Walking for the right to free legal aid

Our columnist Jane Mercer, advice manager at Citizens Advice, Havant, talks about the recent Chichester Legal Walk
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Oct 2016, 06:06 BST
Updated 5th Oct 2016, 16:43 BST

WHAT a day to choose for the 10k sponsored Legal Walk.

It took place on September 13, which was officially the hottest day of the year.

More than 70 walkers in teams from legal firms and advice agencies across the south coast met at the Fountain pub in Chichester after work.

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They were there to take part in a walk to raise funds for much-needed free legal advice in the area, supporting local charities including Citizens’ Advice Havant.

The walk is organised every year by the London Legal Support Trust, an independent charity that raises funds for free legal services in London and the south-east.

Citizens’ Advice Havant had our own office team, plus one enthusiastic dog, Honey.

We walked up through the town and out to the west.

We made our way up the old railway line towards Lavant and then back down to Chichester and around the walls back to the Fountain for a well-earned pint.

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So far we have raised more than £200 and we’ll also get a share of the money raised by the law firms.

Citizens’ Advice Havant provides free, independent, confidential advice on a wide range of issues and can help people to apply for benefits, challenge decisions and go through tribunal processes.

We provide advice on dealing with debt and money worries, employment problems and housing issues, among many other problems people face.

We have an advice centre in Leigh Park Community Centre and outreaches in Waterlooville Library, Hayling Community Centre and the Public Service Plaza in Havant.

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Our funding is never secure and relies on diminishing local authority support and bids we put in for other grants.

The Legal Walk makes a refreshingly active change from the paperwork involved in applying for other funding, and even the chief executive officer gets involved with the team.

It’s not too late to support Citizens’ Advice Havant’s Legal Walk team via our fundraising page virginmoneygiving.com/team/CAHavant. All our opening times are online at citizensadvicehavant.org.

Alternatively, you can phone us for details on (023) 9271 7707. We also have a telephone advice service on 03444 111 306.

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