Health Justice Partnership

Funder	Coventry & Warwickshire Integrated Care Board
Start date	2023
End date	2025
Partners	Coventry Independent Advice Service, Coventry University

The Health Justice Partnership is an embedded community project which aims to address the complex legal needs, digital exclusion and the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Coventry and Nuneaton by reducing the health inequalities faced by those living within identified priority areas. A further aim of the project is to reduce the proportion of time health professionals spend on non-health issues, such as relationship breakdown, housing problems, and employment-related issues, thereby increasing capacity and reducing waiting times. According to Citizen’s Advice Report: A very general practice, GPs in England spend almost a fifth of their time on social issues that are not principally about health. The implied cost to the health service of this time is almost £400 million a year.

The Partnership, led by Central England Law Centre (CELC), includes Coventry Independent Advice Services and Coventry University.

Working with health professionals within the Primary Care Network, the project provides a pathway for health professionals to direct their patients for specialist, legal support in everyday legal matters that threaten their health and stability. The partnership will identify and tackle these matters offering quick, competent, and holistic responses via a combination of generalist and specialist advice.

These problems often have a solution that, with the right professional support, can be resolved. Getting someone the right benefits to live independently; writing a letter to navigate a difficult employer or getting legal representation to prevent eviction has the power to improve health and wellbeing. Co-locating at the surgeries holding face to face appointments and our holistic support will reduce the impact of digital exclusion. .

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We provide legal advice and support to vulnerable EU citizens with complex cases, as well as providing a weekly clinic to support people with their applications as part of the Home Office EU Settlement Scheme.
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In partnership with the University of Warwick and Law for Life this 18 month project will provide evidence of the legal needs that have emerged in the wake of the pandemic and the impact of increasing reliance on digital technology. It will also contribute to a greater understanding of the role of public legal education (PLE) in improving access to justice for marginalised groups.
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In partnership with Grapevine Coventry & Warwickshire, we have formed the Coventry Poverty Alliance, bringing together more than 60 organisations in the voluntary, community, faith and statutory sector who work on the front line responding to the cost-of-living crisis.
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Funded by Coventry Building Society and in partnership with Coventry City Council, the law centre provided legal advocacy and advice to Coventry residents subject to the benefits cap
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We work closely with local universities to develop opportunities for students to benefit from ‘clinical legal education’, while providing capacity to support strategic litigation and furthering our objective to nurture future talent and encourage young people to focus on social welfare law.
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The Migrant Rights in the Community Project aims to protect and promote the rights of migrant families and children and aid them in overcoming various legal barriers by establishing a connection with organisations in Coventry which act as the first point of contact for the migrant families.