local services what we offer
Advice
Do you need advice on welfare benefits, housing or debt? Or are you looking for legal advice on employment law, private housing and consumer issues?
We offer free advice and support through:
- ‘open door’ advice service
- FREELaw evening legal advice sessions
- home visiting and outreach
- tribunal representation
We support 17,000 people every year and all our advice is quality marked through the Legal Services Commission.
Our Advice services
Open Door Service
Monday to Thursday mornings from 9 am to avoid disappointments, 105 Barking Road, Canning Town
Please note that we work on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis. Please arrive at 9am to give you the best chance of being seen that day.
The advice is FREE if you are on low income or on benefits. You will be assessed by a member of our team to determine if you qualify for free legal advice. You MUST bring with you Proof of Income
This is a drop-in’ advice service, with no appointments necessary. Advice is available in a variety of languages including Urdu, Hindi, French, Spanish, Serbian, Croatian, Arabic, Luganda, Swahili, Somali and British Sign Language, however we ask you to bring an interpreter with you for your first visit. For a second visit, an interpreter can be arranged.
Evening Legal Advice Sessions
Mondays at 6:30pm, Stratford Advice Arcade
Wednesdays at 6:30pm, 105 Barking Road.
For either sessions the registration starts at 5 o'clock. Please note that we work on a ‘first-come, first-served basis’
We work with a corporate law firm to offer a free drop-in evening law surgery twice per week. The team offer legal advice in consumer law, private housing matters and employment law. No appointments are necessary but as we rely on volunteers, sometimes you may not be seen and have to return on another day.
Form filling Services
Government forms can be long and confusing for anyone, but especially so if you have problems reading and writing, or if English is a second language. If you need assistance with filling out welfare benefit, tax credit and local authority housing forms, please come along to our drop in Form Filling Session, held on Wednesday mornings from 10.00am at 105 Barking Road. Clients are seen on a first come first served basis.
A note about Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance forms - Clients are assessed at our Open Door advice session (Monday to Thursday mornings) to see if they are eligible for these benefits, then go onto our wating list and be sent out an appointment to complete the form.
If you need help with other forms, such as Taxi Card Forms or Prescription Cost Forms, help is available at our Wednesday evening legal advice sessions (times above).
Older Peoples Service
Each Monday, a representative from the Department for Work and Pensions is available to offer advice to people over 50 on an appointment only basis.
We also run advice services for the over 60’s at community groups, sheltered housing schemes, East Ham Day Care centre and Newham General Hospital.
Home visits for frail, elderly and disabled people: for those unable to attend our open door or outreach advice sessions due to ill health we may be able to arrange a home visit. For more information or to make a referral contact Francesca Morris on 020 7473 2270 extension 240. Please note that if you are able to travel to our open door advice service, you will be seen more quickly.
For all queries about older people’s services contact Francesca Morris on 020 7473 2270 extension 240.
Tribunal Representation
We offer advice and assistance in appealing against Department of Work and Pension and Local Authority decisions and in many cases can offer representation at appeal hearings. Please speak to your advisor to find out more.
Where else can I get advice in Newham?
Community Links has been asked to lead the Newham Advice Consortium, a group of advice providers based in Newham who give legal advice to people on a range of issues - welfare benefits, housing, debt, immigration, community care, domestic violence.
Aanchal (for Asian women), 020 82213800
Action and Rights of Disabled People in Newham
Age Concern Newham, 020 8503 4800
CORECOG (Community of Congolese Refugees in Great Britain), 07939 121845
LBN Financial Inclusion Team
Newham Citizens Advice Bureau, 020 7540 4941
Newham Action Against Domestic Violence, 020 7473 3047
Newham United Tamil Association, 020 8472 6495
Racial Equality In Newham, 020 7473 5349
Refugee And Migrants Project, 020 8221 9200
Roma Support Group, 020 7511 0800
Shelter, 0844 5152216