Social justice in action Working for social change Law Centre (NI) impact report 2016 Law Centre (NI)
How we help The Law Centre promotes social justice through expert legal services. We provide specialist legal support to disadvantaged individuals and to advice agencies. We work closely with our members and partners. OUR SERVICES Advice Casework Training Information Policy development OUR EXPERTISE Social security Community care Mental health Employment Trafficking and forced migration We provide: an advice line for members to refer clients or get support for their advice work; casework and representation service and strategic litigation work on referral from members; training for experienced and new advisers; an annually updated guide to social welfare rights, regular information bulletins and briefings on changes to law and policy; informed comment on changes to public policy and legislation; an annual social justice lecture; practitioner meetings on legal developments in social security, community care, mental health and policy meetings on immigration and asylum issues; support for cross-sectoral working groups on policy issues; support for MLAs and other policy makers through seminars, and through providing legal and policy information. Advice line: 028 9024 4401 - Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 1.00pm Employment, social security, and mental health 028 9024 4401 - Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm Independent Advice, Support and Mediation advice (Community Care) Independent Welfare Changes Helpline: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm Freephone 0808 8020020 - Citizens Advice, Advice NI and Law Centre (NI) Website: Twitter: www.lawcentreni.org @LawCentreNI Enewsletter: www.lawcentreni.org/publications/enewsletter.html We are committed to equality and human rights, pioneering, excellence, independence, accountability and partnership.
Social justice in action An overview by our director and chairperson 40 years of dentifying and responding to unmet need In 2016, as welfare reform changes began to roll out, our social security legal team has been a goto source of advice and guidance to the advice sector, elected representatives and others, giving them the legal support to navigate the changes affecting their communities. Law Centre training has also been supporting advisers through the changes. The Welfare Reform Group, convened by the Law Centre, continues to review and monitor the issues emerging from the welfare reform programme. As demand for representation increases as a result of welfare reform, the Legal Support Project continues to deliver access to justice to people who would otherwise be unrepresented. As the year closed, the Law Centre, Citizens Advice and Advice NI entered a new Welfare Reform Support Project together to ensure that all those affected will have access to high quality advice on their entitlements. The big news story of the year is, of course, the law and policy consequences of Brexit. The Law Centre s social security specialists provided early guidance to the advice sector on potential implications. The policy team worked with elected representatives and voluntary sector partners to begin to explore the immigration and other implications for local people, EEA nationals and others. Our autumn North-South Immigration Forum, supported by the Social Change Initiative, examined the impact on the Common Travel Area. Other important developments were the introduction of early conciliation in employment law disputes, and work starting on the Code of Practice to the Mental Capacity (NI) Act 2016. The Law Centre s mental health and social care legal advisers contributed their expertise to the Code, which will be critical to the success of the new law. As Lord Justice Gillen s Civil and Family Justice Review draws to a close, the response from the Department of Justice to the Access to Justice Review II remains outstanding. Both will be key Michael Beggs to the future of access to justice in Northern Ireland and the Law Centre will continue to play its role in the next steps. This year, we were delighted to welcome the UK-wide Law Centres Network to Belfast for its annual conference. With the generous support of The Atlantic Philanthropies and with our partners at the Social Change Initiative, we hosted a major international conference to explore the use of strategic litigation and policy advocacy to effectively change lives for the good. We secured a new service with the Health and Social Care Board to deliver legal advice and representation with extended helpline hours to meet the needs of service users and carers. The Law Centre s former Director left to take up studies at Queen s University in the autumn. As the year closed we also said goodbye to a number of long-serving staff. Sincere thanks go to all our staff and the Management Committee for their work and dedication this year. In the uncertain times ahead and with demand for legal advice and representation undiminished, there has never been greater need for the services of the Law Centre. As the Law Centre enters its fortieth year in 2017, we look forward to new partnerships, including with Queen s University Belfast. The Law Centre will continue to shine a light on how law and policy is experienced by our clients and to advocate for progressive change for those we represent and for the community as a whole. Ursula O Hare Director Catherine Couvert Ciaran McAteer Interim Chairperson 3
One year s achievements Catherine Couvert Casework 9,243 advice queries answered 523 new cases opened including: 423 specialist cases 100 Legal Support Project cases 397 court and tribunal representations (includes cases settled prior to hearing) 92 strategic / public interest cases opened Representation successes* Social security 71.7% Employment 100% Community care 89.5% Mental health 77.5% Anti-trafficking 63.2% Caroline Cooley, Legal Adviser for the Law Centre s Independent Advice, Support and Mediation Service (Community Care). * includes courts, tribunals and cases settled successfully through negotiation. Legal Support Project 1,900 pro bono hours giving legal support 100 new cases opened 90 tribunal representations Anti-Trafficking Young People Project (January 2016-2017) 16 new cases opened 19 advice queries answered on issues of sexual, labour and domestic servitude The Law Centre does a brilliant job. I thought my case was hopeless and then they took it on... Client, Disability Living Allowance case Unless otherwise stated, the statistics in these two pages are from financial year 2015-16. 4
Training Training delivered: 73.5 days 5 lunch and learn sessions 4 seminars 1,738 people trained 799 in programme courses 623 in contracted HSC Trust courses 316 in bespoke courses and seminars 99.9% satisfaction 39 volunteers tribunal representatives trained through our Legal Support Project Mock tribunal exercise at the Law Centre s Tribunal Representation course, with Medically Qualified Member Dr Fleming and Legally Qualified Member Mr McCullough. Catherine Couvert Catherine Couvert Communications 180,537 people used our website 179,602 visits to Encyclopedia of Rights, our online guide 339,803 total visits to our website 6,513 documents downloaded 1,747 Twitter followers 88 media contributions about our work and causes (articles, interviews and mentions) 51 new publications produced Live streaming at the Law Centre s seminar on the future of social security, January 2016: Dr Grainne McKeever speaking on behalf of Social Security Advisory Committee. Policy 18 conferences and seminars 10 policy responses 10 briefings 4 multi-media productions Highlights included: new section to our website: welfare reform news, timeline and briefings for advisers bilingual guide for people in NI under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme rights guide for migrant workers video briefings on welfare reform, modern slavery and refugees Our work helped bring 13 positive changes to law, policy and practice in 2016 - see page 26 for details 5
Social security Defending the social security safety net With welfare reform and BREXIT dominating the agenda, 2016 was a busy year for the social security unit. At our AGM and seminar in January, we welcomed the welfare reform mitigations package recommended by Eileen Evason s team. We brought together Professor Evason and speakers from Child Poverty Action Group, Social Security Advisory Committee and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to discuss the challenges ahead and strategies to secure the future of social security. Welfare reform raising awareness One of our aims has been to ensure that members and the wider public are kept up to date with developments as they happen through a combination of publications, training and awareness raising events. In Spring 2016, we launched the welfare reform section of our website with its timeline of upcoming changes and links to training events and briefings. Also in Spring, we partnered with Tar Isteach in a series of public meetings across Belfast on what welfare reform would mean for people on the ground. Feedback confirmed that there was great anxiety and uncertainty about upcoming changes and their impact. We were a keynote speaker at a Border People conference, in June speaking on welfare reform and the impact on cross-border issues. We also agreed to become a member of the steering group of Border People. We hosted a presentation by the Department for Communities on the introduction of PIP. We published briefings on PIP, the Benefit Cap, Mandatory Reconsideration and ESA reassessment. We worked at broadening public awareness of social security issues, including through media interventions on the impact of welfare reform. Getting it right for disabled client Casework Highlights We secured arrears of 8,179.45 and 57.45 weekly payments of DLA High Rate Mobility for a 65 year old who suffered from severe arthritis, fibromyalgia and diabetes. She had applied for DLA Higher Rate Mobility and Middle Rate Care just before her 65th birthday but was only awarded Middle Rate Care. We collected medical evidence and represented her at Tribunal and Social Security Commissioners. Resolving complex disablement benefits issue We helped secure the right amount of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for a man left incapacitated after falling from a roof where he was working. He had first received a one-year provisional award. On reassessment, the medical examiner recommended lowering the rate because of a slight improvement in his ankle function. We successfully argued at Tribunal that his overall health had deteriorated and that this should be considered. His award was increased. ESA: challenging refusal and clarifying the legal position We successfully challenged at Social Security Commissioners a decision to refuse Employment and Support Allowance for a client referred by Belfast Citywide Tribunal Service. We argued that the medical report had inaccurately recorded the amount of time she was able to sit, and that she should have been awarded points under Activity 7 (ability to understand communication) because of her hearing difficulties. The Commissioner agreed and sent the case back to a new tribunal. 6
Catherine Couvert Edward Dornan - social security client Client Story Edward Dornan has asbestosis, incurred from years of exposure to asbestos at work. His doctor had given evidence that his illness came under the category of prescribed disease PD1 for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, but the Department s medical adviser disagreed. Because the entitlement threshold is higher for other prescribed diseases than for PD1, Edward s claim was refused. He appealed to a Medical Appeal Tribunal and his Trade Union referred him to the Law Centre for specialist advice. We persuaded the Tribunal to make a provisional decision that Edward did have PD1 with 5% resulting disablement. He received 1,054 in arrears and is now entitled to an additional weekly payment of 16.80 until his case is reassessed in January 2018. We also advised him to contact a private practice solicitor as he may also be entitled to compensation from his previous employers. I was very appreciative of the time taken to explain all aspects of my case. I was treated with dignity and respect. Without the help and guidance of the Law Centre I would not have known what to do. 7
BREXIT - addressing fears BREXIT will potentially have a big impact on social security. We addressed cross-border workers, advisers and EU residents concerns by publishing a briefing on what is known already; speaking on BBC On Your Behalf about benefits and pension implications for cross-border workers; and addressing a Sinn Fein public meeting on BREXIT. Empowering advisers and support workers We delivered an ambitious programme of training to advisers on welfare reform issues including mitigations, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the Social Fund, Universal Credit and Supplementary Payments. We delivered training on Welfare Reform and Accessing Work to those who assist people reentering the work place. We also trained staff of the Office of the Commissioner for Older People on the impact of welfare reform. Skilling the advisers of the future We delivered lectures to Ulster University Clinical Legal Education students, covering social security and immigration law, Employment and Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, out of work benefits and tribunal advocacy. Raising concerns on the impact of welfare changes We met with the Department for Communities to raise concerns about the early impact of welfare reform and discuss how to better communicate people s entitlement to supplementary payments. We contributed to an Ulster University seminar - The New Welfare State? - which examined the challenges ahead for the social security safety net in Northern Ireland. We also fed into the independent monitoring mechanism for Northern Ireland of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We continue to engage at a Westminster level through submissions to the Work and Pensions Committee and Social Security Advisory Committee to try and influence new policy and also to identify and highlight specific issues affecting NI. We wrote a paper for the (then) DSD Committee that examined the Mitigations Scheme. We continue to convene the Welfare Reform Group which brings together voluntary and community sector workers and advisers, to keep them informed of developments and to ground our policy comment in their experience. Michael Beggs 8 AGM and seminar on the future of social security, January 2016 - Left to right: Jennifer Greenfield, Law Centre (NI), Professor Eileen Evason, Alison Garnham, CPAG, Ursula O Hare and Glenn Jordan, Law Centre (NI).
Catherine Couvert Catherine Rojas - social security client Client Story Catherine contacted the Law Centre for help when HMRC stopped her Child Benefit and asked her to repay over 10,000. Originally from Chile, she had acquired Irish nationality through marriage to a dual British/Irish national. She is now separated and her children have Irish passports. Our social security adviser prepared an application for mandatory reconsideration on the grounds that Irish citizenship should satisfy the right to reside requirement for Child Benefit. HMRC revised the decision. The benefit has been reinstated and backdated and there is no longer an overpayment pending. Catherine is understandably very relieved. My experience with the Law Centre was excellent. I was offered immediate advice and a prompt appointment. I felt supported and listened to. 9
Asserting benefit entitlement for client suffering from depression We helped a woman who suffered from post-traumatic depression. She had been refused ESA by a Tribunal, having been awarded fewer points than required to be entitled to the benefit. We appealed to the Social Security Commissioner, arguing that her symptoms would make it impossible for her to function in a workplace. ESA was reinstated and arrears paid. Ensuring ESA test for mobility is applied correctly Casework Highlights We secured ESA for a client with very limited mobility. Citywide Tribunal Project had referred her for help with an appeal at the Social Security Commissioners. The Commissioner agreed with us that the tribunal which had heard her case had overestimated her ability to mobilise (Activity 1) and applied an incorrect test for Activity 2 (standing and sitting). Child Tax Credit for refugee family On referral from British Red Cross, we helped a refugee family resolve a delay in receiving a decision from HMRC. The couple had been granted refugee status just after their child was born. They had claimed Child Tax Credit but had not received a decision for four months. Following our intervention, the family received 1,295.04 arrears and weekly payments of 63.84. Child Benefit for cross border worker On referral from Newry Citizens Advice, we helped a client who had not received Child Benefit for over a year. From Northern Ireland, she moved to the Republic but received UK Child Benefit as her online business was registered here and she paid UK taxes. When her third child was born her Child Benefit was stopped. We wrote to HMRC explaining the relevant EU law relating to cross-border workers. Our client was awarded arrears of 3,110 and weekly payments of 46. Establishing proof of residence for JSA claimant We represented a European national of African origin who had been refused Jobseeker s Allowance because the Department did not believe that he had been living in Northern Ireland in the three months preceding his claim. He was referred to the Law Centre by HAPANI (Horn of Africa People s Aid). We lodged an appeal and provided evidence of him having lived here, including attending English classes attended and being in contact with a local church and HAPANI. The Department awarded JSA for three months, giving him time to find a more long term solution. Securing benefit entitlement to avoid destitution We helped a vulnerable EU worker who could not establish continued entitlement to JSA. Having worked here for several years, she received contribution-based JSA after losing her job. She had to travel back home for four weeks and was told that her JSA would stop and she would not be paid for three months after her return. We informed her that she was entitled to request to export her JSA while away. As the request was not processed, we lodged an urgent complaint and the payments were set up. When she returned to Northern Ireland, JSA entitlement was compromised because she suffered from long-term sickness and lived in a hostel. We helped her secure contribution-based ESA. LSP volunteer gets DLA award for client Our Legal Support Project (LSP) relies on pro-bono work to help people who would otherwise go unrepresented. The LSP successfully represented a client in an appeal against a refusal of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). He condition made it difficult to go out alone and care for herself. The LSP collected supportive medical evidence and represented her at the hearing. The tribunal awarded Low Rate Mobility of 21.80 per week for two years, with a backdated payment of 847.95. 10
Catherine Couvert Welfare Changes Helpline - advisers Ronald Vellem and Carolyn Rhodes. Independent advice for people affected by welfare changes The Welfare Reform Project was launched in November 2016 to provide free and independent legal advice and representation to people negatively affected by the government s reform of social security provision. Funded by the Department for Communities, the Project is a welcome development which we had advocated for, along with the wider voluntary and community sector. The Law Centre s Welfare Reform advisers form part of the wider Welfare Reform Project, which also includes Advice NI and Citizen s Advice frontline advisers. The Law Centre advisers provide specialist legal advice to frontline advisers and to the general public. They also take cases to Tribunal where appropriate. In the initial months of operation, our advisers have dealt with a number of issues, including challenges to decisions to end Disability Living Allowance and to problems with the awarding of Personal Independence Payment. Recurring problems included: issues with the new mandatory reconsideration of awards under initial challenge; delays in the payment of benefits during the transfer; and the administration of mitigating payments. Further challenges will no doubt arise in the phased roll-out of Universal Credit. Welfare Changes Helpline: 0808 802 0020. Welfare reform: what our trainees said Practical information to help me support young people through the changes. Invaluable training. Welfare reform overview Excellent training. I feel much more confident advising others on what to expect Changes to the Social Fund Passionate and engaging tutor Welfare Rights Adviser Programme 11
Andrea Richardson - employment client Catherine Couvert 12
Employment Advancing rights, challenging exploitation 2016 was a busy year in the Law Centre s work to advance workers rights and challenge forced labour. Taking on strategic cases to advance workers rights Throughout the year we continued to identify emerging issues that affect workers and employees and to take on strategic cases. Our caseworkers encountered an increase in issues for employees following transfers of undertakings or service provision changes; cases involving the mislabelling of employees as zero-hour workers; and cases involving workers privacy and data protection rights. We also continued to represent agency workers not given the same terms and conditions as permanent staff. Andrea Richardson Client Story We helped Andrea obtain over 5,900 in compensation in a settlement for breach of the Agency Workers Regulations. She had been recruited by Kennedy Recruitment Ltd to work with Land and Property Services (LPS) for ten months as a mapping and charting officer. She was paid less than colleagues who did the same work but were employed directly by LPS. Near the end of her time there, she discovered that she might be on a type of contract - known as a Swedish Derogation contract - that allows a worker employed through an agency to be paid less than direct employees in certain circumstances. She contacted the Law Centre for advice. We checked her employment status and helped her to lodge an employment tribunal case to claim that she was entitled to the same pay as direct employees. Kennedy Recruitment Ltd (and its umbrella company Zeva) settled the case on the basis that, since Andrea had no employment contract with them before she started work at Land and Property Services, she was not on a valid Swedish Derogation contract and should not have been paid less than her colleagues. I hope that my story will give others the confidence to ask for what they are entitled to. 13
Law Centres Network conference - Law Centre (NI) employment adviser Daire Murphy discusses forced labour. Raising awareness of labour exploitation We attended a roundtable organised by FLEX (Focus on Labour Exploitation) in London where lawyers working in the field of labour exploitation exchanged ideas and knowledge. We contributed to Improving Access to Compensation for Victims of Trafficking for Labour Exploitation in the UK, a FLEX briefing paper. Focusing on the role of enforcement agencies in tackling forced labour, we participated in a seminar held by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority in Stormont and met with DAERA to discuss their obligations in respect of the minimum wage for agricultural workers. We continued our awareness raising work with a presentation at a labour exploitation seminar in Portadown organised by Freedom Acts. We contributed to a Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission film on labour exploitation and spoke about our work in forced labour cases at the launch event We spoke at a cross-border conference on forced labour, hosted by the Department of Justice and the Irish Department of Justice and Equality. We were pleased to raise awareness of the issues for an audience that mainly comprised employers. The conference on Litigating for Social Change was a wonderful opportunity to share ideas with international lawyers working in the field of forced labour. We also gave a presentation on the topic to the Law Centres Network annual national conference. As part of Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival, we delivered a workshop to equip community groups to provide awareness-raising training on recognising the signs of forced labour. Fighting forced labour through the courts We achieved a very good outcome at Industrial Tribunal for six workers who had been allegedly trafficked into Northern Ireland for labour exploitation. The settlement included the repayment of unpaid wages and compensation for injury to feelings of 3,000 (see page 15). We successfully resolved a case for another forced labour client a fisherman who had been trafficked into Northern Ireland to work on a local fishing boat. HMRC concluded its investigation of our client s complaint for failure to pay the National Minimum Wage and he received over 3,000 in payment of wage arrears. Catherine Couvert Liz Griffith Law Centres Network conference - Delegates. 14
Getting compensation for underpaid agency worker Law Centre (NI) advised an agency worker who had been awarded compensation for unlawful deduction of wages but was not had not received the payment. The payroll company was based in England and all attempts at enforcement had failed. We advised him that he would be entitled to pursue a claim to the Small Claims Court against the Northern Ireland employment agency which had supplied him. He communicated our advice to the agency and was quickly paid what he was owed. Ensuring fair treatment for working mother Law Centre (NI) helped a working mother who had been summarily dismissed. She had been employed full-time for nine years but after the birth of her child had asked to return part-time. She believed her employer was not happy with her working part-time. One day, she was brought in to her employer s office, told he had concerns with her work and dismissed on the spot. We wrote to the employer asserting that she had been subjected to automatic unfair dismissal, less favourable treatment of a part-time worker and sex discrimination. The employer offered reinstatement but the employee felt she could not return. We therefore negotiated an agreement that included a settlement of 8,250 and an agreed reference. Helping forced labour victims to get redress Law Centre (NI) acted for a group of six workers who were alleged victims of trafficking and were working in the food processing sector. Proceedings were issued at the Industrial Tribunal against a number of respondents and included claims for race discrimination and breaches of the Working Time Regulations. A complaint for failure to pay the national minimum wage was also lodged with HMRC. The cases settled prior to hearing and prior to conclusion of the HMRC investigation, with the claimants each receiving partial payment of unpaid wages and 3,000 each for injury to feelings from one of the respondents. Legal Support Project - pro-bono support for unrepresented workers Casework Highlights The Law Centre s Legal Support Project (LSP) relies on pro-bono work from law students and qualified lawyers to help people who would otherwise be unrepresented. Case 1 - LSP helped a worker made redundant after working for just over a year as an administration clerk with a large wholesale company. She quickly secured alternative employment but she believed that her dismissal was unfair and she contacted LSP for help. The volunteer assessed the case with support from the project worker and concluded that the employer had failed to observe the minimum procedural requirements of the statutory dismissal procedures. We raised a complaint of automatic unfair dismissal with the employer. With the help of the Labour Relations Agency, a pre-claim conciliated settlement was reached. The employer agreed to pay the client compensation of 1,033.56 and to give her a reference. Case 2 - LSP helped a client dismissed from his job as a HGV Oil Tanker Delivery Driver after 18 years. He alleged that on the day of dismissal he returned to the depot at 6.10pm, following a long day where there had been a mix up concerning the collection of fuels from suppliers. His normal day was 8.30am to 5.30pm. His employer insisted that he had to wash the lorry before going home. He answered that it had been a long day, he had not had a proper break and he wanted to go home for his dinner. The employer repeated the request twice and said that if our client was not willing to wash the lorry then he was finished and should not come back. He was not given notice or pay in lieu of notice. A week later he received a letter from the employer stating that the employer had acted in the heat of the moment and that his job was still available. Our client considered that this was too late and that all trust between them had broken down because of the manner in which he had been treated. We helped him to apply to the industrial tribunal, alleging unfair dismissal and breach of contract. Following negotiations, and without admission of liability, the employer agreed to pay him compensation of 9,000. 15
Mental health Helping through advice and representation In 2016, we had great successes at Mental Health Review Tribunal, including obtaining discharges from detention prior to hearing as well as at the Tribunal itself. We raised concerns in several cases, through judicial review pre-action letters, over the quality of evidence used when health and social care staff seek to detain a patient for psychiatric care or assessment. We are pleased that the relevant Trust has now committed to reviewing its practice in completing the required forms. We operate an advice line open to everyone. We travel to several hospitals every month to hold drop-in legal clinics where patients can raise legal queries. Working for long term change We responded to a hospital discharge guidelines consultation by the Royal College of Psychiatry, and contributed our mental health law experience to the Civil Justice Review. Casework Highlight Getting client s status regraded to voluntary patient Law Centre (NI) helped a client detained under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986. We prepared the case to represent her at a Mental Health Review Tribunal. The Trust made a pre-hearing offer to lift the detention on condition that our client withdrew her application. We explained that the correct procedure was for the Trust to discharge our client first. The Trust agreed and our client was happy that as a voluntary patient she was able to go back to her home at a time of her choosing. We met with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) to discuss improvements to the policy of obtaining an opinion from a second doctor when certain treatments are under consideration. We advised the Department of Health on the drafting of its Code of Practice, which will accompany the Mental Health Act (NI) 2016. We participated in a project initiated by the Public Interest Litigation Support Project to promote the use of strategic litigation to improve mental health services. We delivered a well-received workshop on strategic litigation at the Law Centres Network annual meeting. We provided legal expertise to local media outlets on the provision of mental health care in the prison population and on enduring power of attorney. Training advisers and health care providers We expanded our annual training programme to include new lunch and learn courses on the role of Nearest Relative and understanding the law surrounding Deprivation of Liberty. We were guest lecturers at approved social worker refresher training. Very professional, wellmannered and dedicated to their goal of supporting me through a rough time in hospital. Mental health law client 16
Community care New service, new priorities In 2016, we launched our new Independent Advice, Support and Mediation Service (Community Care). Our two community care advisers provide legal advice and representation across all five Health and Social Care Trusts to adult community care service users and their carers. An adviser appeared on BBC On your Behalf to discuss the new service and highlighted key issues where the need for legal advice and/or representation may arise within community care. Casework priorities Casework priorities in 2016 focused largely on difficulties surrounding: access to services for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); the process for young people moving from Children s Services to Adult Services within their Health and Social Care Trust; and the lawfulness of decisions made by Health and Social Care Trusts to reduce, remove, significantly change or refuse services based on resource considerations. Policy and awareness raising In 2016, we focused on highlighting the benefits of the Human Rights Act for community care clients, through communications with our members, articles in specialist regional media and contributing a case study to a Human Rights Consortium film raising awareness about the importance of the Human Rights Act. Training and information In addition to our training programme courses for members and advisers, we offer bespoke training for health and social care staff and carers and users organisations. We held an outreach information session on direct payments for Headway, the Brain Injury Association. We delivered courses to the Health and Social Care Trusts including Capacity and Consent and Understanding and applying the law on Deprivation of Liberty. We also gave training on Capacity and Consent for the Association For Real Change (ARC). Training health and social care staff - Capacity and Consent course. 17 Catherine Couvert
A year in pictures February 2016 Social Security Advisory Committee meeting on welfare reform, convened by Law Centre (NI). Michael Beggs January 2016 - Welfare Rights Adviser Programme Certificate presentation at Law Centre (NI) AGM. Catherine Couvert April 2016 - Law Centre adviser Jacqui Loughrey delivers information session on Welfare Reform, with Tar Isteach. March 2016 - Launching Forced Labour awareness leaflet with DEL Minister Stephen Farry MLA. Catherine Couvert Catherine Couvert Catherine Couvert Michael Beggs May 2016 - Welfare Reform Group meeting, convened by Law Centre (NI). June 2016 - Information session on Mandatory Reconsideration training delivered by Department for Communities at Law Centre (NI) Social Security Practitioners meeting. 18
Catherine Couvert Catherine Couvert June 2016 Refugee Week meeting with Northern Ireland MPs and their constituency office advisers. September 2016 - North South Forum discusses immigration and potential impact of Brexit at Law Centre (NI). Lorcan Doherty Nigel Hunter July 2016 Launching information guide for Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme at information session for second group of Syrian families, delivered by Law Centre (NI), with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. October 2016 - Litigating for Social Change, international conference by Law Centre (NI), the Social Change Initiative and Atlantic Philanthropies. Ursula O Hare with NIHRC Chief Commissioner Les Allamby, Shubhaa Srinivasan, partner at Leigh Day, Jason Brickhill, Oxford Human Rights Hub and Christina Swarns, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. Catherine Couvert Ling Sonam November 2016 - Launching Welfare Reform Helpline. Pól O Callaghan, Citizens Advice, Ursula O Hare, Law Centre (NI), Bob Stronge, Advice (NI). November 2016 Law Centres Network conference, hosted by Law Centre (NI). Ursula O Hare with Justice Minister Claire Sugden MLA and Law Centres Network Director Julie Bishop. 19
Photo courtesy of Northern Ireland Human Rights Consortium Charles Reid - community care client Client Story Charles Reid s mother has advanced dementia. Charles had been caring for her for some time, with support from the local health trust. There had been no concerns about her care. Other relatives felt that she should be in care and organised for her to be taken into a nursing home against Charles wishes. Although the trust was aware of the disagreement, the care team did not consult with him. Instead, the care team informed the day centre that she attended that she would be taken to the nursing home later that day. In the nursing home, she suffered distress, disorientation and severe unhappiness. She was there for 14 weeks before her case was referred to our community care legal adviser. The adviser contacted the trust, citing local law and guidance and explaining that her rights to liberty, home and family life were engaged under the Human Rights Act. Charles mum was able to go back to living at home under his care, and with an appropriate care package. 20
Protecting older person s right to live in her own home Law Centre (NI) helped a family ensure that a client s wish to live in her own home was respected. The Alzheimer s Society referred her to our adviser when she was discharged into residential care against her wishes and those of her family. Casework Highlights The Trust had not carried out a full assessment of her capacity but had decided that she lacked capacity and argued that the move into residential care was in her best interest. Her close family felt that she did have capacity to make this decision but their view had not been taken into consideration. The Law Centre adviser contacted the Trust and its legal department, arguing that this approach constituted a breach of the Human Rights Act, of caselaw on mental capacity and of the Department s own guidance on hospital discharge of frail and older patients. The Trust was persuaded to carry out the assessment. The client was discharged and a care package was put in place so she could live safely at home. Resolving delays in Direct Payments to employ carer Law Centre (NI) resolved a delay in setting up direct payments for a man with complex physical needs to receive care from his son. The case was referred to our community care team by the Centre for Independent Living because the son had been providing a considerable level of care without receiving any salary for several months. This was in spite of the Trust having already determined that our client was eligible for the Direct Payment Scheme to employ a personal assistant. We relied upon the relevant healthcare legislation and the Human Rights Act to secure immediate direct payments. The Trust also increased the level of payment awarded and provided backpayment. Helping older carer plan for son s future care needs Law Centre (NI) helped an older carer who needed advice and assistance about her needs as a carer and those of her son who lived with her. Her son has complex physical and mental health needs following a road traffic accident as a child. The client contacted the Law Centre for help to reach agreement with the HSC Trust relating to the future care of her son so she could be assured that a care plan was in place as her ability to care declined. Following a number of meetings with the HSC Trust, an increased Trust support package was agreed. The Trust also agreed to an adaptation to her property to enable care workers to attend her son without having to go through her home. The Law Centre gave my family and me great attention and ensured that we received all the support that we were entitled to from social services. Without their help, my parents would now be in a nursing home instead of their own home. Community care client 21
Anti-trafficking project Protecting young people Aureli Oslé In 2016, the Anti-Trafficking Young People Project had several successes on behalf of young people, achieving recognition as victims of trafficking, clients being granted leave to remain for them as a result of that recognition and successful appeals before the tribunal. We helped young people from Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia, in cases of sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and domestic servitude. In 2016, the Project worked increasingly closely with social workers caring for young unaccompanied suspected victims of human trafficking in Northern Ireland. Law Centre (NI) was nominated for a Community Justice Award by the Department of Justice for our anti-trafficking work, an important recognition of our work in this area. Raising awareness We chaired a discussion at In The Long Run, a national trafficking awareness raising event Raising awareness of modern slavery - In April, Law Centre staff and family joined In the Long Run, an awareness raising event at Stormont, with Independent Anti-Slavery UK Commissioner Kevin Hyland OBE. organised by Stop the Traffik. Hosted in Parliament Buildings, the event was attended by the Northern Ireland Justice Minister and the UK Independent Modern Slavery Commissioner. The Project provided training and awarenessraising sessions on human trafficking to medical students at QUB and educational welfare officers. Working for long term change We were actively involved in the Department of Justice NGO Engagement Group on Human Trafficking and its Training and Awareness Sub Group, including: a roundtable discussion by the Public Prosecution Service for NGOs and statutory agencies; conference calls with the Anti-trafficking Monitoring Group; an EU-wide policy roundtable conference convened by European Council on Refugees and Exiles, The Reception of Unaccompanied Minors: Key Challenges and Solutions; and UNHCR/UNICEF conference on unaccompanied children in the EU. We gave evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on the European Union regarding Unaccompanied Children in the EU. We contributed to the draft DoJ Human Trafficking Strategy 2016/2017 prior to public consultation. We highlighted to the Home Office the impact of short-term holding facilities rules on victims of human trafficking. We commented on the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders & Immigration Border Force Inspection which inquired into the role and impact of Border Force in identifying suspected victims of human trafficking. We also engaged with Westminster and followed up with the Department for Communities, to ensure that victims of human trafficking and modern slavery have prompt access to benefits. 22
Forced migration Supporting refugees and asylum seekers Supporting the Syrian Vulnerable People Scheme The Law Centre has been supporting the Syrian Vulnerable People Resettlement Scheme (VPR). We delivered information sessions and immigration advice clinics to the newly arrived families. We produced a guide on the rights of people coming to Northern Ireland under the resettlement programme. We were pleased that the Deputy First Minister was able to attend the launch of the guide, following our information session for new VPR arrivals in Derry city. We spoke to many city councils and community groups on the VPR scheme, the rights of refugees and persons with humanitarian leave and the role of civic society. This is an essential part of preparing communities to host VPR refugees Advocating for all refugees and asylum seekers We met with HMRC officials in Sheffield to explore the difficulties for refugees around the fast-track claim process for Child Tax Credit. We were pleased when Northern Ireland s Department for Employment and Learning announced in January 2016 that all refugees in Northern Ireland would be able to access English classes in Further Education colleges, free of charge, a measure which we had been advocating for with our partners in the Refugee and Asylum Forum. At the Northern Ireland Asylum Stakeholders meeting in November, the Home Office informed us that it was going to pilot a new process of working closely with the Department for Communities to ensure that all new refugees apply for benefits promptly. We welcome this measure as we have consistently called for a smoother transition process. We will now push to ensure that this is implemented. Catherine Couvert Refugee Week 2016 Refugee and Asylum Forum meets Northern Ireland s MPs at the Law Centre. 23
Access to justice Working together for social justice Litigating for social change: an international conference Working with the Social Change Initiative and Atlantic Philanthropies, we brought together NGOs, community activists, litigators, academics and funders from around the world in a major conference on using strategic litigation to advance social change. Catherine Couvert Delegates reflected on how strategic litigation can transform lives and enable people and communities around the world to realise their rights. The conference explored lessons learnt to date, considered strategic litigation as an effective tool for social change and discussed how it can be more effective. It also looked at models and approaches to supporting strategic litigation and assessing its impact. Litigating for Social Change Models and Approaches to Supporting Strategic Litigation - Melissa Murray, PILS Project, Eilis Barry, Free Legal Advice Centres, Dublin, Erica Emdon, probono.org, South Africa, Henderson Hill, US Death Penalty 8th Amendment Project. Ling Sonam Litigating for Social Change Delegates. Litigating for Social Change Using Transnational and Quasi- Judicial Fora - Professor Colin Harvey, Queen s University Belfast, Baher Azmy, Center for Constitutional Rights, USA, Adam Weiss, European Roma Rights Centre. Catherine Couvert Catherine Couvert Ling Sonam Litigating for Social Change Funders perspectives. Martin O Brien, SCI, Erika Dailey, Open Society, Nick Grono, Freedom Fund, Nicolette Naylor, Ford Foundation, Gail Birkbeck, Atlantic Philanthropies. 24 Litigating for Social Change - International Perspectives - Ursula O Hare, Law Centre (NI), Baher Azmy, Center for Constitutional Rights, USA, Nurina Ally, Equal Education Law Centre, South Africa, Judith Stein, Center for Medicare Advocacy, USA, Martin O Brien, Social Change Initiative.
Ling Sonam Litigating for Social Change Strategic litigation should be grounded in communities: the example of South Africa. Litigating for Social Change Protecting wins - Evelyn Collins, Equality Commission, Irene de Vos, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, Mary Meg McCarthy, Heartland Alliance National Immigrant Justice Center, USA, Michael Farrell, Appointed Member of the President of Ireland s Council of State and Member of Council of Europe. Bringing Law Centres Network to Belfast We co-hosted the Law Centres Network annual national conference, with delegates from Law Centres and partner organisations from across the UK and abroad. The November conference addressed three main themes: human rights and their protection; migration and the challenge of supporting migrants in the UK; and the encroachment of populist politics on civil society. Speakers included Martha Spurrier, director of charity Liberty; Les Allamby, chief commissioner at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; Bernard McCloskey, the president of the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber, Jonathan Price, associate researcher at COMPAS in the University of Oxford, and Justice Minister Clare Sugden. Law Centre staff led workshops on advancing mental health rights through litigation and on combatting forced labour. Catherine Couvert Ling Sonam Ling Sonam Law Centres Network annual conference - Martha Spurrier, Director of Liberty, Balázs Dénes, Director, European Civil Liberties Project, Open Society Initiative for Europe and Atanas Politov, Europe Director of Pro Bono, Dentons. 25
Making a difference Changes in law, policy and practice - 2016 26 With our voluntary sector partners, we convinced the Northern Ireland Executive to enshrine in law a statutory right to independent advice and to make a major investment in specialist independent advice services for thousands of claimants affected by welfare reform. As a result of a Law Centre social security test case, the Department for Communities agreed that claimants are not required to report income to both the Pension Credit section and to the Pension Service. The Department agreed to amend its guidance to ensure that claimants are not penalised or subject to overpayments for not informing both sections. Together with Housing Rights, we advocated against tightening the benefit rules on Temporary Absence. Our evidence to the Social Security Advisory Committee contributed to the Department for Work and Pensions agreeing to ensure that those fleeing domestic violence are not affected. We persuaded the Department for Communities to monitor the impact of the policy change in Northern Ireland. We convinced the Department for Communities to amend its guidance to ensure that the past presence test does not prevent refugees from accessing disability benefits. Following correspondence from our Legal Support Project, the President of Tribunals confirmed that Personal Independence Payment claimants can request GP records, which can be crucial to the success of a claim. Through correspondence from our casework team, the Department for Communities agreed to amend its guidance to ensure that the correct residency test is applied for Discretionary Support applications. The Department also agreed to investigate past cases to identify claimants adversely affected by the incorrect test having been applied. The Social Security Agency accepted that the principle of parity requires that Northern Ireland should not place more stringent work-related requirements on EEA nationals than on other benefit claimants. We convinced a Health and Social Care Trust to review its practice in applying to detain people for treatment. We had raised concerns over the quality of the evidence used in several cases. Northern Ireland s Justice Minister accepted that all victims of slavery should be eligible for support and protection. We had long argued that this should be extended to non-trafficked victims of forced labour. The Northern Ireland Assembly Health Committee agreed regulations that will underpin Independent Guardianship for separated children in Northern Ireland, one of our long-time asks for the protection of vulnerable young migrants. Following the Refugee & Asylum Forum s Five Asks/SAFER? campaign, led by the Law Centre: - the Executive Office has committed to deliver a Refugee Integration Strategy, - the Home Office has committed to work with the Social Security Agency to improve the benefit transition system for new refugees. Following our representations, the Department for the Economy confirmed that all students with Humanitarian Protection can access Further Education. This benefits VPR Syrians as well as other categories of people seeking protection. We persuaded the Home Office to revise its process in obtaining medical consent from asylum seekers. This is important for medical privacy.
The Law Centre team Central office Director: Ursula O Hare Deputy Director: Jennifer Greenfield Head of Legal Support Project: Sinéad Mulhern Anti-Trafficking Legal Adviser and Casework Manager: Fidelma O Hagan Legal Advisers: Social Security - Patricia Carty, Lee Hatton Employment - Daire Murphy Western area office Casework Manager/Employment Legal Adviser: Caroline Maguire Legal Advisers: Social Security - Carla Rogers Mental Health - Seán McParland Community Care - Caroline Cooley Legal Secretary: Aine Friel Domestic Assistant: Brendan Young Community Care - Patricia Southern Mental Health - Louise Arthurs Welfare Changes Advisers: Carolyn Rhodes, Ronald Vellem Training Officer: Eamon Doherty Communications Officer: Catherine Couvert Communications Assistant: Michael Beggs LSP Project Officer: Owen McCloskey Policy Officer: Elizabeth Griffith Finance Officer: Julie Wilkinson Management committee Chairperson (interim): Ciaran McAteer (Belfast Solicitors Association) Other members: Pat Colton (Belfast Central CAB), Kevin Higgins (Advice NI), Janet Hunter (Housing Rights Service), Laura Irwin (RNIB), Cathal MacElhatton (Glenbrook Day Centre, Foyle HSST), Mick McAtavey, Gráinne McKeever (School of Law, University of Ulster) Legal Secretaries: Rhoda Lyle, Margaret Reid Receptionist: Michael Beggs Domestic Assistant: Ann Jehan Apprentice solicitor: Caitriona Boland Litigating for Social Change conference Ursula O Hare, Sinéad Mulhern, Catherine Couvert, Jennifer Greenfield. Photo: Ling Sonam 27
Financial statements Incoming resources by grant income / generated income 2015-16 Department for Social Development 39% Department for Employment and Learning 13% Health and Social Care Board 13% Atlantic Philanthropies 23% Other grants 2% Other 10% Other: Fees from members 2% Training fees 2.5% Legal costs received 5.3% Other income 0.2% Incoming resources 2015-16 Voluntary income 1,254,438 Activities for generating funds 324,252 Investment income 443 Other income 683 Total 1,579,816 Resources expended Charitable objectives 1,572,823 Governance costs 2,366 Total 1,575,189 Net incoming resources 4,627 (resources expended) Our funders Law Centre (NI) wishes to express its thanks for financial support in 2015-2016 provided by: Department for Social Development Department for Employment and Learning Health and Social Care Board Atlantic Philanthropies Strategic Litigation Fund Comic Relief Belfast City Council Legal Education Foundation Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Enkalon Foundation The summarised financial information above shows the income raised for our activities and the amounts spent on our charitable activities. The information is taken from the Full Financial Statements, which were approved by the Trustees on 20/12/16. A copy of the accounts can be found here: www.lawcentreni.org/publications/business/law-centre-(ni)-accounts-2016.pdf 28
Thank you Our full members ACT - Action for Community Transformation Advice NI Age NI Ards CAB Armagh CAB Ballymena CAB Ballynafeigh Community Development Association Banbridge CAB Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre Carers Northern Ireland Carrickfergus CAB CAUSE Causeway CAB Causeway Women s Aid Central CAB Children s Law Centre Citizens Advice Antrim and Newtownabbey Citizen s Advice Bureau (Waterside Branch) Citizens Advice North West Craigavon District CAB (Portadown) Disability Action Dove House Advice Services Down District CAB Dungannon CAB East Belfast Independent Advice Centre Falls Community Council Falls Womens Centre Fermanagh CAB First Housing Aid & Support Services Gingerbread (NI) Glenshane Community Development Ltd Housing Rights Service Larne CAB Lisburn CAB Lurgan Independent Advice & Information Service Mencap (NI) Mid-Ulster Women s Aid MIgrant Rights Centre MUST Hostel Newry & Mourne District CAB NIACRO North Down CAB Northwest Advice Services NUS-USI Student Movement in NI Omagh Independent Advice Services QUB Students Union Resource Centre Derry Rosemount Resource Centre Royal British Legion S T E P Shelter (NI) Ltd Springfield Charitable Association St Vincent De Paul Society Strabane Ethnic Community Association The Ely Centre The PILS Project Upper Andersonstown Community Forum Victim Support (NI) Vine Advice Wave Trauma Centre Welcome Project Windsor Women s Centre Women s Aid Federation NI 29
Thank you Our associate members Alzheimer s Society Apex Housing Association Ards Borough Council Ards Citizens Advice Bureau Ashton Community Trust Askin, Leona Austin, Phelim Babington & Croasdaile Solicitors Backsaite, Ausra Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union Ballentine, J & Sons Sols Ballysillan Advice Service Barnardos Leaving Care Project Begley, Stephen & Co Belfast & Lisburn Women s Aid Belfast City Council Consumer Advice Centre Belfast Metropolitan College Best, Alan & Heather Bigger & Strahan Black, C & J Solicitors Blakely, William Boyd, David Boyle, Damon Breakey, Mildred Solicitors Brennan, Martin & Co Brennan, Neala Brown, James Bryson Energy Bryson Intercultural Caldwell & Robinson Solicitors CALMS Camphill Communities Trust NI Carers Forum on Learning Disability Carnglen Credit Union Carnson Morrow Graham Centre for Cross Border Studies Centre for Independent Living NI Challenge/Respond Choice Housing Ireland Ltd Cithrah Foundation Citizens Information Board Clan Mor Surestart Coiste na Niarchimi College of Occupational Therapists Commissioner for Older People NI Committee on the Administration of Justice Communication Workers Union Community Horticultural International Conlon, Glenn Connell, R G & Son Connolly, Rosemary Sol. Connolly, Therese Connswater Homes Ltd Contact NI Contact a Family Corpus Christie Council for the Homeless Craig, Patricia Craigavon Area Hospital Creighton & Co Sols CWU Engineering Branch D A Martin Solicitors Dalriada Rural Sure Start Damask Community Outreach Democratic Unionist Party Departmental Solicitors Office Library Derg Valley Care Ltd Derry Credit Union Ltd Derry Youth & Community Workshop DFPF Ltd (People 1st) Disability Equality Group NI Duffy, Jeffrey Dundas, Maithrie East Belfast Alliance Party East Belfast Mission East Belfast Network Centre Edlin, Gilbert Edwards & Co Solicitors Employers For Childcare Ling Sonam 30 Litigating for Social Change - Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan addresses the conference. Panel members left to right: Ursula O Hare, Martin O Brien, Social Change Initiative, The Honourable Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, former Supreme Court Judge, The Supreme Court of Ireland.
EPIC Eve, Judith Fahy, John & Co Solicitors Ferguson & Logue LLP First Steps Women s Centre Fiscal Accounts Fitzgerald, Jenny Flynn & McGettrick Solicitors Fold Housing Association Francis Hana & Co Solicitors Gabriel Ingram & Co Solicitors Gems NI Ltd Gordon Bell & Son H O P E Habinteg Housing Association Hagan, J P Solicitor HAPANI Hewitt & Gilpin Higgins Hollywood Deazley Home-Start Hughes, Mena Institute Of Professional Legal Studies Irvine, Francis J & Co James Boston & Sullivan John Hoy Son & Murphy Solicitors Johnsons Solicitors Jones, Cassidy, Brett Kantar Media Kelly & Corr Solicitors Kelly Advice Services Kempton, Maurice R J Solicitor KillenWarke Solicitors Kirk, Dawn Labour Relations Agency Lavery, Con & Co Solicitors Law Society of NI Libraries NI Limavady Community Development Initiative Logan & Corry MacAllister, Keenan & Co MACS Supporting Children & Young People Magherafelt District Advice Service Ltd McAleenan, Maura McCartan Turkington Breen McCarthy, Nora McCausland, Fiona McConnell Kelly & Co Solicitors Ltd McDaid, Lisa-Marie McDermott & McGurk McElhone & Co Solicitors McEvoy, Mark McGibbon, Marlene McGinty, John Patrick McLaughlin, Johnny McLernon Moynagh Solicitors McLernon, Jean McTaggart, Stewart Mind Yourself Mental Health Charity MindWise Mission Africa MKB Law Ltd MS Society - Foyle Branch MSM Solicitors Murnaghan & Fee Solicitors Murphy, Michael Murray Kelly Moore MARTIN BRENNAN Solicitor L.L.B. 1 Fitzwilliam St, Belfast BT9 6AW Immigration Conveyancing National Autistic Society National Library of Ireland NEA (NI) Nelson Singleton Solicitors NI Assembly Library NI Association for Mental Health NI Civil Service NI Council For Voluntary Action NI Federation of Housing Associations NI Human Rights Commission NI Pakistani Cultural Association NI Public Service Alliance Nic Giolla Cathain, Monica NICRAS North City Business Centre North City Training Ltd North Down Ulster Unionist Party North Down YMCA Matrimonial & Family Law Road Traffic / Accident Claims Law Society Children s Order Panel Member Also Wills & Probate, Criminal and all Legal Aid Work Tel: 028 9023 3477 Fax: 028 9032 1783 E-mail: martinbrennan555@gmail.com Legal Aid
Thank you Our associate members Northern Ireland Hospice Northern Ireland Housing Executive Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission Northside Community Law Centre NWTP Ltd Office of the Ombudsman O Hare & Co Solicitors Ojo, Samuel Omagh Ethnic Communities Support Group O Rorke McDonald & Tweed Orr & Co solictors O Toole, Margaret Owens, Violet Paget Properties Ltd Participation & Practice of Rights Project Porter, John Positive Futures Positive Life Prospects for People with Learning Disability QUB Medical Library Quinn, Aidan Solicitor Quinn, Fiona Quinn, John Solicitor R P Crawford & Co Solicitors Reid, William Relatives For Justice Robertson-Greene, Yolande Rodgers, James & Co (Sols) Ross, John & Son Solicitors Russell, David & Co Salvation Army Save the Children School of Law SDLP Sense NI Serials Management Division Shareef, Karwan Sivarajan, S Society of St Vincent de Paul South City Resource & Development Centre South East Fermanagh Foundation Southern Health & Social Services Council Southwest Carers Forum St Vincent De Paul Society Standards Assurance Unit Star Neighbourhood Centre Stephen Perrott & Co Students Union Supporting Communities NI Tar Abhaile Tar Anall Tar Isteach Teach na Failte Thompsons NI Triangle Housing Association Ltd Ulidia Housing Association Ulster Unionist Advice Centre Unison Unite - Belfast Shorts Branch Unite The Union (Organising Unit) USEL UUP Constituency Office Voice of Young People in Care Walker, Dermot & Co Watson, Linda Western Health & Social Care Trust Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors Women s Centre, Derry 220 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2FY Tel: 028 9064 2290 Fax: 028 9064 2297 Email: info@jcbsolicitors.co.uk Website: www.jcbsolicitors.co.uk employment and equality law human rights industrial relations public and administration law Senior Partners: Fiona Cassidy LL.B., LLM Beverley Jones LL.B., LL.M. Adam Brett MA (Oxon) Cert PLS. Partners: Alison Collins LL.B., M.B.A.
FIGHT BACK AGAINST AUSTERITY protect jobs, pay, pensions and services Join Now Headquarters 54 Wellington Park Belfast BT9 6DP Tel: 028 9066 1831 Regional Office 30 Great James Street Derry BT48 7DB Tel: 028 7137 4977 Contact Email: info@nipsa.org.uk Web: www.nipsa.org.uk www..org.uk Follow us on Ref A4_0644
Championing workers rights and trade union solidarity Thompsons NI Solicitors is committed to fighting for the rights of working people. We have secured millions of pounds in compensation for the injured and mistreated, won countless landmark cases and secured key legal reforms. Thompsons NI is resolutely committed to the labour movement and we are proud to only ever act for trade unions, their members and working people - never for employers and never for the insurance industry. 34 www.thompsonssolicitors-ni.com
FLYNN & McGETTRICKK S O L I C I T O R S Solicitor Advocates Solicitor Advocates Children s Panel Member Children s Panel Member Member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers John McGett ttrick Brend endan an Blane aney Member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers We provide legal advice on: First advice session FREE free Anne Caldwell Injury Claims 9 Clarence Street, (off Bedford Street), Belfast BT2 8DX 238 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6AH 238 Falls Road, Belfast BT12 6AH Matrimonial & Family Law Criminal Law House Sales Sales && Purchases Wills Wills & Probate & Probate John McGettrick Brendan Blaney Anne Caldwell Brendan Blaney Anne Caldwell Raymond Hughes Alexandra Wong 028 9024 4212 or 028 9024 4727 Peter McGettrick Niall Colton Patrick Morgan Nuala Mallaghan 028 9024 4212 or 028 9024 4727 9 Clarence Street (off Bedford Street), Belfast BT2 8DX 028 9023 9629 028 9023 9629 Immigration
Belfast office 124 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2GY Telephone: 028 9024 4401 Fax: 028 9023 6340 Textphone: 028 9023 9938 Email: admin.belfast@lawcentreni.org Western area office 9 Clarendon Street, Derry / Londonderry BT48 7EP Telephone: 028 7126 2433 Fax: 028 7126 2343 Email: admin.derry@lawcentreni.org Website Web: www.lawcentreni.org Follow us on Twitter: @LawCentreNI Front cover: Law Centre (NI) client Catherine Rojas. Back cover: Law Centre (NI) client Andrea Richardson. Both photos by Catherine Couvert Law Centre (NI)