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

Solicitors Project

SOLICITORS ADVICE AGENCIES

CLIENTS CLIENTS

Solicitors Project

SOLICITORS ADVICE AGENCIES

LINKS

CLIENTS CLIENTS

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

• Get local soIicitors and advice agencies to agree possible development ideas

• Undertake further work: Formalise some ideas Agree protocols/policies for

pro bono sessions Extend project to Central

Bedfordshire

Next steps