September 2016

Your guide to

Advice Servicesin Leicester

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What kind of advice do you need?CC Community care:

• IneedadviceabouthowtoapplyforequipmentandservicessoIcanliveindependently.

• Ithinkmycommunitycareassessmentiswrong.CP Consumer problems:

• I’mnothappywithsomethingIbought.• Iwanttochangemymobilephonecontractor/gas/

electricityprovider.D Debt and finance management:

• I’vetakenoutaloanandIcan’taffordtherepayments.• Ican’tpaymybills.• Mybenefitshavebeencut.

E Employment:• I’mhavingproblemsatwork.• I’velostmyjob.

F Family:• I’veseparatedfrommypartnerandIwanttoseemy

children.• I’mthinkingofgettingdivorced.

H Housing and homelessness:• I’mworriedaboutlosingmyhome.• WhatcanIdoifIbecomehomeless?

I Immigration:• IneedadviceaboutmyrighttoremainintheUK.• IneedhelpwithmyapplicationforBritishcitizenship.• Ineedtoclaimbenefits.

W Welfare benefits:• Ineedhelptoclaimbenefitsandtaxcredits.• Ineedadviceabouthowtochallengeabenefitsdecision.

Services available to everyone in Leicester:Welfare Rights Service, Leicester City Council (W)

Adviceline:Monday,Tuesday,Thursday1.00pm–4.00pmAppointmentsavailableinchildren’scentres. leicester.gov.uk/welfarerights welfare.rights@leicester.gov.uk 0116 454 5570

Citizens Advice Leicestershire (CC, CP, D, E, F, H, I, W) Providesdrop-inandtelephoneadvice,homevisits,andspecialistcaseworkaspartoftheAdviceLeicestercontract. Webchat service available at: adviceguide.org.uk Email advice available through the website: leicscab.org.uk/contact-form 0300 330 1025Drop in: Monday-Friday 9am – 4.30pm 3rdFloor,60CharlesStreet,Leicester,LE11FB AppointmentsbookedusingtheabovenumberatCharlesStreetandoutreachsessionsatthefollowingcommunityvenues:The Brite Centre Appointments:AlternateMondays9.30am–12.30pm BraunstoneAvenue,Leicester,LE31LEThe Oak Centre Appointments:AlternateMondays9.30am–12.30pm BendbowRise,Leicester,LE31QANew Parks Library Appointments:Wednesdays2pm–5pm 321AikmanAvenue,Leicester,LE39PWTudor Centre Appointments:Tuesdays10am–1pm BewcastleGrove,MowmacreHill,Leicester,LE42JUNetherhall Community Centre Appointments:AlternateFridays10am–1pm ArmadaleDrive,Leicester,LE51RT

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Hamilton Library Appointments:AlternateFridays10am–1pm MaidenwellAvenue,Hamilton,Leicester,LE51BLSouthfields Library Appointments:Wednesdays2pm–5pm SaffronLane,PorkPieIsland,Leicester,LE26QSWesley Hall Community Centre Appointments:AlternateTuesdays9.30am–12.30pm 76HarringtonRoad,Leicester,LE20GNSt Matthews Tenants and Residents Association Appointments:AlternateTuesdays9.30am–12.30pm 88ManitobaRoad,Leicester,LE12STBeaumont Leys Library Appointments:Tuesdays2pm–5pm BeaumontWay,Leicester,LE41DSCompassion Centre Appointments:Thursdays9.30am–12.30pm TrinityLifeChurch,UpperTichborneStreet,Leicester,LE21GLSt Barnabas Library Appointments:Tuesdays2pm–5pm FrenchRoad,Leicester,LE54AH

Community Advice and Law Service (CALS) (D, H, W)Advice,caseworkandrepresentationondebt,housingandwelfarebenefits,form-filling/note-takingservices cals.uk.net enquiries@cals.uk.net 0116 242 1120 1stFloor,EpicHouse,CharlesStreet,Leicester,LE13SHAppointmentsavailableatEpicHouseandatoutreachsessionsatthefollowingcommunityvenues:Beaumont Leys Library 0116 252 1120 Appointments:Thursdays9.30am–1pm BeaumontWay,Leicester,LE41DS

Leicestershire CAB ( Leicester City) 0300 300 1025 Appointments:Mondays,TuesdaysandThursdays10am–1pm 3rdFloor,60CharlesStreet,Leicester,LE11FBRenaissance House 0116 225 6400 Appointments:Thursdays12.30pm–4.30pm 20PrincessRoadWest,Leicester,LE16TPWidening Horizons 0116 229 4035 Appointments:Tuesdays12.30pm–4.30pm 2WestStreet,Leicester,LE16XPCobden Street 0116 262 0400 (onlyavailabletopeopleinvolvedwiththeProbationService)Appointments: Wednesdays 10am – 3pm ProbationService,2CobdenStreet,Leicester,LE12LBHousing Court duty possession scheme for Leicester MondaytoFriday9.30am–12.30pm;1.30pm–4pm CountyCourtdesk

Revenues and customer support, Leicester City Council (D, H, W)leicester.gov.uk/housingbenefits leicester.gov.uk/counciltax 0116 454 1006(housingbenefits) 0116 454 1005(counciltax,businessratesandcounciltaxreduction) Monday,TuesdayandThursday:8.30am–5pm Wednesday:9.30am–5pmFriday:8.30am–4.30pm

Community support grant team, Leicester City Council Crisisandsupportgrantstoassistwithfinancialhardship.Telephoneapplicationsonly. leicester.gov.uk/csg 0116 454 1019 Monday–Friday8.30am–5pm Outofhourscontacttheemergencydutyteamon01162551606

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Housing options, Leicester City Council (D, H)Adviceonhousingandhomelessness. leicesterhomechoice.co.uk housingoptions@leicester.gov.uk 0116 454 1008 Monday,WednesdayandThursday9am–5pm Tuesday1pm–5pm Friday9am–4.30pm

Christians Against Poverty (D)Specialistadviceonbudgeting,debtmanagement,bankruptcyandevictions. capuk.org info@ancl.co.uk 0800 328 0006 AllNationsChurch,10FrogIsland,Leicester,LE35AG

Trinity Money Advice Leicester (D)Specialistadviceonbudgeting,debtmanagement,bankruptcyandcreditornegotiation. trinitymoneyadvice.org.uk contact@trinitymoneyadvice.org.uk 0116 319 2636 or 07512 677072 TrinityHall,TrinityLane,Leicester,LE18DP

Shelter Housing Aid and Research Project (SHARP) (H, W)leicestershelter.org.uk 0116 254 6064 MondaytoFriday10am–2pm 13WelfordRoad,Leicester,LE27AD

Advice services for particular groups or communities:Mosaic: shaping disability services (CC, D, W)

Whocanwehelp?Disabledpeopleandcarers. mosaic1898.co.uk 0116 231 4425 Monday–Thursday9am–5pm Friday9am–4.30pm 2OakSpinneyPark,RatbyLane,Leicester,LE33AW

Age UK (CC, W)Whocanwehelp?Peopleover50yearsofage. ageukleics.org.uk 0116 299 2233 Adviceline:Monday–Friday11am–4pm ClarenceHouse,46HumberstoneGate,Leicester,LE13PJ

Bangladeshi Youth and Cultural Shomiti (CC, D, H, W)Whocanwehelp?PrimarilyHighfieldsandStMatthewsresidents. bycs.org.uk 0116 275 5855 Dropin:Wednesday10am–1pm,Thursday10am–1pmAppointments:Monday10am–4.30pm,Thursday10am–1pm 30-32BiddulphStreet,Leicester,LE21BF

Moneywise Leicester (D)Supportpeopleinsocialhousingandgiveadviceonmoneymanagement,budgeting,accessinggrantsandimprovingfinancialconfidence. getmoneywise.org.uk 0116 242 1153Drop-insessions: Monday-Friday10am–2pm 165GranbyStreet,Leicester,LE16FEMonday10am–13pm TheBridge,SalvationArmy,KildareStreet,Leicester,LE13FY

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Thursday10am–12pm YorkHouse,91GranbyStreet,Leicester,LE16FBThursday10am–12pm OpenHandsCompassionUnit, 23-25HighfieldStreet,Leicester,LE21AB

Highfields Centre (CC, D, E, F, H, I, W)Whocanwehelp?PrimarilyHighfieldsandStMatthewsresidents.Adviceonwelfarebenefits,housing,debt,immigration,nationality,educationandgeneral. ProvidedinEnglish,Gujarati,Hindi,PunjabiandKutchi. highfieldscentre.ac.uk 0116 253 1053 Dropinsessions:Tuesday9.30am–12.30pmAppointments:Monday12.00–3pm

Saffron Resource Centre (D, H, W)Whocanwehelp?Freeman,EyresMonsellandAylestoneresidents. srcentre.org.uk info@srcentre.org.uk 0116 283 7212 Appointments:MondaytoFriday9am–5pm 432SaffronLane,Leicester,LE26SB

Somali Development Services (D, H, W)Whocanwehelp?Refugeesandothermigrants.Adviceandsupportwithbenefits,housing,health,utilitybills,debt,educationandimmigration.Alsoactsasintermediariesforotherbusinesses. sds-ltd.org 0116 285 5888 Drop-insessions:MondaytoThursday10am–3pm Appointments:Mon-Fri9am-5pm 39AbingdonRoad,Leicester,LE21HA

Income management team, Leicester City Council (D, W)Whocanwehelp?Counciltenantsonly 0116 454 1007–askforincomemanagementteamLCC

tenants’adviceline:MondaytoFriday9am–5pm Nopublicaddressbutappointmentscanbearranged.

Race Equality Centre (H, I, W)Whocanwehelp?Refugees theraceequalitycentre.org.uk 0116 2042790 Appointments:Monday–Friday10am–4pm 2ndFloor,PhoenixYard,5-9UpperBrownStreet,LeicesterLE15TE

Supporting tenants and residents (STAR) (D, H, W)STARprovidestenancysupportfornewandexistingcounciltenantstopreventhomelessnessandhelpsustaintenancies.Self-referralsandagency-referralsaccepted. Email: STAR@leicester.gov.ukBeaumont Leys 0116 225 4780Braunstone & City 0116 454 6420St Matthews & Highfields 0116 454 6000New Parks 0116 291 4655Saffron/ Eyres Monsell 0116 229 3610

Welfare Rights (Mental Health) Leicester Partnership Trust Whocanwehelp?Telephoneadviceforpeoplewithmentalhealthconditions,andtheircarers. lampdirect.org.uk 0116 225 6222 Adviceline:Tuesday–Friday9.30am–12.30pm BrandonMentalHealthUnit,LeicesterGeneralHospital,GwendolenRoad,Leicester,LE54PW

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Legal aid private solicitors in LeicesterLegalaidcanhelpyoupayforlegaladvice,mediationorrepresentationincourtifyoucan’taffordit.Youmightbeabletogetlegalaidforproblemslike:

• beingarrested,questionedorchargedbythepolice• debt–forexample,whereyoumightloseyourhome• housing–forexample,ifyou’rebeingevicted• familyissues,suchasgettingadivorce• education,suchasdisagreeingwithaspecialeducational

needsdecisionaboutyourchild• communitycare–forexample,ifyou’reunhappywithcare

beingprovidedforanolderordisabledrelative.Tofindoutifyouareeligibleandtoclaimlegalaid,youcancontactCivilLegalAdvice.Ifappropriatetheywilldirectyoutoalocalorganisationthatcanhelpyou.Civil Legal Advice gov.uk/legal-aid deaflawcentre.org.uk/community-legal-advice 0345 345 4 345 Minicom: 0345 609 6677MondaytoFriday9am–8pm,Saturday9am–12.30pmCallscost4paminutefromaBTlandline.Mobilecallsusuallycostmore.YoucanaskCivilLegalAdviceforafreecallback–usetheonlineserviceatgov.uk/legal-aidortext‘legalaid’andyournameto80010.Theywillcallyoubackwithin24hoursandalsohaveafreetranslationserviceifEnglishisn’tyourfirstlanguage.YoucanalsogetadviceinBritishSignLanguage.Makesureyouhavedetailsofyourandyourpartner’s:

• benefits• income,savingsandspending• nationalinsurancenumber(s).

ThefollowinglistincludesprivatesolicitorswhohaveacontractwiththeLegalServicesCommission:Immigration advice (I)

Midland Immigration Services misuk.org 0116 266 9697 255MeltonRoad,Leicester,LE47ANDuncan Lewis Solicitors duncanlewis.co.uk 0116 442 2104 60CharlesStreet,Leicester,LE11FBImmigration Advice Service iasservices.org.uk/leicester 0116 352 7004 ImperialHouse,StNicholasCircle,Leicester,LE14LFBurton & Burton Solicitors 0845 094 2500 19bKentStreet,Leicester,LE53BDFrench & Co Solicitors 0116 326 3636 5MuseumSquare,Leicester,LE16UFSKR Legal Solicitors skr-legal.com 0116 254 6246 131aEvingtonRoad,Leicester,LE21QJ

Family advice (F)The Smith Partnership smithpartership.co.uk 0116 247 2000 CharnwoodCourt,5BNewWalk,Leicester,LE16TEBrayandBray Solicitors braybray.co.uk 0116 254 8871 36-42HumberstoneRoad,Leicester,LE50AE

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Scutt Beaumont Solicitors sbs-solicitors.co.uk 0116 254 4200 102NewWalk,Leicester,LE17EAEmery Johnson Solicitors emeryjohnson.com 0116 255 4855 3-5WelfordRoad,Leicester,LE27ADJohar & Company Solicitors johars.com 0116 254 3345 70LondonRoad,Leicester,LE20QDNelsons Solicitors nelsonslaw.co.uk 0116 222 6666 ProvincialHouse,37NewWalk,LeicesterLE16TUDodds Solicitors LLP dodds-solicitors.co.uk 0116 201 8566 32FriarLane,Leicester,LE15RAJones & Duffin jonesduffin.co.uk 0116 222 1555 142NarboroughRoad,Leicester,LE30BTCartwright King Solicitors cartwrightking.co.uk 0116 253 9222 Floor5,Horsefair,3HorsefairStreet,Leicester,LE15BP

Web addresses and telephone numbers for welfare, debt and consumer advice

Community Legal Advice Direct legaladviserfinder.justice.gov.uk 03453454345National Debt Line nationaldebtline.org 08088084000Citizens Advice Consumer Service citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer_advice 03454040506Trading Standards tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/consumer-adviceCitizens Advice Debtline leicscab.org.uk/money-advice 03003301025Benefits Advice turn2us.org.uk 08088022000ACAS (advice and guidance) acas.gov.uk 03001231100Shelter housing advice line shelter.org.uk 08088004444The Insolvency Service insolvency.enquiryline@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk 03006780015StepChange Debt Charity stepchange.org 08081381111 MondaytoFriday8am–8pm,Sat8am–4pm

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Debt Advice Foundation debtadvicefoundation.org 08000434050 MondaytoFriday8am–8pm,Saturday9am–5pmTax Help for Older People taxvol.org.uk 08456013321The Pensions Advisory Service pensionadvisoryservice.org.uk 03001231047

Howmuchdothesetelephonecallscost?

0800 or 0808 Freephone numbersAnumberoforganisationsusefreephonenumbersthatstart0800or0808.Callsarenormallyfreeofchargefromlandlinesbutchargesmayapplyfrommobilephones.However,theoperatormustmakeanannouncementbeforethecallisconnectedtellingthecallerthattheywillbecharged(theannouncementdoesnotstatetheexactcharge).Callsfrommobilestypicallycostupto40pperminute.

0845 numbersCallsaretypicallychargedatbetween1pand11.5pperminutedependingonthetimeofdayforlandlinecustomers.Callsfrommobilephonesgenerallycostbetween20pand41pperminute.Moreinformationonarangeoftopicsisavailableatgov.uk

Somevenuesmaychangesopleaseconsulttheagencywebsiteforfurtherdetailsbeforevisiting

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Community Advice & Law ServiceThe Race Equality Centre

Age UK

Citizen’s Advice Bureau

Leicester City CouncilShelter Housing Aid & Research Project (SHARP)

Clock Tower

Leicester MarketTown Hall

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Map of Leicester city centre advice services

ThisbooklethasbeenpreparedinpartnershipbytheSocialWelfareAdviceForumandLeicesterCityCouncil.

ItaimstotellpeopleinLeicesteraboutthefreesocialwelfareadviceservicesavailableinthecity.

Youhavetocontactmostservicesbytelephoneoremail.Onlyafewservicesofferdropinsessionswherenoappointmentsarenecessary.

Theinformationinthebookletgivesthekeyareasofadvicethatservicesprovide.Manyalsomayhavespecialistareasofexpertise.

Mostservicesprovidefreeadvice.However,somecanonlybeprovidedfreewithlegalaidandthisissubjecttoaneligibilitytest.

LeicesterSeptember2016