Other Sources of Advice and Contacts
Adviceguide from Citizens Advice The online CAB information service that gives you information on your rights and helps you take the first steps in sorting out any problems. The site covers a wide range of topics, including benefits, housing, and on debt, consumer and legal issues. There is also information in Welsh and ethnic community languages, and links to the CAB Directory.
Advice UK is the UK's largest support network for free, independent advice centres.
Community Legal Service Direct free information, advice and support to the public on a range of common legal issues via a national helpline (0845 3454 345) and a website
dial UK a national organisation for a network of approximately 130 local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people.
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants an independent national voluntary organisation, campaigning for justice and combating racism in immigration and asylum law and policy. JCWI provides free advice and casework, training courses, and a range of publications.
Law Centres Federation encourages the development of publicly funded legal services for those most disadvantaged in society. Law Centres provide help in solving everyday problems, such as getting decent housing, dealing with discrimination, or obtaining the correct benefits.
Refugee Council provides help to refugees and asylum seekers arriving & surviving in Britain.
The Mary Ward Legal Centre provide free advice and representation, especially in the areas of housing, debt and employment, to people who live or work in Greater London. Priority is given to those who could not otherwise afford legal help
National Debtline a free, confidential and independent national telephone helpline for people with debt problems in England, Scotland and Wales
Advice Now an Advice Service Alliance (ASA) project and is an independent, not-for-profit website providing accurate, up-to-date information on law, rights, legal service providers and legal issues
ADRnow ADR or Alternative Dispute Resolution provides options for resolving disputes without going to court. The aim of this website is to provide an independent overview of a wide range of ADR options in the UK, to enable individuals to make an informed decision about how best to resolve a dispute.
Criminal Cases Review Commission The Criminal Cases Review Commission is the independent public body set up to investigate possible miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Commission assesses whether convictions or sentences should be referred to a court of appeal.
LawWorks aims to increase the delivery of free legal advice to individuals and community groups, who cannot afford to pay.
Court of Appeal Civil Division The Court of Appeal Civil Division hears appeals in all leading cases in civil and family justice. It’s judges are concerned with upholding the rule of law. Through this site you can also access details on all our courts and how to find them; information on procedures and processes, forms and guidance to help you when using the courts.
Citizens Advice The national organisation to which all individual Citizens Advice Bureaux belong. Citizens Advice sets standards for advice and equal opportunities and supports Bureaux with an information system, training and other services. It also co-ordinates social policy, media, publicity and parliamentary work and maintains. The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice from over 3,000 locations, and by influencing policymakers.
Capitalise: London’s Debt Advice Partnership- Free Debt Advice across London Capitalise is a London-wide partnership led by Toynbee Hall, Blackfriars Advice Centre, and Mary Ward Legal Centre, in partnership with a range of independent advice organisations, CABs and homeless charities including Broadway. Capitalise is running a programme funded by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's (formerly DTI) portion of the Government’s Financial Inclusion Fund to employ 59 advisers providing debt and money advice to financially excluded members of the public experiencing debt and other financial problems.
Which? provides expert consumer advice from an independent source
Energy Watch is your independent watch dog for gas and electricity consumers
Office of Fair Trading is the UK's consumer and competition authority. Their mission is to make markets work well for consumers
Consumer Credit Counselling Service is a registered charity whose purpose is to assist people who are in financial difficulty by providing free, independent, impartial and realistic advice
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
This Government Department covers a wide range of agencies.
The main customer groups are:
- children
- people of working age
- pensioners
- disabled people and their carers.
The following agencies are all part of the DWP:
Jobcentre Plus
provides an integrated service to people of working age. It offers help to people looking to move into work and support for people who can't. Jobcentre Plus also provides a range of services to help employers fill their vacancies quickly.
For more information visit: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Child Support Agency
is responsible for running the child support system. It assesses, collects and pays Child Support Maintenance, ensuring that children whose parents do not live together are financially supported.
For more information visit: www.csa.gov.uk
Disability and Carers Service
support disabled people and their carers, whether or not they work. It is responsible for delivering Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Carer's Allowance.
For more information visit: www.dwp.gov.uk/dcs
The Pension Service
is a dedicated service for current and future pensioners. It provides state financial support to over 11 million pensioners delivered at a national and local level and in partnership with other organisations. It also helps people to plan and provide for retirement.
For more information visit: www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
The Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive
protect people's health and safety by ensuring risks at work are properly controlled.
For more information visit: www.hse.gov.uk
The Rent Service
provides a rental valuation service for housing benefit purposes, fair rent valuation for landlords and tenants, and advice to customers within the public and private sectors on these issues.
For more information visit: www.therentservice.gov.uk
Debt Management
provides a debt management service to the Department, from overpayment calculation through to recovery of debt.
For more information visit: www.dwp.gov.uk/debtmanagement
