Need legal help? Go to school
Local parents will find it easier to get legal advice from today, thanks to a
new scheme set up by CEA@Islington and a local law firm. Lawyers from Ozoran
Turkan solicitors will be operating from several schools and children’s
centres, providing advice to parents and other family members on a wide range
of issues - debt, housing, welfare benefits, domestic violence, divorce,
separation or contact, and immigration.
The advice will be free for parents on benefits and low incomes, and
interpreters will be available if needed. It is funded through a contract with
the Legal Services Commission.
The service is starting today (Monday 30 January) and will run from seven
schools and four Sure Start Children’s Centres.
David Wainwright, Extended Schools Development Manager, CEA@Islington, who has
been working with the lawyers to set up the service said: “When families are
struggling with debt or poor housing, or aren’t getting the financial help
they are entitled to it, it can have a serious impact on their children’s
education. Parents go into schools every day, so bringing this kind of help
into schools makes real sense.”
Barrie O’Shea, Headteacher of Duncombe Primary School said: “So many families
around here need this kind of help; this service will make a real difference
to families that are most in need.”
Ozoran Turkan Solicitors are an Islington law firm, based in Green Lanes. Dudu
Ozoran, principal solicitor said: “We know there is a high level of need for
this service, and we are really excited about working with schools and
children’s centres to make it easier for parents and families to find the help
they need.”
Islington’s Extended Schools strategy, which Islington Council signed up to
last December, highlights the need to establish strong partnerships between
schools and other providers in order to improve the support for children and
families.
An existing project to provide legal advice through schools has been run by
Islington Law Centre and Islington People’s Rights for the last four years; it
is currently operating from four schools, but funding will run out at the end
of March. The new partnership with Ozoran Turkan builds on the success of the
original project, and will mean even more parents can get the legal help they
need.
Notes
The schools and children’s centres involved in the scheme are:
o Willow Children’s Centre
o Fortune Park Children’s Centre
o Paradise Park Children’s Centre
o Highview SureStart
o North Islington Nursery School
o St Jude & St Paul’s Primary School
o Hungerford Primary School
o Duncombe Primary School
o St Mary Magdalene Primary School
o Thornhill Primary School
o Canonbury Primary School
For times of sessions or to book an appointment, parents will need to contact
the school or the children’s centre directly.
For more information, please contact CEA@Islington's Communications Department: