Citizens Advice Bureaux receive new EHRC funding to tackle discrimination

Twenty Citizens Advice Bureaux across England and Wales have been awarded grants by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to provide advice on discrimination problems and to build people’s awareness of human rights and access to justice.

The total amount awarded is £750,000 and comes from the first round of the EHRC’s £10 million funding programs across the United Kingdom to promote the values of fairness, promoting equality and human rights and supporting the development of legal casework.

The bureaux won the funding to appoint new posts such as outreach discrimination advisors and employment rights officers and deliver specific projects including awareness raising programmes.

David Harker, chief executive of Citizens Advice said:

“I am thrilled for all the bureaux. This money will allow them to extend their work with some of the most disadvantaged people in local communities. It will allow them to work even more with community and local partners to support and mentor volunteers and build people’s awareness of their human rights. This is wonderful support to the great work that local bureaux are already doing.”

Nicola Brewer, Chief Executive of EHRC said:

“This is about helping those organizations that make a real difference at a local level. Citizens Advice Bureaux have both the local knowledge and expertise to bring real benefits to their local communities. Through our unique grants programme, we can help ensure this good work continues. Support for these organisations is critical if we are to succeed in extending equality and fairness to all people in Britain.”

Citizens Advice has also received a grant of £40,000 from the Commission to develop tools and training for the service to raise human rights and discrimination issues with public bodies. Recent Citizens Advice work in this area includes domestic violence, migrant workers, prisoner’s rights, and access to legal aid.

The EHRC grants support on-going work in the Citizens Advice service to improve access to good quality discrimination advice for everyone who needs it. Last year (2006/7) Citizens Advice Bureaux helped more than 26,000 people with discrimination problems.

Bureaux who received grants:

• Flintshire
• Newport
• Denbighshire
• Yyns Mon
• Barking and Dagenham
• City of London
• Exeter
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Sutton Borough
• West Wiltshire Wide
• Bradford
• Hull
• Middlesbrough
• Salford
• Great Yarmouth and District
• Stevenage
• Thurrock
• Vale Royal
• Wolverhampton (in partnership)
• Worcester

About the Equalities and Human Rights Commission:

The Equality and Human Rights Commission rigorously monitors all funded projects to ensure accountability and ‘value for money’. For the 2007/08 programme, funded organisations are required to complete the End of grant monitoring questionnaire and return it to the Commission by 20th May 2008. Guidance notes are also available.

Notes to editors:

1. The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers.
   For more information in England and Wales www.citizensadvice.org.uk
   For more information and 2008/9 service statistics see Introduction to the service
   For 2008/9 service highlights see the Citizens Advice service impact report
   For 2008/9 social policy campaigning highlights see the Citizens Advice social policy impact report
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
4. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2 million clients on 6 million problems from April 2008 to March 2009
5. Advice and information www.adviceguide.org.uk
6. Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
7. Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089
8. Follow Citizens Advice on Twitter: twitter.com/CitizensAdvice
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