Central England Law Centre has been providing legal support and advice to improve the lives of people and local communities in Coventry since 1976. We believe that by activating and embedding rights in communities we can change the cultures, systems and behaviours that reinforce unfairness, disadvantage and inequality, and ensure early and preventative action is taken to protect the rights of socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and communities.
Covid-19 has had a disproportionate effect on people who were already vulnerable in Coventry but the effect of the pandemic has also been to force even more people into hardship resulting in an increase in demand for the services the Law Centre provides to the community.
In response to this surge in demand from people most in need and the changes to the way our organisation and others can operate in times of Covid we have sought new ways of working; developed new collaborations; built on existing, well-established and strong community partnerships; and innovated in key areas.
Since the beginning of the pandemic we have helped more than double the number of people we usually support during this period and have continued to find new ways to help the most disadvantaged and socially excluded people in our local communities.
Some of the ways that we have responded:
The pack has helped equip our team with the information and knowledge needed to act early when solving issues for the people we support, which is even more urgent given the impact of Covid in the local community.
Clare Wightman, Chief Executive, Grapevine Coventry and Warwickshire
We've found the pack comprehensive and a vital source of knowledge which we often refer to during the course of conversations with families to ensure they are aware of their legal rights.
Christine McNaught, CEO, Foleshill Women's Training
The pack takes complicated information and makes it clear and easy to understand. It not only helps to bring us up to speed with the latest changes in people's legal rights during Covid, it has also helped as a directory to enable effective signposting to other organisations in the city to ensure better outcomes for families.
Rebecca Wilshire, Strategic Lead - Help and Protection, Coventry City Council
CELC works with schools during lockdown across the West Midlands to help migrants access their legal rights. Read more
Read the stories of people who Central England Law Centre has helped to understand and access their rights during the Covid pandemic. Read more
CELC collaborates with the Women's Budget Group to publish digital report ‘Covid-19 – the impact on women in Coventry’ Read more