Impact of Cuts on Advice Services

1. Impact of Cuts on Advice Services Hackney Advice Forum Taylan Sahbaz, HAF Chair Cathy Murphy, HAF Co-ordinator

2. Outline HAF – A potted history HAF – Recent Work Our priorities going forward The Clients Experience Cut in public services Cuts in welfare Advice services in recent years Current Cuts Action and Engagement – CEN/PIE, Social Policy, Continued Development Next Steps for the Forum

3. HAF History • HAF’s emergence following/parallel to the non-materialisation of Community Legal Service Partnership, 2003-04 • HAF administration by AdviceUK and SAFH, 2004-05 • HAF Involvement in Hackney Advice Strategy – Advice Strategy Working Group, 2006-07 • Production of Alternative Strategy, 2007 1st Draft • HAF Engagement with Community Empowerment Network, 2008 • Emergence of Hackney Community Advice Partnership and HAF Engagement, Spring 2009

4. Recent Work • Bringing providers together to exchange, share experience. • Providing voice for independent advice providers • MATES • Advice Conference • Active members of CAP, leading subgroups

5. Hackney Community Advice Partnership • HCAP’s emergence as a recommendation of the Advice Strategy • HAF’s Role in CAP so far

6. HAF Priorities

7. Clients • Using services they trust – community groups developing advice • Cuts in Public Services • Housing • Health • Cuts in services which give rise to advice, e.g. ESOL

8. Benefits • DLA/ESA/Incapacity Benefit • Housing Benefit • Effects • fear, isolation, failing capacity for work tests, appeals time bomb

9. Sevices • 2008 State of Advice Sector Study • Services under strain • 2-3 weeks wait • Single advice workers • Lack of funding, premises and training • 2009/10 • Improvement in funding – service times • HAF member feedback – downturn – destitution, collapse of alternative economy – reports of whole families with number of adults living off child benefit/tax credits • 4 week waits for advice services

10. 2011 – Cuts to Advice Provision • Cuts in statutory provision • Services – support and advocacy – Homerton, Learning Trust, supporting people • Advice - as an element of public services - e.g. Health, DV • Cuts to VCS Advice Provision • Learning Trust, Supplementary Schools • Cross Borough Cuts, London Councils, Lottery • Not clear if other non statutory funders are interested in advice • Infrastructure and other services, provided by VCS services which either had an element of advice or supported advice • Mental Health, DV, Youth Services, GP Advocacy services

11. LEGAL AID • Total Advice Cuts • Welfare Benefits • Employment • Family finance and contact • May as well be Total Cuts • Immigration – only challenge detention • Housing –only homelessness • Debt

12. Action/Engagement • Anti Cuts Campaigns • London Councils • Legal Aid • Social Policy • Anti-Cuts • Monitoring and improving statutory services • Rights and Challenge to the anti- welfare agenda

13. Action/Engagement • CEN/PIE • Making advice central in local agenda • Ensuring the Advice Strategy has outcome/products • Still developing advice locally • Quality • Adviser training • Referrals.

14. NEXT • Any client/cuts story you want to add? • How can the CEN and it’s members engage with the advice agenda? • What’s your view’s on HAF’s priorities?