We are delighted to announce that East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Legal Services Commission have selected East Yorkshire Citizens Advice Bureau and Switalskis Solicitors to deliver services for the East Riding Community Legal Advice Network to be opened in March 2010. The Network will be the first in the country.
The Network will provide an integrated legal service, from basic advice to representation at court, helping people with the full range of social welfare and family legal problems. For the first time, residents of the East Riding will have access to a comprehensive service from a wide variety of locations, including via videophone (through the council’s CitizenLink portals) and by telephone, as well as face-to-face advice at three permanent town-centre locations and at outreach venues.
In addition to providing a new face-to-face service in Beverley, this three-year contract will also enable clients to make appointments through the council’s suite of Customer Service Centres. As providers of existing services funded by the LSC and the council, the East Yorkshire Citizens Advice Bureau is familiar with the range of legal problems experienced by local residents.
Switalskis Solicitors LLP will work in partnership with East Yorkshire CAB, providing specialist advice and representation in the areas of community care, employment and housing law.
Lesley Thornley, Chief Executive of the East Yorkshire CAB, said “We are extremely pleased that our bid to provide the CLA Network was successful. The CAB’s experience, strong volunteering base and knowledge of the local community, together with the legal expertise of Switalskis, our partners, will enable us to provide a more extensive service and a much wider range of advice and support to the people of the East Riding”.
John Durkan, Managing Partner of Switalskis, said: "We look forward to working with our partners at East Yorkshire CAB to bring a comprehensive, high quality, publicly funded advice and representation service to the people of the East Riding."
Councillor Jonathan Owen, Deputy leader of the Council states: “I am delighted that the CLA Network contract has been awarded to the Citizens Advice Bureau. Citizens Advice Bureaux nationally are well respected by the public as a source of independent advice and information. The specification of the contract bid was a very demanding one and the Citizens Advice Bureau have responded with major changes to their organisation in order to be in a position to deliver the services required. This is also the culmination of a lot of work put in by the council and the Legal Services Commission to specify a service that will be of maximum benefit to our residents.”
Carolyn Regan, the Legal Services Commission Chief Executive said: “The Community Legal Advice Network will provide the people of the East Riding with better access to high-quality social welfare and family legal services. We are delighted with the outcome of the tender, and look forward to the launch of the new service next year.”
The Network is due to open on 1st March 2010.
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