Press Releases pre-May 2010

From tomorrow, (April 1st), members of the public can get help with their welfare and legal problems from a new, county-wide Community Legal Advice Service (CLAS), available in 12 locations across West Sussex.1  

Run by the West Sussex Citizens Advice Bureaux Consortium, the Service will be delivered by the Citizens Advice Bureaux in West Sussex and housing charity, Shelter.  Although both already provide help in the county, this new Service will allow them to deliver more joined-up services that reflect the current needs of local communities.        

For instance, recognising that many people have more than one problem, the new Service will offer help with a full range of civil problems relating to: debt, employment, housing, community care and welfare benefits.  From July, it will extend this service range to include family law.

Members of the public will be able to access the service through a county-wide telephone number – 0844 477 1171 – or by dropping into one of the 12 centres. People living in the more remote parts of the county, or who are unable to travel into town, can visit a local advice outlet nearer to them.2 

To make sure that everyone receives the right level of help, service users will be offered an initial interview to assess their needs, given relevant information and, if the problem requires further help, offered an appointment with a general or specialist advisor.  This may lead to a legal aid application for, for instance, legal advice and representation in court. 

The service was commissioned by the Legal Services Commission (LSC), the organisation that runs legal aid in England and Wales, West Sussex County Council and the seven district and borough councils in West Sussex.  Collectively, they will invest over £7.25 million3 between now and 2013 to ensure that people get access to justice. 

In support of the service, Lord Bach, Legal Aid Minister, said. “Legal Aid Minister Willy Bach said:
 
"It is my absolute priority to ensure that as many people as possible can receive the legal help and advice they need, and I am confident that the West Sussex Community Legal Advice Service will help thousands of people in the local community every year.
 
“I have been visiting Community Legal Advice services right around the country and have seen, first-hand, the terrific job they are doing helping people with everything from debt, welfare, housing, family and employment problems. I am convinced that by helping the people of West Sussex with early legal advice and help, we can save them time, money and stress and also prevent problems from escalating into more serious issues."

The Consortium’s new CLAS manager, Claire Armstrong, added:

“We are looking forward to delivering a high quality service to the citizens of West Sussex. Access to good advice can really change people’s lives. Our social policy work will enable us to identify trends and carry out preventative work to help all citizens and not just those who contact the service. Our aim is that no-one should suffer through a lack of good advice.”