Law centres win funding reprieve

Four London law centres earmarked for funding cuts have seen their futures secured after the Association of London Government (ALG) performed a U-turn last week.

North Kensington Law Centre, Central London Law Centre, Hammersmith and Fulham Law Centre and Paddington Law Centre faced the threat of closure or severe cuts earlier this year after the ALG received recommendations that it should not renew their grants (see [2003] Gazette, 30 January, 3).

The four centres were victims of an ALG policy to address the lack of legal advice services in outer London.

In the wake of opposition, the ALG deferred all funding decisions for legal and advice centres until last week, when North Kensington Law Centre was awarded 90,000, Central London Law Centre 130,000 and Hammersmith and Fulham Law Centre 105,000.

Paddington has had its funding decision deferred until July, pending discussions between ALG and Westminster council.

The ALG received applications for 6 million, and had 3 million to distribute to a range of legal and advice groups to last for the next three years.

Only 74 of 170 bids were successful.

Other successful applicants include law centres in Plumstead, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Southwark and Tower Hamlets, as well as: Barnet Law Service, to provide employment law advice; Camden Women's Aid, which will have an on-site solicitor to help women facing domestic violence; the Chinese Information and Advice Centre, to provide legal help; and Lambeth Law Centre's London Discrimination Unit.

Among the unsuccessful bidders were: the Bow County Court Advice Service, for people facing housing debt cases; Islington Law Centre, which planned to enhance employment rights advice; and the Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau, which helps litigants in person.

Sean Canning, legal adviser at North Kensington Law Centre, said he was pleased with the award.

'The decision is a very sensible one, and is testament to the strength of the representations made to the ALG by the affected centres,' he said.

Amaia Portelli, volunteer co-ordinator at the Central London Law Centre, said the U-turn showed that the ALG realised how 'vitally important' the law centres were.

'There is not enough money to go round, and in light of the across-the-board funding cuts, we were very pleased to get this grant,' she said.

The centre applied for 164,000, and will have to raise the remainder.

Victoria MacCallum