Coventry Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Coventry Law Centre, Coventry Women’s Voices and the Centre for Human Rights in Practice at the University of Warwick are increasingly concerned about the number of people who are having their benefits sanctioned in Coventry and the impact this is having, particularly on the lives of the most vulnerable.

 

We would like to invite all agencies and organisations with an interest in this area to a round table meeting on Friday 8 November, between 12.30 and 2 at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in Coventry.

 

The aim of the meeting is to share our experiences of the impact of sanctions on our clients/members in order to start building up a picture of what is happening across the city. We will be looking at ways we can monitor sanctions in Coventry, the numbers affected, which groups are most likely to be affected and the impact on their lives and the lives of their families.

 

We will also be sharing information about the support available to people who have had their benefits sanctioned and discussing what other support may be needed. CAB and the Law Centre will provide guides to processes that should be followed before benefits are sanctioned and the ways in which people can appeal against a decision to sanction.

 

This meeting is aimed not only at agencies providing advice on welfare benefits but agencies and organisations providing support, counselling, advice and advocacy on a wide range of issues including mental health, drugs and alcohol, violence against women, housing, disability, racism, vulnerable adults, lone parents, children’s services, food banks and any other area where clients may be affected by benefit sanctions.

 

If you have an interest in this area then please reserve a place by emailing Ms.Stephenson: maryann@maryannstephenson.co.uk