We want to launch Greater Manchester Law Centre in Bolton.
If you agree and want to get involved join us on
Friday, 2nd February, 7pm to 8pm, at the Lecture Theatre, Bolton Central Library, Le Mans Cres, Bolton BL1 1SE
Speakers include:
Maxine Peake, an esteemed GMLC patron, actress and campaigner
Apologies, Maxine Peake had to cancel her appearance, but please read her words of support below.
Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East
Denise McDowell, Trustee of Greater Manchester Law Centre
You can register for and promote the event on Facebook. Please share with all people who care for Bolton.
Greater Manchester Law Centre is a campaign to ensure people throughout Greater Manchester have access to free legal advice through a Law Centre. There were nine fully staffed Law Centres in Greater Manchester. Cuts in funding and Legal Aid reduced this to two; one in Rochdale and one in Bury.
In 2015 we said if enough people wanted a Law Centre, there would be one.
In 2016 we opened our doors in Moss Side – since when we have helped Greater Manchester residents to reclaim over £500,000 in benefits that the DWP had denied them.
Now we need to do the same in Bolton. Get involved, come to the meeting.
We call for the restoration of Legal Aid – it is a crucial part of the welfare state, and we want a new generation of (paid) social welfare lawyers, who can tackle the challenges of homelessness, destitution and escalating racism. Law students are part of our volunteer team, representing people at their appeals (and winning them!) – they are the future.
But we are not just a campaign for access to advice, or even access to the law, we are a campaign for JUSTICE. We support the Hillsborough families, the Orgreave campaign and all those affected by the disaster at Grenfell. We call for full and equal legal advice and representation for the claimants as the state awards (out of our taxation) to the police and the other departments of the state. We want independent, walk-in, face-to-face advice for everyone in need in all the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.
That’s why we support the initiative in Bolton to develop legal support and will work closely with the local advice agencies, community groups and trades unions to develop this further.
“More and more families and individuals are finding themselves in positions where access to the law is being denied them, at precisely the time when they are most in need of it. Universal Credit, the denial of employment rights through zero hours contracts and minimum wage infringements and a hardening of this government’s stance against refugees and asylum seekers all make the [Greater Manchester] Bolton Law Centre urgent and necessary. I welcome and support the initiative whole-heartedly.” – Maxine Peake, GMLC Patron
“I know, from the hundreds of people who contact me, how difficult life has become for many in the Greater Manchester area. Many are facing serious debts, or the threat of homelessness, and others can simply not afford to speak to a solicitor. That’s why I’m so pleased to hear about the launch of the Greater Manchester Law Centre, a service that will provide invaluable advice and representation to the people who need it most.” – Yasmin Qureshi MP
Join us in fighting together in Bolton for free access to justice.
