Advice Deserts Disappear - New Projects Blossom

[nickd]

This is a continuation (almost part 2) of the longer running thread 'Justice Disappears - Advice Deserts Blossom', which continues to keep track of advice agencies which face cuts or extinction.

On this thread we want to keep track on NEW PROJECTS.

On here we really want to hear of new initiatives - however funded - which start springing up around the country. In particular it would be good to hear of new contracts which are related to new community based partnerships, some of which will be funded by privatized funding, it all helps to ensure that clients can continue to get the right kind of advice.

If any of you come across anything in your area, post it here or pass it to me via the members link where you can email it or leave a message. If you see something in the local or national press do let us know on Mylegal, it's very helpful to send us the link to the media article as it makes it easier to get the information from it.

We're trying to build a picture of new projects, the kind of information which would be helpful is as follows:

(1) Where it is based and what area it covers

(2) Whether it offers telephone advice or face to face or a combination of both.

(3) When the service is due to start, or if it is already up and running;- when it commenced.

(4) Whether paid staff of volunteers are being recruited and if so-full details would be helpful (some of those facing redundancy by organizations which have made cuts may be interested in applying)

(5) Any details of the range of services being offered. Particularly, whether they cover general help - specialist help or only advice on improving financial capability as opposed to the actual giving of advice.

(6) Any details of the organizations who are behind these projects, whether they are national or local. Details on their links to the local community would also be helpful.

(7) Any information on where their project funding comes from.

(8) Whether there is any question of any fee payable by the client (these are often 'hidden' in promotional material)

(9) How staff are accredited or belong to any recognised professional organisation which ensures proper advice standards are maintained.

(10) Whether the new agency poses any threat to an existing agency or whether it's opening follows the closure of an agency which has faced funding cuts.

This all helps to keep track on what's going on around the country, your contribution in posting this kind of information to us will be invaluable.

It will take a while to build this one up because new agencies are bound to want little media promotion whilst all of these public funding spending reforms are going on. Remember we need to CONTINUE to keep track of organizations which are facing cuts or reductions in service, you continue to post these here.....

www.mylegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=frontline&action=display&thread=132

And here's a reminder of what our current focus on Mylegal is all about.........

www.mylegal.org.uk/index.cgi?action=display&board=protecteveryone&thread=244&page=1#359

Remember that as well as posting this kind of information, we still need to hear of more stories about how people are helped by being able to access proper advice

What we're about is making sure new agencies offer a proper service, the kind of service we have been providing over the last decade; - a service the vast majority of our clients so often compliment us upon, a service we are justifiably and proudly to deliver as part of the highly effective Community Legal Service.

[nickd]

On the government website, amonst other organisations such as CAB, the 'Moneymade Clear' Service is accessible using the following link......

www.moneymadeclear.org.uk/about_us/contact_us.html

Moneymade Clear is a relatively recent project linked to the Consumer Financial Education Body. You will probably be asked to complete a survey (it's optional and they offer you the chance of a £200 prize draw for participating) so you can tell them what you think of the site. It says its new and being tested.

[nickd]

Here's some news of an award winning project down in Plymouth, how's it coming on folks?
It would be good to hear more.

Here's what funders EDF have to say about the new CAB partnership at an awards ceremony in December last year.

Plymouth CAB and EDF Energy scoop national award Print page An innovative partnership between Plymouth Citizen’s Advice Bureau and EDF Energy has won the Community Initiative of the Year award at a ceremony in London.

EDF Energy initially helped Plymouth CAB set up a dedicated telephone advice service for households in Plymouth, creating an effective way to provide information and advice on a range of issues such as energy debt and fuel poverty. The company then funded a specialist energy advice worker at the charity, who provides training and support about fuel poverty, energy debt and the help available to a range of organisations and charities, and through Citizen’s Advice Bureaus, across Cornwall and Devon.

In front of an audience of 1200 guests, the joint project was announced winner from a five-strong shortlist at the national Utility Week Industry Achievement Awards, held at London’s historic Old Billingsgate Market on Monday (Dec 13).

By the end of last year, an estimated ten thousand people in Cornwall and Devon had benefited from the first year of the innovative energy advice scheme, receiving support and access to energy debt and energy efficiency advice, signing up to social and discounted tariffs they are entitled to and applying for funding support if in serious debt.

One judge said the project ‘obviously had real impact in helping those in need’.

Ann Kinahan, Director at Plymouth CAB, said: “We’re delighted to have won the community award with EDF Energy. We have a very constructive relationship with EDF Energy and they have really helped us to develop new ways to provide advice and support in this area. We’ve been able to combine our expertise, be it developing the telephone advice service or using our extensive network of contacts to get the information and advice out there to the people who need it most.”

Richard Browning, EDF Energy’s Head of Customer Services in the South West, said: “It’s fantastic for this groundbreaking approach between an energy company and the voluntary sector to be recognised nationally. As an energy company, we need to keep working hard to make sure those who need support know how to get it and we’re delighted that the partnership with Plymouth CAB is proving so successful in doing just that.”

Around 122,000 households are estimated to be living in fuel poverty in Devon and Cornwall, meaning they spend at least 10 per cent of their total net annual household income on their annual household energy costs, or are in receipt of income support or pension credit benefits.

See the link

www.edfenergy.com/media-centre/press-news/Plymouth-CAB-and-EDF-energy-scoop-national-award.shtml

[nickd]

South West Water give some good news of grant funding down in Plymouth for their customers via CAB.

Water firm's £1m grant to CAB will help struggling customers By allan tudor [e-mail]

DEBT advisors have welcomed South West Water's £1million investment in helping South Devon customers who struggle to pay their bills.

The water and sewage company is expanding two existing programmes to offer more practical assistance to customers in need.

Citizens Advice Bureau co-ordinated by the Plymouth office will be able to distribute the money from South West Water to assist an estimated 2,000 customers across the region who find themselves suddenly in debt because of exceptional circumstances.

SWW is also enhancing a programme to offer tips on how to reduce energy use and how to apply for grants as well as offering free water use audits.

CAB debt advisor Steve Meakin said: "This is a substantial investment and means we will have a straightforward and simple way to offer thousands of customers the help they need with their water bills without having to go through the company itself."

He said the advice programme helps customers people reduce their water bills themselves.

"Extending the help on offer to include general energy-saving advice is a really good idea as many of the people we see also have problems with their gas, electricity and oil bills."

SWW customer relations director Monica Read said: "We know the Citizens Advice Bureau do excellent work with people in often desperate circumstances.

"By extending the fund and making it easier to ask for help we aim to assist at least 2000 customers.

"We have been running the advice programme since 2007 and so far have helped 7,500 customers. As our advisors are already visiting thousands of homes to do water audits, it makes sense for them to do energy checks and advice at the same time."

See the link...

www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Water-firm-s-163-1m-grant-CAB-help-struggling-customers/article-3280492-detail/article.html

[nickd]

Cambridge CAB Advice Hub are pressing ahead with self help advice kiosks in local libraries in the East of England. They envisage moving towards being able to provide access to specialist advice via Wecams and Skype.

Has anyone tried this out or perhaps someone from Cambridge would like to say a few words on how they see this progressing?

Advice at the touch of a screen!

Thanks to funding from Investing in Communities at EEDA, visitors to libraries in Fenland are now able to access specialist advice services with the help of Advicehub, a partnership initiative led by the four Cambridgeshire Citizens Advice Bureaux, Cambridge, Ely, Fenland and Huntingdonshire, and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. Advicehub is using a combination of innovative technology and partnership working with other organisations to increase people’s access to good quality advice services.

Advicehub self-help touchscreen kiosks have been installed in the libraries in March, Chatteris and Whittlesey where people can find answers to common issues including employment, benefits, debt and family/relationship problems. In the future, advice sessions with specialist advisers will be possible, using webcam and Skype technology. All of this will save travelling costs and time and increase people’s access to good quality advice services where and when they need it.

A network of kiosks is being installed in other community locations across Cambridgeshire, from Wisbech to Sawston. To find your nearest touchscreen kiosk, visit www.advicehub.org/advice/advicehub-locations/ (opens in new window)

The Advicehub Partnership Forum has recently been set up, with over 20 advice agencies across the county aiming to work together more effectively and efficiently, whilst always keeping the client at the heart of the advice process. This includes compiling a service mapping directory, so that agencies can refer clients on for specialist advice more quickly, and creating a common client registration form so that all providers understand the full range of a client’s needs.

Note: Advicehub operates as part of Cambridge CAB, a registered charity no 1056102.

Last updated: Friday 21 January 2011, 16:42

Read more about the project on the following link....

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/access/advice_hub.htm

[nickd]

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King gave the new project at Cambridge Advicehub a blessing at the opening of their new and very well equiped premises last year.

Here's what the press coverage says...

"A new Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) was officially opened in Cambridge by the Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King.

The centre on Devonshire Road will welcome the general public for the first time on July 26.

Seven months of refurbishment at the old Anglia Photoworks building transformed it into a modern advice and information hub, and it is hoped it will allow people to get the help they need more quickly.

The first floor of the centre will provide office space for rent by advice agencies, meaning clients will not have to go far to get specialist assistance.

Speaking to more than 100 guests, Mr King, a former Cambridge University student and lecturer, said CAB had a "crucial" role to play in the community.

He said: "The information and advice they provide can help to empower those in difficulty, enabling them to take control of their lives, building confidence and self esteem.

"It is a great pleasure to open the CAB’s impressive new facilities in Cambridge.

"I wish all the staff and volunteers the best of luck for the important work they do, particularly in these times of economic difficulty."

Dr David Livesey, Mervyn King, Rachel Talbot and Sir Nigel Brown were at the opening of the new Cambridge CAB. Sir Nigel has obviously done a lot to help to Cambridge on their way

Demand for the free and confidential advice provided by CAB increased by 25 per cent in Cambridge during the last financial year, compared to 23 per cent nationally.

Nigel Brown, the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, said this made the opening of the new facilities particularly timely.

He told the News: "I was very impressed and it is a tremendous improvement. It will allow CAB to provide advice much more quickly to people who come in."

Ahead of the move to Devonshire Road, the existing branch on Newmarket Road will close this Thursday.

An email and telephone advice service will be available before the opening of the new bureau.

Dr David Livesey, Mervyn King, Rachel Talbot and Sir Nigel Brown were at the opening of the new Cambridge CAB. Sir Nigel has taken an active part in helping Cambridge CAB on their way.

Here's a bit about the Cambridge CAB Team....

www.cambridgecab.org.uk/About_Us/Trustee_Board.htm

View the link and listen to a video on what Mervyn King has to say of the good work CAB do when he met with staff and management board of Cambridge CAB.....

www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/New-Citizens-Advice-Bureau-opened-in-city.htm

[nickd]

Plymouth really is getting a boost as its new telephone service takes off with EDF funding

Boost for Plymouth CAB with new phone trial success. A new phone system being trialled at Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureau has been hailed a success, after boosting the number of calls that can be dealt with each week.

EDF Energy has been working with Plymouth CAB since May, working on recruitment of volunteers and now setting up and trialling new processes to allow more callers to get through.

The new arrangements, introduced at the start of August, are for the charity's Debt Rights and Remedies Unit, which was set up last year. The charity receives more inquiries about debt than on any other issues.

Relying on volunteers, it can still be difficult to get through, but under the new arrangements, with a new call-taker system and more volunteers trained to gather information, more than 200 callers a month speak direct with call-takers, a big increase on the situation previously. The aim is to increase this further as the trial continues. Many people also come to the charity's office at Mayflower Street to talk directly with an adviser.

About 40 per cent of the thousands of inquiries to Plymouth CAB every year are debt-related, 25 per cent are benefits issues, with 20 per cent housing and employment concerns. The new system could eventually be extended to cover all types of enquiries.

Suzie O'Brien, customer relations manager at EDF Energy's Gadeon House office in Exeter, has been seconded to Plymouth CAB to set up and manage the project.

She said: "We wanted to help Plymouth CAB provide a more accessible service. We started with debt because it's such a major issue for clients. The demand for advice is great, but there is now a simple, computerised process that allows call takers to take key details and then arrange for a follow up phone call or set up an appointment with an adviser.

"It means less time on the initial phone call so more calls can be taken and everything is computerised from the very start, so it's easier to analyse the type of calls and build up a clear picture of the issues."

Key to the new system has been a boost to recruitment.

Susie said: "Plymouth CAB relies very heavily on volunteers and this system only works if you've got the people to run it. The first few months I had to focus on recruitment, and we've already got 18 new volunteers, with more starting soon, and a better way of managing recruitment. The volunteers are fantastic and none of this would work without them."

In the last financial year, Plymouth CAB, which has over 40 volunteers and the equivalent of 18 staff, dealt with over 9,000 individual contacts with the bureau and helped address 14,700 issues. This year, the workload is expected to be even greater.

Gill Tishler, Director of Plymouth CAB, has been delighted with the partnership with EDF Energy.

She said: "It's been brillant. It's given us a resourceful senior manager who has taken a brief and really run with it, putting in place new systems that are already starting to benefit clients. It's put us in a better position to deal with the demand we are going to face because of the economic downturn. It means we can now extend this trial to other areas of our work alongside debt enquiries."

EDF Energy is investing £315million in energy efficiency measures over the next three years, including measures for priority vulnerable customers. It also set up the independent EDF Energy Trust Fund, the first trust of its kind in the energy industry, which has provided advice and grants of more than £8million to customers most in need. Plymouth CAB is represented on the fund's national board of trustees.

EDF Energy is also spending around £11million this year on targeted help for its vulnerable customers through initiatives such as its social tariff, providing 100,000 of its most in need customers with a 15% discount on their energy bills. The social tariff has been recognised as one of the most generous in the industry. EDF Energy is already committed to increase this targeted support to £13million next year and £16million the year after.

Plymouth CAB cab be contacted Monday-Friday, 10am- 1pm, through its drop-in service at Cobourg House, Mayflower Street or by calling 08448 269 717. A wide range of advice is available through the website www.plymouthcab.org.uk which links to www.adviceguide.org.uk.

Anyone interested in volunterring opportunities, and to order the new Plymouth CAB volunteering booklet, can contact 01752 507703.

For further information and to set up interviews or photographs with Suzie O'Brien and Gill Tishler, please contact Dan Pritchard in the EDF Energy press office on 01392 813783.

EDF Energy is one of the UK's largest energy companies. We provide power to a quarter of the UK's population via our electricity distribution networks in London, the South East and the East of England. We supply gas and electricity to over 5 million customers and generate about 5GW of energy from our coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms.

See the link.....

www.edfenergy.com/media-centre/press-news/boost-for-plymouth-cab-with-new-phone-trial-success.shtml

[nickd]

Plymouth CAB taking on new staff - but hurry cl0sing date is Monday 14th 2011 to start their telehone service in June - hoping to take on 200 volunteers as well.

Vacancies

There are a range of vacancies and volunteering opportunities currently available with Plymouth CAB.

To become a volunteer with Plymouth CAB Click here to apply online or contact us for more information.

Job Vacancy: Financial Capability Coordinator

Job Title: Financial Capability Coordinator

Salary Scale: £18228 - £18893 per annum (pro rata)

Working hours: 18.5 hours per week

1 Year Fixed Term Contract

Responsible to: Money Advice Coordinator for Devon and Cornwall

Responsible for: Volunteer financial capability team

Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureau wishes to appoint a financial capability coordinator who will be responsible for the activities of a small team of volunteers who will work in the community assisting social landlord tenants to better manage their financial affairs.

If you are hard working, have the ability to motivate others and have excellent communication skills then we would welcome your application.

Closing date: Monday 14 March 2011 at 17:00

Interviews: Tuesday 22 March 2011

Click here to download our application pack (MS Word format)

Click here to download the Plymouth CAB annual report (PDF)

Job Vacancy: Volunteer Manager and Trainer

Job Title: Volunteer Manager and Trainer

Salary Scale: £27509 - £28880

Working hours: 37 hours per week

2 Year Fixed Term Contract

Responsible to: Bureau Director

Responsible for: Volunteer training team and bureau volunteers

Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureau is establishing an innovative telephone advice service from 01 June 2011. The service will be delivered almost entirely by volunteers.

We are looking for a dynamic leader and motivator to be responsible for recruiting and training a growing team—we anticipate needing up to 200 volunteers.

If you have experience of recruiting and training volunteers, are self reliant, and have a proven track record of delivering training and supporting volunteers we would welcome your application.

Closing date: Monday 14 March 2011 at 17:00

Interviews: Wednesday 23 March 2011

Click here to download our application pack (MS word format)

Click here to download our annual report (PDF)

Job Vacancy: Adminitrative Coordinator & ICT Support

Job Title: Administrative Coordinator & ICT Support

Salary Scale: £18228 - £19382 per annum (pro rata)

Working hours: 26 hours per week

2 Year Fixed Term Contract

Responsible to: Specialist Services Manager

Responsible for: Volunteer administrators

Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureau is establishing an innovative telephone advice service from 01 June 2011. The service will be delivered almost entirely by volunteers. The call centre aims to manage 40,000 calls per year.

We are looking for an enthusiastic person who would be willing to take responsibility for delivering administrative tasks and co-ordinate a team of volunteers to ensure the service runs smoothly and efficiently. If you are flexible, organised and have proven experience of administrative work and you have good ICT skills we would welcome your application.

Closing date: Monday 14 March 2011 at 17:00

Interviews: Thursday 24 March 2011

Click here to download our application pack (MS Word)

Click here to download the Plymouth CAB annual report (PDF)

Job Vacancies: Telephone Advice Session Supervisor

Job Title: Telephone Advice Session Supervisors (1.5FTE posts available)

Salary Scale: £23420 - £25957 per annum (pro rata for part time post)

Working hours: 37 hours per week Or 18.5 hours per week (Job share)

These two roles include working some evenings and Saturday mornings on a rota basis

2 Year Fixed Term Contract

Responsible to: Specialist Services Manager



Responsible for: Telephone advice team and Administrative Coordinator

Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureau is establishing an innovative telephone advice service from 01 June 2011. The service will be delivered almost entirely by volunteers.

We are looking for 2 committed and enthusiastic supervisors who can ensure the delivery of a competent and efficient advice service. You will be responsible for supervising a team of up to 15 people in a professional and busy call centre environment.

If you are organised, have excellent communication skills and experience of working in a call centre environment we would welcome your application.

Click here to download our application pack (MS Word format)

Click here to download the Plymouth CAB annual report (PDF)

You'll need to go the Plymouth CAB site to get the links to the downloads...

jobs.guardian.co.uk/employer/991378/plymouth-cab/

[nickd]

The previously mentioned vacancy posts for Plymouth are now CLOSED for submitting applications - the deadline was yesterday Monday 14th March 2011.

[nickd]

2nd April 2011 - Brings a whole new meaning to one stop shop!

Co - Op to move into giving legal advice.....

The Co-operative looks set to offer legal advice to the general public from its network of bank branches, as its considers a conversion to an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) later this year, in a move that would make it the first retailer to do so.

The company is looking into the option of forming a one-stop shop for financial and legal services when the Legal Services Act (LSA) comes into force in October this year.

The Co-op has been building its legal operations over a five-year period in anticipation of deregulation of the market, with its legal services arm growing from just three staff to a total 370 since its launch in 2006.

The Co-operative Legal Services - a wholly owned subsidiary of The Co-operative Group - already offers legal advice on personal injury claims, will writing, probate and estate administration, as well as conveyancing and employment law.

Managing director Eddie Ryan commented: "Many customers feel that solicitors communicate with them poorly, use jargon that is confusing and don't understand how services are priced. The shake-up that the LSA offers is absolutely necessary if legal services are to become more accessible to customers."

The ABS model - often dubbed 'Tesco law' - will allow law firms to be owned by non-lawyers or bring in non-lawyers as partners, as well as permitting firms to raise capital by floating on the stock market.

Another company specifically targeting opportunities offered by the LSA is Investec, which at the end of last year launched a professional services finance unit that will invest up to £10m in each law firm looking to restructure as an ABS.

By Friederike Heine

So along with your bread and milk, you'll soon be able to get a divorce and take your boss to the cleaners - wonder if you get any promotion discounts too?


www.legalsupportnetwork.co.uk/index.php/news/details/co-op_set_to_offer_legal_advice_at_network_of_bank_branches/

[nickd]

Slaughter and May getting twithcy on staying on RBS's legal panel.

Slaughter and May has stood down from the Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) legal panel in the wake of discussions regarding risk management, it has emerged.

Slaughters has indicated that the decision was taken earlier this year after discussions regarding RBS' broad prohibition on panel advisers limiting liability on individual transactions. It is understood that there was particular concern over the ban on limiting risk on work that could carry liabilities to third parties, such as vendor due diligence reports.

Capping liability on individual transactions has become relatively widespread in recent years as City law firms have implemented stronger policies to manage their risk, following similar initiatives from leading accountancy firms. Such agreements cap liabilities in the event of a negligence claim, often in the region of £5m to £25m.

RBS general counsel Chris Campbell declined to comment on the bank's relationship with individual firms. However, he stressed that RBS' policy was not to allow its advisers to limit liability on individual transactions and that this policy has not changed in recent years.

The move comes amid increasingly robust efforts from major banks to enforce strict standards from advisers in terms of pricing and meeting panel terms. Banks in particular have been resistant to law firms limiting risks on individual mandates even with third-party liabilities.

One partner at a rival City firm commented: "I would be surprised if the liability caps were the only reason for the split – unlimited liability for preferred clients is common practice and has been for a long time."

RBS is one of the most influential clients in the UK and instructs firms including Allen & Overy, Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

www.legalsupportnetwork.co.uk/index.php/news/details/slaughter_and_may_stands_down_from_rbs_legal_panel/

By Friederike Heine

[nickd]

Djanogly's old firm facing hard times. Your heart goes out to them when you learn that there top earner has had to take a cut on pay from not much below a million; - good job they're not on fixed fee for legal aid eh!

SJ Berwin cleared more than £20m of loans and debts owed to its limited liability partnership (LLP) members during 2009-10, according to the firm's recently-filed accounts.

The Companies House filings show that total amounts due to the LLP's members decreased from £21.6m to just £1.1m during the financial year.

The repayments come after the firm took a conservative approach to cash management during the downturn, holding back the majority of quarterly partner profits (PEP) distributions from November 2008 through to March 2010. The firm's PEP nearly halved to £410,000 during the 2008-09 financial year.

However, during 2009-10 profits available for division among the firm's members increased by 13% on the previous year, rising from £37.6m to £42.5m.

SJ Berwin previously reported a 9% increase in PEP to £447,000, but the firm said the figure had been further boosted by £5.6m by foreign exchange rate gains.

The accounts also show that the firm improved its total cash position by almost £7m during the financial year, up from £1.5m in the red to £5.2m.

A total of £500,000 was paid off the firm's £10m three-year revolving bank loan facility, while its overdraft was halved from £4.4m to £2.5m and net cash inflow from operating activities decreased from £84.3m to £59.6m.

The accounts marks the first full financial year for the firm's Middle East and Asia operations, which contributed £617,000 and £796,000 respectively to firmwide total turnover of £171m. UK turnover decreased from £127.7m to £116m and Europe turnover fell from £55.9m to £53.5m.

The firm's total staff numbers decreased by around 10%, or by 101 staff (including 59 fee earners) which saw costs fall 7.5% from £79m to £73m. The average number of partners was down from 172 to 164, with pay for the top-earner falling 34% from £1.2m to £809,800, although last year's top figure included a retirement provision.

SJ Berwin finance director Mike Giles commented: "Revenue was down so we had another difficult year in trading terms, but we had a much tighter control on costs, saving on admin expenses and operating costs, which meant we were able to edge profitability up marginally."

Top 20 rival Bird & Bird has also recently filed its LLP accounts, which, in contrast many other UK firms, show staff numbers and costs increasing over the year. Total staff costs rose from £94m to £96.3m against an increase in total staff from 725 to 757.
The firm improved revenues by 9.4% to £201.8m while PEP decreased by 3.1% to £466,000. The best-paid member at the firm took home £863,000 compared to £907,000 the previous year.

[nickd]

Alongside your groceries and all the stuff they have now diversified into, you can now call on the Co-Operative to help you if you get in a legal pickle, seems like they are well and truly up and running...

Welcome to The Co-operative Legal Services

The Co-operative Legal Services is dedicated to widening and easing public access to legal provision. We are a national legal services provider, with legal experts available to help and advise on a range of legal issues. Our services cover the writing of Wills, helping to manage the affairs of the deceased, buying and selling your home, legal assistance with accidents & personal injuries and employment claims.

Free legal advice is provided with these services without obligation and in complete confidence. In addition, if you are a member of The Co-operative Group we also offer free legal advice across other aspects of the law.

I just wonder what the cost and extent of this service is though, anyone got any idea?

www.co-operative.coop/legalservices/

[nickd]

Even Which magazine has joined in the fray and now offers legal advice for £51 per year on almost everything....

Unlimited legal advice by phone and email at unrivalled value

Which? Legal Service is committed to protecting your rights and helping you get value for money and fair treatment. We offer unlimited professional consumer and employment legal advice by phone and email from experienced lawyers at unrivalled value. Our membership is like having your own team of lawyers on hand to help with every step of your case. Join now and start enjoying the benefits of Which? Legal Service today.

Join now for unlimited legal advice from only £51 a year

Our lawyers can give phone and email advice on a wide range of legal matters including employment issues, parking fines, cowboy builders, faulty goods and more.

I wonder how good they'll be at helping people with a benefit appeal, dealing with heavy handed council's using bailiffs to collect Council Tax?

[nickd]

DAS Legal Cover would have you belive that Legal Aid isn't an option as it's hardly ever available and even then only to a small minority.

Wonder how much their cover is? Here's what they say....

"You may think that you are unlikely to ever end up in a legal dispute and even if you did Legal Aid would cover the costs. However, a dispute with a neighbour, faulty goods or a holiday from hell could leave you with no means of enforcing your legal rights or gaining compensation. Consulting a solicitor can cost anything from £75 to £150 an hour; even more if the case is specialised. Falling back on Legal Aid is not an option any more as it is only available to a small minority.

The prospect of becoming involved in complicated legal disputes and appointing a solicitor can be daunting and often deters people from bringing a legal case. DAS offer a wide range of personal legal expenses products specifically designed to help people through stressful legal situations allowing you to stand up for your legal rights without fear of overstretching your resources."

www.das.co.uk/personal.asp

Another 'alternative' who gives social welfare law a wide birth. I just wonder how their pricing works, seems it's conditional on buying insurance and even their family cover appears pretty limited, no mention of prices on their site.

[nickd]

Then there's Tesco legal services, but watch out......'exclusions' apply, that'll be another no no no to social welfare law services then!

Tesco Legal Guard

If you have a road traffic accident involving your car there may be things that your Tesco Car Insurance policy does not cover, or for which it provides only limited cover, such as:

Compensation for death or injury
Policy excess
Loss of earning
Accident Repair costs if you do not have comprehensive cover
Where you are not at fault you may be able to claim from the other party.

Tesco Legal Guard can help. It provides cover for you or your passengers to claim for compensation for personal injury and/or personal losses following a road traffic accident in the EU involving the car covered by your Tesco Car Insurance policy.

Tesco Legal Guard will provide access to a solicitor with cover for up to £100,000 for legal fees and costs, to help you or your passengers recover compensation and/or losses. Tesco Legal Guard will need to appoint or approve the solicitor, who will then manage the recovery process.

Cover applies if the claim has a greater than 50% chance of being successful and there is a greater than 50% chance of recovering your losses.

Cover for legal expenses will only be provided for injury or illness that results from the accident and not for injury or illness which has developed gradually.

Cover is not provided for pursuing a claim against Tesco Bank or Ageas in relation to the cover provided by the Tesco Legal Guard policy.

Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please read the policy documents before buying.

In addition you have the benefit of a legal helpline that you can use for matters other than motoring (Exclusions apply).

If you have other legal protection cover, there may be an element of overlap with this cover.

Tesco Legal Guard is provided by Ageas Insurance Limited (formerly known as Fortis Insurance Limited).

Seems like there's a whole load of these policy providers out there. I wonder what legal advice Tesco give you if you're maxed out on their credit card and unable to make your payments because they've just made you redundant after replacing you with one of their self-serve machines???

[nickd]

After a relatively long period of silence (for such a PR minded set up) A4E have popped up again, ok, they'd never disappeared but it was fairly obvious that as soon as Alternative Business Structures (ABS's) became the Government's more within reach answer to a part replacement for Legal Aid, A4E would get out the old power-point presentations again. Here's Mark Lovell...

Changes to the Legal Services Market

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Mark Lovell

I was invited to speak at the Legal Futures Conference today (some interesting conference trending on Twitter at #lfconf). I was focusing on how the ABS reforms (alternative business structures) might impact on the legal aid market. There were some interesting speakers up with me (George Bull, head of tax and professional practices at Baker Tilly and Neil Kinsella, managing partner of leading law firm Russell Jones & Walker) who were giving their take on the changes form the perspective of advisory support for firms and the larger law firm. Some very good points and lots to think about.

My focus was on three areas:

The consumer and what ABS can do for those people on low incomes and benefits

How A4e would partner and co-venture with firms interested in joined up – or ‘holistic services’ – for that consumer demographic

What the market dynamic means for firms wanting to work in that space

I have popped the slide set I used up on the A4e Insight web site and also on the policy section of the A4e web site, but you can also view them at the bottom of this posting. One of the key things I was seeking to get across is that we are not an ‘investor’. Our interest is in helping grow a new market for people on legal aid – and those who are just out of the eligibility for legal aid – through innovative collaborations. Core to this is open dialogue, transparent and ethical pricing, developing more integrated legal and non-legal services for consumers and most importantly ‘channel shift’. This means better use of the face to face, telephone and on-line services in a way that provides better service, higher quality, better outcomes and which can reduce the cost of service to the consumer (and this includes government where they ‘fund’ the service). Customers accessing through their preferred channel is our vision – not one way or another depending on the service. A4e is aiming to bring a consumer focus, the experience of growing a business organically and the learning form scaling a business nationally. We are working with partners who bring legal expertise, vision, regulatory understanding and most importantly – a common set of values between us so that, together, we can build a different type of consumer focused legal business.

One of the areas we did not touch on so much today was ‘prevention’. How can we work with partners in this new venture to avoid costly litigation in the first place? After the session, however, a number of people approached me who are making great in-roads on this through mediation services and other models. Lots of interesting people to get in touch with! We will be posting plenty more on legal services in coming months so feel free to drop us a message, leave a comment below or get in touch with Chris Peel ([e-mail]) who is leading on this. Challenging but really interesting times if we embrace this change with the consumer at the centre of strategy and the service.

www.mya4e.com/2011/04/11/changes-to-the-legal-services-market/

Just hope it's all a whole lot less targeted than it was with the welfare to work schemes, the ones which were subject to some pretty scathing condemnation by the Public Accounts Committee for poor delivery, a bit like all the scathing stuff being aimed at the LSC today;- strangely coincidental with the impending plans to bring legal aid to an almost close.

[nickd]

Looks like the Department of Business Skills and Innovation is on the move. This was launched in April of this year and was well attended by business groups, regulators and consumer focus groups including Citizens Advice.

Edward Davey MP launches it here...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGEp6dLlTIc&feature=relmfu

Apparently consumers will be able to access their own personal data via new IT based 'Mydata' sources; to empower them over their ability to make informed consumer choices. They'll be able to look at their spending patterns and even check out which phone tarrifs are best for them.

It's somewhat puzzling why the speakers make a lot of mention over protecting and supporting the vulnerable.

Apparently Citizens Advice will have a role in 'empowering' vulnerable groups to use IT resources.

They call it 'Better choices, better deals'; - but, is this really where this is headed?

[nickd]

£43M Money Advice Healthcheck launched on BBC

Thread Started on Jun 8, 2011

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The new 'Money Advice Health Check' website was launched on the BBC today. It tells you when you've got a financial problem, interestingly there was no mention whatsoever from the promoter as to exactly where you go when you flag up a problem and need help.

All this early prevention stuff is fine, but what if you actually need help?

Haven't got time to get all the details, so if someone else sees anything, perhaps they could post it here.

Ironically, the news comes as fuel suppliers announce impending increase in tariffs up to 20%, no doubt the health check will tell those affected to fit energy bulbs.

Here's more on the new government backed scheme....

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13684232

Here's the site, it points you to providers, whether they'll be any remains another matter...

www.moneyadvice service.org.uk/healthcheck

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These were some of the concerns over the new Money Advice Service back just before it's launch, I've included a couple of posts, there aren't many on there; - perhaps a few of us could give our views?

Article..

The weaknesses of the Money Advice Service

3 May 2011 8:00 am

"Like other advisers, I am paying, without option, towards this years £43.7m money advisory service funding. Legislation actually provides for a variety of possible funding sources, including public funds, consumer credit licences and a levy on financial services firms regulated by the FSA.

Thus far, however, regulated firms have been the only source of funding and it appears this sole source of revenue will continue. As the FSA’s 2011/12 business plan stated: “Last year, we were funded entirely through the levy and we anticipate that all the activities covered by this business plan will also be funded from that source.”

As with other forms of taxation, I am denied any control over the use of my funds, so an examination of the money advisory service’s aims, ambitions and layout of the website is the least I can undertake. Like the FSA, it is burdened with statutory objectives, although in this instance just the two - to enhance the understanding and knowledge of members of the public of financial matters (including the UK financial system), and to enhance the ability of members of the public to manage their own affairs.

The service has the brave ambition of changing consumer behaviour, a task that has proved far beyond the capabilities of successive Governments and regulators. Subtle adjustments, such as internet searching - egged on by the deluge of adverts for aggregator sites - have been achieved but wholesale changes to attitudes have not been successful.

Now, advice for consumers is always welcome, although in this instance the website merely supplies information, thereby making, as many have noted, a mockery of the appellation. The site provides extremely precise descriptions of the various products and this aspect cannot be faulted, but this is not the case when it comes to accessing the comparative tables. Those tainted PPI plans have been included but there is no place for the superior income protection product or for critical-illness cover.

The weakness of MAS is it is totally reliant on the willingness of the consumer to participate. In this regard, it is no different to the typical advisory model where the majority of advisers react to a consumer’s approach. Consumers willing to make the effort to access the MAS are likely to also make the effort to speak to a financial adviser. It is the slothful majority that neither is currently reaching.

Hark back some 20 years and we find the industrial branch salesforces proving adept at finding these financial virgins and turning them on to financial matters and to the concept of advice.

There is a ladder of knowledge when the consumer meets and trusts a sales representative. Having accepted the mantle of personal responsibility, the consumer is sufficiently open-minded to react to a sensible conversation and move on to the next level of accessing independent advice. Since the demise of industrial branch salesforces, with the removal of savings plans and pensions that included worthwhile commission, the initial introduction to these virgin consumers has been lost. The irresponsible, the unknowledgeable and the lazy now have no initial conduit available and the MAS will not be changing that.

We need to accept the Government/Treasury/FSA do not believe independent financial advice can or should be made available to the wider population. Any organisation that is serious about financial awareness and education for consumers should be pointing out independent financial advice offers the most trustworthy and balanced opportunity for a good outcome.

Alan Lakey is partner at Highclere Financial Services

.Readers' comments (3)

Julian Stevens | 3 May 2011 10:18 am

I too resent being forced to fund the MAS, not least because it appears to be primarily an offshoot of the FSA, which already bleeds the industry of £500m a year with no accountability for how it sets and spends that colossal sum. Why should we be forced to pay even more? Why can't the functions of the MAS be added to those of the CAB which, let us not forget, already has a nationwide network of offices which, if they want to, people can visit for face to face consultations?

As ever, the MAS seems to be yet another example of the powers that be thinking up something else for the FSA to do and hang the cost because that can just be dumped on everybody else. Did anybody think to ask the industry whether or not we think the MAS might be a good idea? One has to ask just what the MAS, if it's nothing more than an information hub, is going to be doing that's going to cost nearly £44m a year. In terms of operational functions, is there really anything more to it than a website and a call centre? And, as always, is it necessary or in any way a prudent use of funds for those functions and the people who run them to be based in one of the most expensive places in the country? After all, if the Office of the Information Commissioner is based in Wilmslow, why can't the MAS, if we have to have it at all, be based somewhere similar?

Anonymous | 3 May 2011 10:29 am

Reminds me of that song
keep keep bleeding ( us dry )

John Hutton-Attenborough | 4 May 2011 10:58 am

It does not help that the service has not kept up with current legislation and for example the annuity comparison option does not extend beyond age 74.

Link...http://www.moneymarketing.co.uk/protection/the-weaknesses-of-the-money-advice-service/1030231.article

Reply #2 Today at 9:35am

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The new Money Advice Service is indeed operated under the A4E umbrella, at a cost (according to some internet sites) of some £42 Million pounds. Usually A4E are very big on public profile, but they've been somewhat muted over their new contract award. They were at one time publishing a quarterly magazine 'Blueprint', but the last one I've been able to track down is July 2010. Indeed even in the BBC press release, A4E don't mention their involvement, not like them to be so shy.

The new service was launched in Portcullis House on the 8th June and MP's are encouraged to point their constituents in the direction of this new service. All the links are on their website.

Here's what A4E say about the new service, to access the BBC press link, you'll need to go to the A4E page first..

www.mya4e.com/2011/06/09/money-advice-service/

Money Advice Service

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Mark Lovell

You may have seen recent announcements in the media about the launch of the Money Advice Service. I am delighted that A4e was chosen as a key delivery partner and, since April, we have been delivering the new face to face aspect of this service. The launch yesterday introduced the online and phone services. Open to all, the service will give clear, unbiased advice on financial issues. Over 6,500 people have accessed the support so far and our advisers have been doing some wonderful work. Over 4,500 of the customers are classed as ‘financially vulnerable’ and they have been using the service to both better understand and improve their financial position.

It was nice to attend the launch of the national service in Westminster (yesterday evening), following the press launch on the BBC of the online service www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13684232). I was able to share some of our case studies with the MPs and MAS staff at the event. Since the service is accessible to everyone, our advisers are helping a range of people – pensioners and students, people just made redundant, long term unemployed people, many in work and even whole families. They are helping people with queries on mortgages, insurance, savings and debt- and their work has recently help keep one customer out of jail with the support on offer.

The online service is here healthcheck.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/ and will soon feature on the A4e website. It is designed for a very broad audience – whether you are working and looking to better manage finance or make an investment, or are in debt and struggling with money, it aims to provide information and signpost.

Financial worries and lack of financial capability, debt and indebtedness are some of the biggest challenges we face in the UK. A large part of A4e’s public policy work focuses on this and government responses are very fragmented. We will be making the new MAS service an integral part of the Work Programme customer journey – part of our programme for joining up different public services for our customers.

Re: £43M Money Advice Healthcheck launched on BBC

Reply #3 Today at 11:47am »

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More Coverage: Government launches good finance campaign

Story by: Julia BradshawMagazine: Financial Adviser Published Friday , June 10, 2011

The government has unveiled a national awareness campaign promoting a free money health check tool to help people take control of their finances.

The government-run Money Advice Service website, which offers free and unbiased financial advice, launched its wealth check and its Helping You Feel Good About Your Money television and media campaign to encourage people to take responsibility for their financial futures.

Speaking at its launch, financial secretary to the Treasury Mark Hoban MP said the health check tool fitted with the government's wider agenda of reform to "put people at the heart of the financial services system".

He said: "The Money Advice Service and the financial health check will put people back in charge of their finances. It will help them manage their money and plan for the future by providing support tailored to meet their needs."

The online health check tool, which takes five to 10 minutes to complete, lets users answer questions about their finances, and compiles a personal summary and action plan based on the answers. It then tells users what steps they can take to help their finances and goals they can work towards.

A statement from the Money Advice Service website, which is funded by a levy on the financial services industry, said the action plan was aiming to help people, particularly the mass market, "make informed choices". Set up earlier this year, the site offers advice and information online, over the phone and face to face. However it is not regulated by the FSA so it cannot give specific recommendations on products.

www.ftadviser.com/FinancialAdvise....ce-campaign.jsp






Read more: ilegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=news&action=display&thread=2960#ixzz1Oulf34cU

[nickd]

It looks like the 'Money Advice Service' is being well promoted on national TV, not an evening goes by without seeing one of their adverts.

'Making the most of your money they say' in their slogan.

They've obviously yet to meet the majority of our clients, they haven't got any money to make the most of!