Press Releases

Better legal services for Hull residents are on their way as a tender launches to run one of the country’s first publicly-funded Community Legal Advice centres.

This joint funding initiative between the Legal Services Commission (LSC), the body responsible for managing legal aid, and Hull City Council provides a total budget of £3.5 million.

National research shows that about one third of all adults will experience legal problems in their lives but only about a half of them will seek advice. The research also highlights the importance of providing a range of legal advice services through one entry point that people know about and can access.

People who have family breakdowns or other relationship problems often find that these lead to further issues, for example, with debt or housing. All too often clients need to go to different providers to get each of their problems resolved. Once the Community Legal Advice centre is up and running people will be able to get all their problems dealt by the same provider, with services tailored to their individual needs.

People will be able to access legal advice and book appointments with the new centre via the Hull City Council’s existing eight Customer Service Centres (CSC) located around Hull. Over 130 services, such as applying for benefits or housing, getting bus passes, reporting street lighting repairs, picking up and getting help with council forms and paying bills, can already be accessed through Hull’s CSC scheme.

Carolyn Regan, Chief Executive of the Legal Services Commission, said: “This centre will present a much-needed gateway to the legal system that clients can access early in times of crisis. That can mean avoiding losing a home or having children taken into care. The council’s local knowledge plus our expertise in funding legal advice will come together to mean better access to justice for people in Hull while ensuring best use of tax-payers money.”

Cllr Abigail Walker, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for customer services, said: "The new service will ensure that people living in Hull have easy access to the advice they need to get help with problems such as housing and debt. It will ensure that the customer focus of the Council takes on a more rights-based approach to service delivery."

Tenders are invited from organisations, or groups of organisations working together, who can supply general and specialist legal advice and representation in social welfare, immigration and family law. Applicants must be able to set up and deliver services in Hull and appropriate outreach venues to ensure access to advice.

A tender information event will take place, next Thursday, November 29th, at the Octagon Centre in Walker Street. The event will give interested parties an opportunity both to hear more about the contract for the Centre and to ask questions about the specification and tender process.

The tender will close on 15 February 2008 and Hull City Council and the LSC will jointly decide on the successful bid. The tender documents and information will be accessible through Hull City Council’s website on Tuesday 27 November. More details on the tender information event are also available through this link. Interested parties are requested to register if they plan to attend.

Media information

• Dan Kellingley, Press Officer, Legal Services Commission: (Tel: 020 7759 0415)
• Anna Millar, Press Officer, Hull City Council: (Tel: 01482 613058).

Notes to editors

1. More than 4,600 local people were helped by legal aid in the Hull area last year.

2. There are eight Council Customer Service Centres (CSCs) at the following locations:

• Orchard Park CSC, Orchard Park Road, Hull, HU6 9BX
• Derringham Bank CSC, 16 Willerby Road, Hull, HU5 5JJ
• Holderness Road CSC, 1 The Mount, Holderness Road, Hull, HU9 2BN
• Walker Street CSC, The Octagon, Walker Street, Hull, HU3 2RA
• Ings CSC, Savoy Road, Hull, HU8 0TX
• Preston Road CSC, Preston Road Village Centre, 97 Preston Road, Hull, HU9 3QB
• George Street CSC, Kenworthy House, 98-104 George Street, Hull, HU1 3DT
• North Point CSC, 26 Goodhart Road, Bransholme, Hull, HU7 4EE.

With an Information Point pilot, due to become the ninth CSC at:       

• Newland CSC, Newland Primary School, Reynoldson Street, Newland Avenue, Hull HU5 3BD.