Press release - Cambridge CAB
3 August 2009
Cambridge Law Centre Closure - Cambridge CAB and Disability
Cambridgeshire offer
emergency help for clients
Drop-in sessions for ex Cambridge Law Centre Clients Wednesdays 2-4pm from 5th August.
The closure of the Cambridge Law Centre (CLC), as reported in
the Cambridge Evening News on Friday, has left many of their
former clients with time critical cases in suspense.
“We are extremely concerned that some very vulnerable
clients have been left without any guidance whatsoever as to
what to do. Many of them will have deadlines that are critical
to issues such as employment claims, housing repossession,
benefit claims etc.” said Rachel Talbot, CEO at Cambridge CAB “
Whilst the services of both our organisations are already
massively stretched we feel we must pull out all the stops and
do what we can to help these people who have been left, through
no fault of their own, in deep and potentially devastating,
trouble”.
Disability Cambridgeshire (formerly Directions Plus) and the
Cambridge Citizens Advice Bureau have set up an emergency
drop-in surgery for former CLC clients at the Newmarket Road
premises of the CAB. The first session will be held on Wednesday
5th August between 2 and 4pm and will continue at the same time
every Wednesday until the end of August, when the need for this
service will be reviewed.
“We need to stress that at this point we can really only
prioritise help for ex CLC clients with existing cases that are
subject to legal deadlines. Advisers will provide diagnostic
advice and make urgent representations to decision making
authorities to ensure that appeals and review requests are not
struck out for failure to comply with response timescales and
directions” says Peter Wetherall of Disability Cambridgeshire.
“Clients using this service should ensure that they bring all
the relevant documents to the session and any information they
have from their dealings with CLC that may help us to resolve
matters quickly”.
“We have already started discussions with both the City
Council and County Council about what support may be available
in due course but in the mean time we are relying heavily on the
good will of staff to do, what amounts to, yet more unpaid work.
We are extremely lucky to have such a wonderful resource”
says Rachel.