Cheshire, Halton & Warrington Race & Equality Centre is a local
charity that exists to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of
opportunity and good relations. Part of our services is a free
discrimination casework service that supports individuals who have
experienced any form of discrimination. However, this service is now
under threat because of withdrawal of the legal grants programme being
administered by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
You can read and download our latest press release on the subject here. (PDF)
You can also read a recent blog entry on the issue here.
What you can do?
Firstly please sign this petition:
Government has pushed through reforms to the EHRC, including withdrawal of its grants function. From April 2012, organisations who were funded to advise and assist individuals experiencing discrimination under the Equality Act will no longer be funded to do so. All cases must now be dealt with through legal aid, rather than through a specific funding pot. Most clients we deal with are not eligible for legal aid; those that are will be limited to support pre tribunal as tribunal advocacy is not funded, despite this being where most clients need help. No win no fee is rarely available because of low success rates and compensation levels are too low to make it viable to pay privately. The result will be fewer taking discrimination claims forward and less access to justice, despite the strengthened Equality Act. We are calling for the government to put in place specific arrangements for funding of this area of work. Please sign the petition here.
Secondly please vote 3 times at the 38 degrees campaign page on the following link:
http://38degrees.uservoice.com/forums/78585-campaign-suggestions/suggestions/2249682-save-local-legal-support-for-victims-of-dis
Thirdly please consider writing to your local MP:
Template Letter (DOC)
List of MP's in Cheshire, Halton & Warrington (DOC)
Lastly (for now!) please tell your friends and family about this campaign and don't forget to follow us on twitter and facebook to be kept informed of the campaign! If you would like to make a donation to CHAWREC then you can do via paypal or by contacting us!
Thank you!
Cheshire Halton & Warrington Race & Equality Centre is a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales with company number 3883721. Registered Charity Number 1088019
You can read and download our latest press release on the subject here. (PDF)
You can also read a recent blog entry on the issue here.
What you can do?
Firstly please sign this petition:
Government has pushed through reforms to the EHRC, including withdrawal of its grants function. From April 2012, organisations who were funded to advise and assist individuals experiencing discrimination under the Equality Act will no longer be funded to do so. All cases must now be dealt with through legal aid, rather than through a specific funding pot. Most clients we deal with are not eligible for legal aid; those that are will be limited to support pre tribunal as tribunal advocacy is not funded, despite this being where most clients need help. No win no fee is rarely available because of low success rates and compensation levels are too low to make it viable to pay privately. The result will be fewer taking discrimination claims forward and less access to justice, despite the strengthened Equality Act. We are calling for the government to put in place specific arrangements for funding of this area of work. Please sign the petition here.
Secondly please vote 3 times at the 38 degrees campaign page on the following link:
http://38degrees.uservoice.com/forums/78585-campaign-suggestions/suggestions/2249682-save-local-legal-support-for-victims-of-dis
Thirdly please consider writing to your local MP:
Template Letter (DOC)
List of MP's in Cheshire, Halton & Warrington (DOC)
Lastly (for now!) please tell your friends and family about this campaign and don't forget to follow us on twitter and facebook to be kept informed of the campaign! If you would like to make a donation to CHAWREC then you can do via paypal or by contacting us!
Thank you!
Cheshire Halton & Warrington Race & Equality Centre is a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales with company number 3883721. Registered Charity Number 1088019