Building links between advice agencies and solicitors in Bedfordshire.
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Transcript of Building links between advice agencies and solicitors in Bedfordshire.
Bedfordshire Advice Forum
BAF is the network of not-for-profit, social welfare, advice and information providers
in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire Advice Forum
Established in 1997 - to promote and support advice services, through networking, training and support
44 members – CABx, Age UK, housing associations, council advice services, hostels, disability groups, various community organisations
Bedfordshire Advice Forum
• Forum meetings for members
• Training courses on advice skills and issues
• Network meetings for benefit advisers
• Online Advice Directory
• Strategic promotion for advice sector– Local Advice Strategies
• Advice related projects– Solicitors Project
• BAF websitewww.bedsadviceforum.org.uk
BAF - in Bedford Borough 30 BAF members (working in Bedford Borough)
Over 60 paid staff in local advice agencies
Over 130 volunteers
Over 30,000 enquiries a year
Over 2,000 advice cases
Advice Strategy
Will help develop a strategic approach to the funding, commissioning and planning of advice
Various action points including:
“Develop closer links between the not-for-profit advice sector and other providers”
SOLICITORS PROJECT
Closer links with solicitors
• Benefits for solicitors, BAF members, and for our clients.
• Benefits could include:
increased awareness of services – for solicitors and for BAF members
developing better cross-referrals between BAF members and solicitors
promoting pro bono work from solicitors discussing joint ventures (eg shared training)
ADVICE STRATEGY
Developing closer links between the not-for-profit advice sector
and other providers
LocalSolicitors
Solicitors Project
TRANSFORMING LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECT
Establishing better partnerships with local business community
ADVICE UK
Supporting local advice networks to develop closer
links with solicitorsAccess to Justice Foundation Project
ADVICE STRATEGY
LocalSolicitors
Solicitors Project
TRANSFORMING LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECT
ADVICE UK
• Consultation at BAF Forum meeting
• Sub-group set up to plan project
• Funding obtained from TLI Project (and now also from Eastern Legal Support Trust)
• Support agreed from AdviceUK
• Online survey of BAF members (by AdviceUK)
• Presentation at AdviceUK national conference
• Launch event in Bedford
Work completed
• Less than 1/3 of agencies regularly signposted to solicitors
• Large number of agencies never refer to solicitors
• Very limited signposting or referring from solicitors
• Very limited involvement of solicitors in lcoal agencies
• Vast majority would like to see solicitors more involved in local agencies
Survey of BAF members
Possible ideas
• Use online Advice Directory to list local solicitors
• Develop agreed referral systems in Bedford
• Discuss possibility of a Bedford Borough pro bono surgery
• Joint training sessions on Welfare reform changes