MP battles to keep Immigration Advice Team in Bristol
Kerry McCarthy MP is backing proposals put forward by a dedicated team of immigration advisers, who were recently made redundant, to create a Social Enterprise that would ensure Bristolians continue to have access to immigration advice. Last Friday, immigration advisers working for Bristol’s Immigration Advice Service (IAS) were made redundant, as the charity which funded the service went into administration. The closure has left a gaping hole in the provision of asylum and immigration advice services in Bristol.
As it stands, Bristol IAS office has been closed and people seeking assistance with their immigration cases are unable to access their files, and many are turning up to appointments to find that the service is no longer available. Before going into administration, Bristol IAS was dealing with over 400 cases, representing vulnerable people, including children, who are victims of torture, trafficking, forced marriages and domestic violence. Currently, no other provider of community legal advice in Bristol has the capacity to take on these cases.
Prior to going into administration, the Bristol IAS branch was making a profit and could become an independent organisation. The staff has therefore put forward a plan to create a social enterprise that would see the continuation of an immigration advisory service in Bristol. However, in order for these innovative plans to succeed they need the support of the Government and Legal Services Commission (LSC) to obtain a legal aid contract, which would provide funding for the service. Having met with the team of immigration and asylum advisers to discuss their proposals, Kerry has written to the Justice Minister, Jonathan Djanogly and the Chief Executive of the Legal Services Commission, Carolyn Downs, urging both parties to act quickly in supporting the social enterprise.
Mark Sheppard, a former Immigration Adviser for Bristol IAS said: “IAS Bristol was a financially sound office with an excellent reputation representing hundreds of vulnerable British families, migrants and refugees. We are requesting the Legal Services Commission and the administrators to allow us to continue our work as an independent organisation for the people of Bristol.”
Following her meeting with the team of immigration advisors, Kerry said: “For many years this team of dedicated immigration advisers has helped many of my constituents with the complexities and tight controls of our immigration system. As a city we need their strong and powerful voice and the effective service they provide, to ensure that Bristolians, some of whom have faced horrendous circumstances, continue to have access to the legal support to they are entitled . I already see far too many people, most of whom are British Citizens, who have received little or no support with their immigration problems at my surgeries. Bristol needs an immigration and asylum advisory service that is accessible and that the community can trust.
I am backing the proposal put forward to create a social enterprise that would see the continued provision of this crucial service in Bristol. This team is determined to ensure that Bristolians continue to have access to the advice they need, and I have urged both the Government and Legal Services Commission (LSC), to act quickly and meet with this team to ensure that the service they were providing can get back on track. I hope the Government and LSC will back these sensible proposals, and avoid a long drawn out process of putting the legal aid contract for tender, the delay from which will have huge impact on many people’s lives. This team is ready to get back to work, the Government and the LSC now needs to listen and provide this team of professionals with the contract they need so that they can continue to serve the best interests of the local community.”
Image: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
