Advice Areas
Community Advice Groups
Community organisations provide essential support to their users, ensure access to services and opportunities, and work in partnership with many Borough organisations with the aim of empowering their communities and encouraging participation in an inclusive society.
- information, advice, advocacy
- health projects
- supplementary schools
- ESOL classes
- community forums
- youth activities
- women's skills groups
Consumer
If you have a problem listed below, contact www.consumerdirect.gov.uk or a consumer adviser
- Extended warranties
- Faulty goods and services
- Unfair contract terms
Education
If you have a problem listed below, contact an education adviser. Please note that this relates to school age children only
- Admissions
- Attendance
- Bullying
- Exclusions
- Special Educational Needs
Employment
If you have a problem listed below, contact an employment adviser
- Business transfers and takeovers (TUPE)
- Discrimination
- Dismissal
- Employment contracts and conditions
- National minimum wage
- Time off, holidays, flexible working
- Wages/pay disputes
- Working hours
Housing
If you have a problem listed below, contact a housing adviser
- Security of tenure
- Eviction
- Threatened with homelessness
- Repair problems
- Harassment/eviction threats from landlord
- Rents/service charges
- Housing benefit
- Housing options
Family
If you have a problem listed below, contact a family solicitor
- Separation
- Divorce
- Cohabitation
- Pensions
- Children
- Care Proceedings
- Domestic Violence
- Welfare Rights
Immigration and Nationality
If you have a problem listed below, contact an OISC approved adviser
- Registration and naturalisation
- Deportation and administrative removal
- Asylum
- Leave to remain
- Travel document
- Concessions outside the Immigration rules (Human Rights grounds)
- family reunion
- Dependent relatives
- All forms of visas
- EEA residence permit
- Work permits
Debt
If you have a problem listed below, contact a debt adviser
- Rent/mortgage arrears
- Council tax arrears
- Utilities debts
- Credit card debts
- Catalogue debts
- Loans and HP
- IVAs, DROs, DMPs, bankruptcy (individual voluntary agreement, debt relief order, debt management plans)
- Bailiff demands
- Parking penalties
- Statutory demands
- Credit reference agencies
- Liability for debt and the Limitation Act
Documents to take to your first interview
- proof of ID
- proof of income and savings for you and your family
- proof of National insurance Number
- any relevant letters/papers regarding your case
Welfare Benefits
If you have a problem below, contact a welfare benefit adviser
- Benefits for people in work
- Benefits for people looking for work
- Benefits for families and children
- Benefits for young people
- Benefits for people who are sick or disabled
- Benefits for people over 60
- Benefits and bereavement
- Health benefits
- Social Fund
- Housing and Council Tax benefits
- Tax credits
- Overpayments, reviews, appeals
General Advice
Contact a generalist adviser if
- you are unsure of what kind of advice you need
- you have overlapping problems and need to know who can help
- you require a solicitor
- you want information about local services, statutory and voluntary
