We’re recruiting volunteers and runners for the Salford 10k | Join us at the Caribbean Carnival of Manchester | Volunteer success stories | GMLC at Manchester Metropolitan’s Community Learning Festival | How to build your own law centre: our story in Proof Magazine | One year at 159 Princess Road
Here is a round-up of the latest access to justice stories:
- Tribunal fees prevent access to justice and are ‘unlawful’, rules Supreme Court
- Underfunded and overstretched: the lawyers seeking justice for Grenfell
- A lesser kind of justice?
We’re recruiting volunteers and runners for the Salford 10k
Calling all runners and volunteers! Would you be interested in supporting us in the Salford 10k on September 3rd? We have secured a discount code for runners entering for GMLC, and we are also looking for volunteers to hand out water and support the race whilst promoting GMLC.
If you are interested, please reply direct to this email with your contact details, your t-shirt size, and telling us whether you want to run or volunteer. We will shortly be in touch with fundraising details and we will be organising a briefing event in the coming weeks.
Join us at the Caribbean Carnival of Manchester
We require a team of volunteers to represent us at the Caribbean Carnival of Manchester on the 12th and 13th of August. We will have 4 shifts: 10am-1pm then 1pm-4pm on each day. It is okay if you can only make one shift. For more information and to sign up, please enter your availability on this doodle poll.
This will be a great opportunity to have some fun and to get closer to our local community. Manchester carnival has brought caribbean culture to the forefront annually for over 40 years and is the north west’s largest celebration of caribbean music and carnival arts. You can find out more here.
Volunteer success stories
Here at GMLC we have always maintained that volunteers are the backbone of the Law Centre and one of our key aims is to encourage the future generation of social welfare lawyers. We are therefore thrilled to announce that two of our volunteers, Ciara Bartlam and Nick Lee (below), have secured pupillage; the highly competitive final stage of training for barristers. Ciara and Nick have been with us since September 2016 volunteering on the Legal Advocacy Support Project (LASP) where they represent clients who face reductions in their Employment and Support Allowance.
Read Ciara and Nick’s success story here to find out how their involvement with LASP helped them secure their pupillages at Garden Court North Chambers and Guildhalll Chambers, respectively.
GMLC at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Community Learning Festival
The Community Learning Festival was a celebration of the learning and diversity in the local area. The aim was to unite the local community over three themed days of free activities hosted by the Faculties of Education and Health, Psychology and Social Care with a wide range of community partners. GMLC are pleased to have taken party in the ‘Democracy and Resistance’ day.
Thank you to our volunteers Chris, Hannah, Samar, Harry, Ian, Rosalie, Sandra and Dianne for representing GMLC.
How to build your own law centre: our story in Proof Magazine
Not so long ago we publicly declared that despite all the cuts to legal aid and the emergence of ‘advice deserts’ there would be a Law Centre for the residents of Greater Manchester. In the latest issue of Proof Magazine, Chair John Nicholson tells how the Greater Manchester Law Centre was set up against all odds- and how if we can do it then so can you. Don’t miss this inspiring read which you can access here in full.
One year at 159 Princess Road
One year on and we’re still here! Last Tuesday we celebrated our first year with cake and lots of cheer at our premises at 159 Princess Road. One year ago we had no funds and no premises but we had the commitment of people who share our view that free, high quality and independent advice is crucial for those in need. We are now in a position to provide that advice to the residents of Greater Manchester and it is because of the ongoing commitment shown by our volunteers and the dedication of our management committee that we are able to offer such life-changing services.
We managed to click some great photos of the day (click here to have a look) but we’ll leave you with this shot of one of our management committee members, the brilliant Norma Turner.
We thank you all for your support and hope that you continue to remain a part of our campaign to secure access to justice for all in need across the city.
4 things you can do to help Greater Manchester Law Centre
- You can donate and/or set up a standing order to help fund our key legal services
- Get involved, by either volunteering, becoming a member, a supporter, or if you are an organisation, you can affiliate with us. Find out how by going to the ‘Get Involved’ section of our website
- For those of you on Twitter, tweet us @gmlawcentre and tell us why access to justice is so important.
- Ask for a letter of support from your local councillor/MP/community organisation/trade union branch and send it in to us
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest GMLC news.
#WhyweneedGMLawCentre
#FreeAccesstoJustice.