News & events
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Upcoming events
Invitation to tender for the delivery of civil legal aid services
The number of people helped through early civil legally aided advice has risen by more than a third in two years, to over 800, 000 in 2006/7. To ensure we continue to increase the number of people helped, we are inviting tenders from organisations wishing to deliver publicly funded civil legal advice services.The tender process will include allocating work in geographical areas where access needs to be improved, and also where providers can deliver integrated services for multiple categories of law. Further information and applications details can be found at: http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/tendering/civil_bids_rounds.asp
Local success stories
Rural and Coastal Communities Conference at the Eden Project
Rural and Coastal Communities Conference at the Eden Project
The conference provided a forum for all people with an interest in legal advice services in rural and coastal communities, to share experiences and ideas for improving access to legal aid. The event was attended by the Legal Aid Minister and senior members of the Legal Services Commission.
The conference explored issues and solutions on how services might be best provided in these areas - all in the setting of one of Cornwall’s most imaginative and attractive venues.
Innovative approach to victims & witnesses leads to prestigious award
Kevin Stephens and Martin Brennan with the award
The LSC’s Bristol office has won two major awards for an innovative DVD aimed at helping victims and witnesses.
The DVD entitled ‘Bristol Crown Court Witness Walkthrough’ scooped two awards at the Justice Awards 2006:
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‘Outstanding achievement in caring for witnesses’
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‘Partnership of the year: best example of joint working across the CJS’
For many victims and witnesses attending at court can be a major ordeal. The South & West Legal Services Commission combined forces with Avon and Somerset Criminal Justice Board to try and tackle this. They produced a DVD designed to walk victims and witnesses through what they can expect when they appear in court.
The DVD, one of the first of its kind in the country, was a collaboration between Kevin Stephens, then a member of the LSC’s Regional Communications Team and the Communications Officer from the Avon & Somerset Criminal Justice Board.
It introduces witnesses and victims to the different people they will meet in court, explains their roles and walks them through the trial process. By giving people advance warning of what to expect they find the whole court process more transparent and less intimidating.
The award, a Bristol blue glass paperweight, was presented to Martin Brennan on behalf of the LSC by the Lord Mayor of Bristol at the Thistle Hotel.
The DVD can be seen on-line at the Avon and Somerset Criminal Justice Board.
For more information please contact Kevin Stephens ext 3025 or Martin Brennan ext 3160
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Bristol staff raise £225 for St. Peter's Hospice
Katy Muncey
St. Peter’s Hospice was chosen by LSC staff as their Christmas charity. They held a Christmas party and raised £225 by selling tickets, holding a raffle and donating money instead of sending Christmas cards. Prizes for the raffle included a beautiful bunch of sunflowers, kindly donated by Harold and Maude Florists in Bristol.St. Peter’s Hospice provides specialist care and support to around 1600 local people with an incurable illness every year, as well as supporting their families and children. It is dependent on the community and businesses of Bristol for £4 million of funding every year.
Trevor Reid, PR and Fundraising Director for the charity said: “Many thanks for the very generous cheque you so kindly collected. We’re delighted to receive donations for the hospice, which offers a vital free service to the people of Bristol”.
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20 years ‘long service award’ for Robin Richards
Geoff Mountjoy and Robin Richards
Legal Services Commission solicitor Robin Richards celebrated 20 years service in January 2006. Bristol staff gathered to watch Robin receive his award from Regional Director Geoff Mountjoy.
Robin, who is a keen tennis player and rambler, was presented with a tennis racket and walking boots.
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Skydivers help Bristol’s homeless
Nicole Mason and her instructor
Homeless people in Bristol are to benefit from money raised by novice skydivers from the Legal Services Commission’s (LSC) Bristol office.
Crisis, the national charity which helps homeless people, benefited from a competition held in the LSC’s Bristol Office to find two members of staff who would be willing to jump out of an aeroplane for charity.
Nicole Mason and Katy Muncey made tandem skydives at Cirencester airfield, raising over £1150, which was donated from their LSC colleagues.
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Donations aid survivors of domestic abuse
Sue Jeffries (Survive representative) and Gemma Stevens
Survivors of domestic abuse are to benefit from donations made by staff at the Legal Services Commission’s Bristol office.
Domestic violence project, ‘Survive’ was chosen by staff as their Christmas charity. Over Christmas and the new year staff held a raffle, donated money instead of sending Christmas cards and bought essential items requested by the project.
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People skills award for Legal Services Commission
The Legal Services Commission in Bristol celebrated their success in achieving Investors in People status. The occasion was marked with a giant cake decorated with the logos of Investors in People and the Community Legal Service.
This award recognises that the Commission meets a national standard for training and developing its 80 staff based in Queen Square. It is only the third Legal Service Commission office out of 12 in the country to achieve Investors in People status.
The celebration was shared by trainee solicitors at South West Law in Old Market who are funded by the Commission to do legal aid work.
More detailed information on above activities and events can be found under Related Documents on the right hand side of this page.
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Committee dates
Please contact Emma Abbott on 0117 302 3000 for more information about committees.
Last updated: 18 April 2006