Essex Law Clinic teams up with Colchester Borough Homes to support community

Essex Law Clinic is providing vital support and advice to the people of Colchester thanks to an exciting partnership with Colchester Borough Homes (CBH).

Student volunteers have been working with CBH welfare rights officers to advise the organisation's tenants on how to initiate claims for DWP benefits, challenge unsatisfactory decisions and represent claimants at Social Security appeal hearings.

The students have taken part in short, intensive training sessions and are now spending two hours a week working in the local housing office in Greenstead alongside members of the CBH team.

They have been assisting council tenants to complete claim forms for benefits and are also drafting appeal submissions, ensuring claimants have access to the correct level of support.

Claire Cunningham, of CBH, has been working with the students and guiding them throughout the initiative.

She said: “It is very informative working with young people who have legal training. As a lone worker, it is very helpful having other people to discuss cases with.

“Their assistance means that more tenants are being helped than I could otherwise manage on my own.”

The students have been able to help a variety of people, including a client who struggles to leave the house due to severe mental health issues and is now able to heat their home after being awarded additional benefits.

The students work in small groups during their sessions in Greenstead, interviewing clients and using Department for Work and Pensions appeal guidance to see what support they can offer.

Liz Frank-Fisher, Director of Essex Law Clinic, said: “This is a great initiative and we are so grateful to Claire for approaching us about it. “The students are gaining excellent practical and professional skills whilst providing a really important service to our local community.

“As a law clinic, we are very focused on developing our work with community partners and this is another example of a much-valued collaboration.”

Philip Sullivan, Chief Executive of CBH, added; “Thanks to our Welfare Right Officer and the partnership with the Law clinic we have been able to create a local accessible service to reduce inequalities and enable people to maximise their income.”