, the Money Advice Service, First for Wellbeing, charitable bodies such as the Lottery, Children In Need and British Gas Energy Trust and donations from clients. Key Achievements 32,139 People provided with advice and information 11,068 New people provided with advice by specialist advisors 4,553 People provided with Welfare Benefits casework 526 People provided with advice and assistance in relation to Social Security Appeal Tribunals 17,958,236 Welfare Benefit income was claimed for local residents 2,669 People provided with Debt casework 31,342,413 Debt was managed on behalf of clients 381 Debt Relief Orders were administered 63 Bankruptcy petitions were supported 1,353 People provided with Housing advice casework 1,044 Housing Repossession and Eviction cases were represented in the County Courts 763 Housing Repossession and Eviction cases were represented through Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes 98% Success rate in respect of preventing Repossession and Eviction 1,181 People provided with holistic Fuel Poverty advice casework 676 People provided with Immigration casework 11 Immigration appeals supported 331 People provided with Employment Law casework 438 Home visits were undertaken for housebound clients 16,563 People accessed services through CLS Advice Shops and Centres 2,692 People accessed services through CLS community outreach venues 12,436 People accessed CLS services by telephone 47% People advised lived in Northampton Borough 39% People advised lived in other localities in the County 4% People advised lived in other areas 32,139 People provided with advice A range of training courses were provided throughout the year. P02 2016-2017 Annual Report 2016-2017 Annual Report P03
Welfare Benefit and Grant Income Claimed for Clients Ethnicity of People Advised: Employment Status of People Advised: Total: 17,958,236 1% 2% 8% 8% Tax Credits 7% Housing Benefit 21% 7% 1% 1% Council Tax Reduction 3% Disability Living Allowance 3% Attendance Allowance 3% 3% 40% Personal Independence Payment 2% Income Support 3% Jobseekers Allowance 3% Pension Credit 2% Statutory Sick Pay 4% Carers Allowance 4% 2% 3% 11% Not seeking 12% Part-time work 9% Retired 4% Carer 3% Student 10% Unemployed 14% Full-time work 33% Incapacity 22% Self employed 2% Other 21% Employment Support Allowance 1% Universal Credit 2% Grants and Other Benefits 3% 2% 40% Housing Tenure of People Advised: Debt Managed for Clients Total: 31,342,413 5,966,707 Rent / Mortgage Arrears / Secured Debt 1,407,670 Benefit Overpayments 1,254,865 Utility Debt 1,375,011 Council Tax Debt 21,338,160 Unsecured Credit Debt 71% White British 6% Asian or Asian British 7% Eastern European 10% Black or Black British 6% Other/Undisclosed Disability & Health 64% of clients assisted considered themselves to have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities. 11% Homeowner Mortgaged 7% Homeowner no mortgage 30% Housing Association 20% Private rented 3% Rent free 2% Homeless 7% Other 19% Local Authority P04 2016-2017 Annual Report 2016-2017 Annual Report P05
Our Service Delivery Access Points NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH (47% of people advised) CLS Advice Centre Hazelwood Road CLS Information and Access Point The One Stop Shop, the Guildhall Bellinge Community House Gateway Resource Centre (Northampton Bangladeshi Association) Berrywood Hospital Campbell House Northamptonshire Carers Greenview Surgery Leicester Terrace Health Care Centre Greenview Surgery Maple Access Practice Northampton County Court Hunsbury Children s Centre Northampton County Court Headway Northampton Community Events BOROUGH OF WELLINGBOROUGH (18% of people advised) CLS Advice Centre, FISH, Cambridge Street Isebrook Hospital Pravasi Day Centre Victoria Centre W.A.C.A Community Centre Hope and Skills Community Centre, Hemmingwell Glamis Hall Abbey Medical Centre Community Mental Health Team offices Community Events CORBY BOROUGH (4% of people advised) CLS Office at Citizens Advice EAST NORTHAMPTONSHIRE (18% of people advised) CLS Advice Centre, High Street, Rushden Rockingham Forest Housing Association Offices Thrapston Green Lane Clinic Oundle Library Thrapston Library Irthlingborough Library Raunds Library St Peter s and All Saints Church, Kingscliffe Rural Information Vehicle Community Events SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE (2% of people advised) Village Network Vehicle South Northants villages Community Events Home visits DAVENTRY DISTRICT (3% of people advised) CLS office at Citizens Advice Village Network Vehicle Daventry District villages KETTERING BOROUGH (4% of people advised) CLS Office at Citizens Advice St Mary s Hospital OTHER AREAS (4% of people advised) Cambridge County Court Peterborough County Court Banbury County Court Lincoln County Court (sub-contracted to local Citizens Advice) Boston County Court (sub-contracted to local Citizens Advice) P06 2016-2017 Annual Report 2016-2017 Annual Report P07
Our Funders Total: 1,195,754 East Midlands Money Advice Service CLS is an East Midlands Money Advice Service partner and has delivered the national Money Advice Service (MAS) funded face to face specialist Debt advice across Northamptonshire since 2006. The MAS funding supports 6 CLS specialist Debt advisors who provide appointments at CLS advice centres and at Countywide community based venues including Citizens Advice offices in Corby, Kettering and Daventry. Provision also includes telephone/email advice and home visits for the housebound. 1,971 1,142 211 340 1,971 People provided with specialist Debt advice 48% Lived in Northampton Borough 52% Lived in other localities in the County 1,142 People received face to face specialist Debt advice 211 People received specialist Debt advice by telephone or email 340 Debt Relief Orders were administered Having now dealt with my debts I am far more stable financially and feel confident I will be able to deal with financial issues in the future. 20,314,979 Debt was managed on behalf of clients P08 2016-2017 Annual Report 2016-2017 Annual Report P09
Children in Need Children s Benefit Take-Up Project Financial Health and Wellbeing Service 2016-17 saw the second year of our Children s Benefit Take-Up Project funded by Children in Need. The Project supports ill and disabled children to claim the benefits to which they are entitled and helps to maximise the whole family income. Support includes assistance with complex claim forms and other relevant follow-on work including ensuring that any awards are correct and assisting with reviews and appeals where appropriate. Access is also facilitated to other services which improve the lives of the children/young people such as vehicles via the Motability Scheme and aids or adaptations fitted to homes/gardens. In addition to supporting care and mobility needs of children the Project through the securing of additional income helps to provide improved access to social activities, contributes to providing a safe home environment and facilitates increased confidence and independence of children/young people. To have your help during the first stages of adoption has made such a big difference to all our lives. The award of Disability Living Allowance will enable our son to access speech and language services to progress his delayed speech. In December 2014, following the previous success of CLS s fuel poverty work in the County, British Gas Energy Trust provided funding for a new Financial Health and Wellbeing Service. This Project provides an holistic approach to tackling Fuel Poverty for local residents who are experiencing physical or mental health problems. CLS, by working directly with Health Professionals and establishing a single point of referral is facilitating access to advice and support at the earliest possible stage and help to prevent problems from escalating. The 4 full-time specialist advisors work directly with GP surgeries, Community Mental Health Teams, Berrywood Hospital and other health services to provide Debt, Benefits, Housing and Energy advice. Since it was established this new Service has gone from strength to strength with high levels of engagement from health staff and excellent outcomes achieved for clients. I had lost so much income due to a wrong benefit decision. I have really poor mental health and could not have got the decision changed without your help. 1167 Clients provided with advice 1456 Separate matters handled for clients 915 Clients were referred by GPs and other health professionals 1,116,530 Debt managed on behalf of clients ( 384,215 written off) 3,768,007 Welfare Benefit income maximised on behalf of clients 250 Grant applications made for assistance with fuel payments, DRO fees and essential household items 82% People whose cases had been completed reported that there had been improvement in their health 79% People advised reported they were more confident about managing their money 222 Children and their families provided with specialist Welfare Benefits advice 926,624 Welfare Benefit income and grants for children and families 98 Average increase in income per week for children and families supported 75% Families reported an increase in their children s social activities 85% Families reported an improved in their children s independence as result of the advice and support provided P10 2016-2017 Annual Report 2016-2017 Annual Report P11
Advice Services Contract The Advice Services Contract is a Countywide service providing specialist advice to local residents in the areas of Welfare Benefits, Debt, Housing and Employment Law. Community Law Service has held the contract since 2012 and provides specialist services across the County and sub contracts some services in the areas of Welfare Benefit and Debt to Citizens Advice partners in Daventry, Kettering, Corby and Brackley. Services are delivered flexibly across the County and are responsive to demand taking into account the availability of other funding to support residents with their advice needs. Previously funded by Northamptonshire County Council the funding transferred to First For Wellbeing in April 2016. 4,791 People provided with advice 3,000 People provided with Welfare Benefits advice 7,936,559 Additional Benefit and Grant income claimed 858 People provided with Debt advice 6,637,714 Debt managed on behalf of clients 610 People provided with Housing advice 331 People provided with Employment Law advice 51% People considered themselves to have a disability 21% People from BME communities 2,769 People advised by CLS 2,022 People advised by CA partners I was so worried about losing my home I couldn t sleep at night. My advisor represented me in court and now I am making regular payments to my arrears and am looking for work. 4,791 People provided with advice SNVB Village Networks Project Our service delivery as a partner in the Lottery funded Village Networks Project led by South Northants Volunteer Bureau was further developed during the year with outreach in the Daventry district in addition to continued provision in South Northants. Through this funding CLS provide specialist Welfare Benefits and Debt advice taking our services out to rural villages in the area on the Rural Information Vehicle which has onboard interview and internet facilities. The extra money means I am able to pay for extra carer time when I need it. I am housebound and can now afford my heating bills better. I feel much less stressed now and it was good to have someone fight my corner. 116 Residents provided with specialist advice and support 305 Enquiries handles 368.353 Welfare Benefit income claimed for residents 22,783 Debt managed for residents Residents were advised from 14 villages in the South Northants and 11 villages in the Daventry District. 116 Residents provided with specialist advice by CLS advisor P12 2016-2017 Annual Report 2016-2017 Annual Report P13
East Northamptonshire Service Wellingborough Service CLS successfully provided a range of advice services in Wellingborough for local residents from our offices at the FISH in Cambridge Street and at a number of outreach venues in the area during the Year. 2016-17 however was to see the last year of funding support from Wellingborough Homes both for CLS advice provision and for the FISH due to a change in the Housing Association s approach to funding external organisations. This change would see a reduction in the amount of advice available for local communities by 47% from April 2017. Notice of withdrawal of Lottery funding by Support Northamptonshire also gave rise to concern and toward the end of the Year CLS began to explore the viability and options for the continuation of advice delivery and maintaining a presence in Wellingborough in light of the funding cuts. The Service is a lifeline to people who are vulnerable. My Employment Support Allowance had stopped and I had to rely on the Foodbank to live and I was falling behind with my rent. My advisor managed to get my benefit back and I feel so much less stressed now. 1369 120 208 23 2016-2017 was another successful year of delivery of CLS services for residents in East Northamptonshire. The grant from East Northamptonshire Council combined with other funding sources provided an holistic specialist advice service for local people. This includes Debt, Welfare Benefits, Housing, Immigration, Employment and Fuel poverty advice. A mixed model of service delivery, including advice centre and outreach venue appointments, telephone advice, home visits, attendance at community events and outreach on the Village Networks Vehicle successfully helped to reach people in smaller towns and villages in addition to those living in Rushden and other larger towns. Toward the end of the Year came the good news that our application for a further three year grant from East Northamptonshire Council had been successful to enable us to continue providing advice to residents from April 2017. I am managing my money much better now as my advisor helped to increase my income and helped with budgeting. CLS supported me at a very bad time in my life and I don't know what I would have done without the service. 4540 People provided with information services 2401 People provided with advice by specialist advisors 5,089,763 Debt managed on behalf of clients 326,369 Debt written off for clients 2,560,506 Welfare Benefit and grant income was claimed for clients 82 People provided with court representation in respect of Housing Repossession 1369 People provided with Welfare Benefits advice 120 People provided with holistic Fuel Poverty advice 208 People provided with Housing advice and court representation Total: 2,150 People provided with specialist advice 7,857,642 Welfare Benefit income claimed for clients 3,986,723 Debt managed for client 47% People advised through funding from Wellingborough Homes 23 People provided with Employment law advice 391 People provided with Debt Advice 39 People provided with Immigration law advice 391 39 P14 2016-2017 Annual Report 2016-2017 Annual Report P15
49-53 Hazelwood Road, Northampton NN1 1LG Tel: (01604) 621038 Fax: (01604) 232412 Email: enquiries@communitylawservice.org.uk Website: www.communitylawservice.org.uk Twitter: @AdviceNorthants Registered Charity Number: 1128718 A company limited by guarantee in England No. 6830503