Strategic Social Justice Clinic - Social Housing Conditions: Damp and Mould Project

(Term One)

Project Background

Central England Law Centre (‘CELC’) operates a busy Housing Law practice. The Housing Team and has seen an increase in the past 12 months in enquiries from tenants about poor conditions in social housing properties due to damp and mould (a form of disrepair). This issue is pertinent, as it follows the tragic death of 2 year old Awaab Ishak in 2020, which made headlines in 2022 when the Senior Coroner for Manchester North held the toddler’s death was caused by “a severe respiratory condition due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home environment”.

Social landlords have duties to tenants relating to the condition of rented properties and to tackle disrepair (including damp and mould) under the terms of Tenancy Agreements and pursuant to a wide array of legislation and guidance. However, due to Legal Aid rules it can be very difficult in practice for tenants to get funding to enforce their legal rights in the Courts. CELC is concerned these rules have a profound impact on access to justice for vulnerable social housing tenants.

The Government has recently announced legal and policy changes related to tacking damp and mould, which CELC considers may have the potential to make it easier for tenants to access Legal Aid to enforce their rights. The SSJC Social Housing Conditions: Damp and Mould Project will explore whether this is the case. Student volunteers will undertake research, analyse legal provisions and policy documents, survey Housing practitioners in the Legal Aid sector, will have the opportunity to speak directly to Housing, Public Law and Legal Aid specialists, and and will ultimately draft a document summarising their research findings for use by practitioners making Legal Aid applications in the future. We are looking for students with the following skills and attributes:

• A commitment to social justice.
• Good organisational skills and timekeeping.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Good legal research skills.
• Good analytical skills.
• Good team working and collaboration.

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Deadline for Applications:

Postgraduate students - Midday 29th September

Undergraduate students - Midday 4th October

Interview Dates:

Postgraduate students - 4th October

Undergraduate students - 6th October

Strategic Social Justice Clinic - PIP Interview Recordings Project

(Terms One and Two)

Project Background

Central England Law Centre (‘CELC’) has a very busy Welfare Benefits casework practice, involving delivery of specialist advice directly from solicitors and caseworkers and through several university casework clinics. This includes working with clients to secure Personal Indepdence Payment (‘PIP’) awards and advocate for the correct level of PIP. PIP is a non-means-tested state benefit for adults with a disabilities or long-term health conditions, who have difficulties with day-to-day tasks and/or getting around. PIP is administered and paid to claimants by the Department for Work & Pensions (‘DWP’). Many of CELC’s most vulnerable clients are reliant on this benefit to supplement their income, which may be limited as a result of their disabilities or health conditions.  

In the course of running cases involving PIP claim refusals/disputes about the level of PIP entitlement, CELC has unearthed an issue relating to use (more acurately non-use) by the DWP of audio recordings of PIP assessment interviews in its decision-making process, which we consider has the potential to significantly impact the quality of decisions.

Student volunteers in Term One will undertake research, seek Freedom of Information Act data from the DWP, survey welfare rights practitioners in the Legal Aid sector, will have the opportunity to speak directly to Welfare Beneftis specialists, and and will ultimately draft a document Cribsheet summarising background materials and initial research findings for CELC staff and Term Two Project student participants.

Student volunteers in Term Two will analyse in detail the Freedom of Information Act and survey research, conduct further research to bridge any gaps in information, and write up the research to enable CELC to work with partners at the National Association of Welfare Rights Advisors (‘NAWRA’) and Rightsnet to seek a change to DWP decision-making practice to require decision-makers to listen to PIP assessment interview recordings as standard in the decision-making process.

We are planning to recruit 12 student volunteers to the Project for Term One and 12 student volunteers to the Project for Term Two.

We are looking for students with the following skills and attributes:

• A commitment to social justice.

• Good organisational skills and timekeeping.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Good legal research skills.

• Good analytical skills.

• Good team working and collaboration.

________________________________________

Deadline for Applications:

Postgraduate students - Midday 29th September

Undergraduate students - Midday 4th October

Interview Dates:

Postgraduate students - 4th October

Undergraduate students - 6th October

Strategic Social Justice Clinic - Social Services Support Levels for Vulnerable Children Project

(Term Two)

Project Background

In a landmark judgment on 26 January 2023 the High Court in Birmingham held that Central England Law Centre’s (‘CELC’s) client, BCD, was discriminated against by Birmingham Children’s Trust in the way it provided him and his family with support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, contrary to Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Birmingham has changed the way it supports vulnerable children as a result of the case.

However, this case raises important legal issues about how all Local Authorities nationally should meet the needs of children and families with No Recourse to Public Funds ("NRPF") under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

Student volunteers will undertake research to analyse the extent to which other West Midlands Local Authorities are compliant with the judgment in the way they provide support to vulnerable children. This work will help CELC to engage with our partners and networks to ensure local children receive the levels of support they are lawfully entitled to. Students will also produce Public Legal Education resources to widen understanding amongst CELC’s partner orgnaisations and the general public about how children and families with NRPF should be cared for.

We are planning to recruit 12 student volunteers to the Project, which will start in Term Two, and are looking for students with the following skills and attributes:

• A commitment to social justice.

• Good organisational skills and timekeeping.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Good legal research skills.

• Good analytical skills.

• Good team working and collaboration.

________________________________________

Deadline for Applications:

Postgraduate students - Midday 29th September

Undergraduate students - Midday 4th October

Interview Dates:

Postgraduate students - 4th October

Undergraduate students - 6th October