A community grant has been agreed by Ipswich Borough Council to continue the support offered by a local legal service, helping vulnerable people in need of advice.
The Suffolk Law Centre in St Matthews Street has received a one-year grant totalling £12,900 to extend their Legal Triage service until the end of March 2024.
Developed during the pandemic, the service has so far supported around 400 people, and will continue to offer legal assistance to vulnerable people in Ipswich, to help resolve complex legal problems.
The service helps to give initial advice at in-person clinics, food banks, schools, health services or wellbeing projects, can conduct research to find and broker legal expertise, make referrals for other support or services to help, and carry out client follow-ups or interventions if necessary.
An Ipswich Borough Council spokesperson says: “This service has become a lifeline for vulnerable people in need of legal support and advice.
We’re pleased that we have been able to continue our support for the Centre so that it can continue to help people access to expert legal advice, regardless of their background.
By having a presence out in the community, this triage service can continue to support people who may have otherwise fallen through the gaps and give them the support and guidance they need.”
Sue Wardell, Operations and Development Manager at Suffolk Law Centre says:
“Suffolk Law Centre is delighted to receive funding from Ipswich Borough Council’s Community Grants to continue our Legal Triage service for another year.
We initially started Legal Triage in 2019, in response to the numbers of people contacting us with ‘clustered’ issues, and we extended the service during Covid lockdown. Stress caused by problems at work, insecure housing, neighbour disputes, or the threat of court action can have a knock-on impact on mental wellbeing, relationships, and financial stability.
Legal Triage offers expert help to unpack the ‘carrier bag of unresolved issues’, to identify where expert legal advice may help and to provide ongoing support to access that advice, either via Suffolk Law Centre’s own services, or referral to other providers.”
Alexandru Varadeu, Legal Triage Officer adds: “Helping individuals identify and address complex legal issues has been very satisfying. Knowing that the service we provide has a significantly positive impact on our clients’ lives is extremely fulfilling. Thank you to Ipswich Borough Council for allowing us to continue to provide this important service.”
Ipswich residents can access the service by phone, email, online forms or by visiting their office in the centre of Ipswich.
To find out more about Suffolk Law Centre, visit: www.suffolklawcentre.org.uk
Call: 01473 408111
