INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
REFORM ADVICE IN WESTMINSTER PROJECT
The Reform Advice in Westminster (RAW) Project is funded by the National Lottery and administered by the Big Lottery Fund. It is a partnership project between the Migrants Resource Centre, Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service, Zacchaeus Trust and Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association. It is a two year project but the posts of Specialist Welfare Reform Worker and Generalist Welfare Reform worker are first year only.
RAW aims to ensure that, despite funding cuts and the impact of welfare reform on demands for advice, the Westminster advice agencies (the Westminster Advice Forum - WAF) can work together to deliver more sustainable advice services in the future and improved methods of accessing and delivering social welfare advice. It will do this by three main workstreams with Westminster agencies:
(1)Form a collaborative partnership across the borough to:
• develop a bidding vehicle (consortium) amongst advice providers in Westminster to bid for contracts and develop earned income streams
• collaborate with quality standards, collection of statistical information, and management systems
• improve information about advice services by co-ordinating content management on the Westminster Advice website and create a referral system
• share expertise/training to ensure on-going delivery & quality of advice in social welfare law
(2)Tackling the causes of demand/system failure by:
• researching, collecting and monitoring data to identify waste and poor systems
• pursuing complaints of maladministration• taking-up issues on impact of new systems and changes to Welfare Reform and Localism Act and work with policy makers
• liaising with Westminster City Council (WCC), DWP and other policy makers, recommending improved systems and pilot action
(3)Capacity Building/Developing integrated advice services for clients by:
• identifying and recruiting new pro bono legal partners – increasing the use of pro bono and subject areas, and increasing volunteer recruitment and training
• organising advice workshops for clients on social welfare topics an how to access govt. and other websites, and online services
• providing inter agency Advice Shops at community venues
• developing Westminster Advice Website and Telephone gateway to improve information to clients and stakeholders and access to advice
• develop interactive advice session on website and client discussion blog.
The project aims to maintain specialist social welfare law provision in the borough by sharing expertise and training, developing legal pro bono support and supporting agencies that are losing funding.