General Advice on Social Welfare Law

The Bureau’s Generalist Advice volunteers provide the gateway to the service at our First Avenue House office, delivering advice and guidance on a diverse range of subjects including benefits, housing, employment and consumer matters. In addition to providing advice to clients, the volunteers also make referrals to Specialist Advisers within the Bureau team, or to partner agencies where appropriate.

All volunteers undertake an intense training programme at the Bureau before delivering advice to clients. This enables the Bureau to maintain its standards in the delivery of high quality advice, as well as ensuring all our volunteers are supported in their roles. The training includes a range of learning methods, including lectures and seminars, research and private study, and outreach and shadowing activities, and continuous development is actively encouraged.

The involvement of an increasing number of volunteers at our First Avenue House office has enabled the Bureau to advise on more cases, and the life experiences of our volunteers has greatly enhanced our understanding of the diverse needs of different communities. We hope to build on this track record of success in volunteer involvement, and expand further the range of activities volunteers are involved with at the Bureau.

Case Study

The Client was very distressed as he had been suspended by his employer and thought he had lost his job. The Bureau advised the client on issues relating to salary payments during a period of suspension, and details on the possibility of claiming an unauthorised deduction of wages at an Employment Tribunal under the Employment Rights Act. The Adviser helped the client to understand his contract of employment, focussing on whether there was a clause in it which allowed the employer to suspend him on less than full pay.

Following discussions with the client’s Employer, the client’s employment was reinstated as per his contract and he was offered a new assignment with an increased salary.

The client was extremely happy with the outcome and was grateful for the advice and support he received from the Bureau to achieve this.