1. South Tyneside Community Legal Service Partnership

2. National Context The Access to Justice Act 1999 – Replaced the Legal Aid Board with the Legal Services Commission to Administer the Legal Aid Scheme (Criminal and Civil) and create a Community Legal Service. Requirement to improve the range and quality of Legal and Advice services, to set quality mark standards and to identify and meet unmet need

3. South Tyneside Community Legal Service Partnership was established in April 2003 in response to the National Strategic Policy Direction of the Legal Services Commission to provide for a more focussed commissioning of Legal and Advice Services to meet priority needs. South Tyneside Partnership Chair – Councillor Bill Brady Vice Chair – Councillor Jim Sewell Lead Officer – Keith Hannah, Head of Service

4. South Tyneside Community Legal Service Partnership Key Aims:- Develop and agree multi-agency protocols for referral of Legal Services Map the provision of advice and identify unmet need in South Tyneside Prepare a Strategic Advice Plan for the Borough

5. Current Membership of the Partnership South Tyneside Welfare Rights Service South Tyneside Consumer Advice Service South Tyneside Homelessness Advice Service South Tyneside Homes Citizens Advice Bureau Hebburn Neighbourhood Advice Service Boldon Lane Neighbourhood Advice Service South Tyneside Central Organisation on Disabilities Age Concern

6. Organisations funded by the council and providing advice and support: Apna Ghar South Tyneside Arab and Muslim Community Services

7. Legal Services Commission New Five Year Strategy Changes to funding structure Development of Community Legal Advice Centres (CLAC’s) and Community Legal Advice Networks (CLAN’s) as new service models for the delivery of service improvement Withdrawal of the Legal Services Commission from Local Partnerships

8. Recent Developments in South Tyneside Strong Partnership recognised by Legal Services Commission and encouraged to continue. The Council’s Cabinet in December 2006 agreed a new vision for the Partnership. ‘TO PROVIDE A STRATEGIC AND CO-ORDINATED APPROACH TO ADVICE AND SUPPORT SERVICES WITHIN THE BOROUGH THAT WILL COMPLIMENT OTHER INITIATIVES AND SUPPORT THE LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP IN ADDRESSING INEQUALITY AND DISADVANTAGE AND PROMOTING FINANCIAL INCLUSION’

9. To support the delivery of the local area agreement (LAA) with key aims to: –Provide a strategic overview and co-ordinate services that offer advice and legal support services –Help reduce poverty, including fuel poverty, by targeting services on those people in greatest need –Promote well-being and mental health by supporting people who have financial and debt issues –Link with other partnerships and organisations that provide support on financial inclusion issues –Support the work of the Local Strategic Partnership through its Local Area Agreement by reporting on its progress through the Safer and Stronger Communities Group.

10. In order to achieve these aims, services would be focussed on key target groups, including:- –Those people in living in the most deprived neighbourhoods within the Borough –People with mental health issues –Young people –Ethnic minority groups –People with disabilities

11. It would achieve these aims by a range of services and actions, including: –Increase average household income in real terms –Maximise benefit take-up –Reduce fuel poverty –Help people to reduce and manage debt –Promote access to low cost credit The Cabinet also recommended that the Partnership should report the delivery of the objectives through the Safer and Stronger Communities Theme

12. South Tyneside Community Legal Services Partnership Key Achievements Produced first strategic Advice Plan in 2004 which highlighted - Priority groups in terms of unmet need: Older People People with mental health problems Young People -Other groups where unmet need was identified: People with disabilities Victims of domestic violence Ethnic Communities

13. South Tyneside Community Legal Services Partnership Key Achievements - High level of unmet need for advice and support: 1.Welfare Rights 2.Debt 3.Employment 4.Housing

14. South Tyneside Community Legal Services Partnership Key Achievements Supported Beacon Status success for Financial Inclusion Developed signposting and referral protocols Developed ‘Rent Arrears’ protocols with South Tyneside Homes Formed sub-group to progress Strategic Advice Plan to improve help and advice to people with mental health issues Provided advice sessions for ‘Looked After Young People’

15. South Tyneside Community Legal Services Partnership Key Achievements Worked with ‘Connexions’ to produce information packs for young people. Worked with Age Concern to secure Department of Works and Pensions Partnership funding to provide improved services to elderly and sensory impaired people. Supported weekly outreach housing advice sessions at Hebburn and Boldon Lane Advice Centre