IPR Advice

Islington People's Rights

Independent Welfare Benefits
and Debt Advice in Islington

IPR Annual Review 2021

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The IPR Annual Review can be downloaded here.

Chair’s Report

As with charities throughout the country the year has been dominated by the pandemic. Before Covid and the first lockdown in March 2020 appointments were offered at our base in Holloway and another centre in south Islington but these had to quickly move to being by phone and online. Thanks to the exceptional work of the staff this huge change was achieved without any interruption to our services. IPR was successful in securing emergency grants from the London Community Response Fund to pay for IT, phones, training and software to quickly make the transition needed.

IPR has supported many residents to access emergency support. It is well recognised that the pandemic has disproportionately affected certain groups of residents including people with mental health issues, physical disabilities, carers and those from BAMER communities. There are now 26,500 households in receipt of Council Tax Support in Islington, indicative of the hardship caused by Covid and other factors. 246 additional households including 329 more children have also now been affected by the benefit cap as a result – an increase of 96%.

Another big development in the year has been the launch of the IPR Justice project. Full details of this exciting initiative are in this Review. The inspiration for IPR Justice is to use our extensive experience working in Islington to have a wider impact on policy and practice throughout the UK. This is an exciting ambition and one that we hope will translate into real benefits for many disabled people in the years ahead.

This Annual Review is a chance to acknowledge and thank all of those who have supported our work during 2020-2021. The London Borough of Islington has continued its commitment to our activities. IPR is also supported by a number of key grant making trusts who resource projects that are designed to help some of the most disadvantaged communities in the borough. Then there are the people who have raised money through special events such as the London Legal Walk – thank you all.

IPR has a fantastic team of staff, volunteers and Trustees who have worked tirelessly through one of the most challenging years in our 51-year history. As you will read in the following pages we are looking forward with renewed commitment and ambition to tackle poverty in Islington and beyond.

David Moore

Islington People’s Rights AGM 2021

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Tuesday 9th November 6.30pm at City University, Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB

The AGM of Islington People’s Rights (IPR) is always an interesting and informative event, and is taking place on Tuesday 9th November at 6.30pm. This year it is taking place at City University. The IPR AGM is in many ways more of a public meeting.

This year, speakers confirmed to date include Marc Francis, the Director of Policy and Campaigns at Z2K, and Hayley Sims, Strategic Lead for Policy and Equality at Islington Council. Other speakers have been invited, confirmations are awaited. This meeting will also serve as the launch of the new report “Remote Justice? Virtual benefits tribunals and disabled clients.” produced by IPR, linked to the new IPR Justice project, by Lindsay Owen, the IPR Social Policy Consultant. After the speakers and formal parts of the meeting there will be refreshments and a chance to mingle with trustees, staff, partners and clients. Registration essential and please tell us if you have any special dietary requirements. The meeting is taking place at City University, as part of our ongoing collaboration with the University. The meeting will be run in as Covid safe a way as possible.

This event is taking place during a period of significant welfare reforms, a rise in indebtedness, the end of the Government furlough scheme and the impact of the Covid pandemic. Islington People’s Rights is striving to ensure that vulnerable residents are able to access the specialist welfare benefits and debt advice that they need.

Free event, all welcome, but please register by 5th November 2021 through ISLINGTON PEOPLE’S RIGHTS 2021 AGM Tickets.

London Legal Walk 2021

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IPR will be taking part in the London Legal Walk once again on Monday 18th October 2021. This year we have an IPR team of 5, made up of staff, trustees, and supporters. The sponsored 10km walk in central London is organised by The London Legal Support Trust, who work to support access to justice in London and the South East.

All the money raised by the IPR team goes direct to Islington People’s Rights to help us continue our vital work helping Islington’s most vulnerable residents. We hope to raise more than £2000 for Islington People’s Rights. If you would like to donate, please visit the following link: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/IPRadvice21

IPR Justice

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Trust for London Logo

IPR is delivering the new IPR Justice project, from 1st April 2021. Based on over 50 years’ experience of delivering strong outcomes for those living in poverty, this new initiative is designed to influence policy and practice on welfare rights, as well as to provide additional capacity to represent clients at Welfare benefits tribunals. The focus of the project is those with disabilities, notably mental health related.

There are two key aspects to this project. Firstly, IPR Justice will provide legal representation at Welfare Benefits Tribunals, through additional casework capacity. The project aims to further build our capacity to undertake legal action to maximise incomes. Appeals are increasing in response to flawed assessments and IPR has a strong track record of success at tribunals.

Secondly, IPR Justice will gather evidence of the experiences of people accessing the welfare system, in order to influence government policy. Our initial focus will be the introduction of tribunals held by video link, partly in response to the pandemic, and the effect this has on access to justice for all disabled and vulnerable claimants. We will also focus on the needs and experiences of claimants with mental health issues, as they often face particular barriers to accessing their welfare rights. We plan to work with partners such as Disability Rights UK, Child Poverty Action Group and others to influence policy and address the failing assessment and appeals system. We are working with partners such as Disability Rights UK, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and others to influence policy and address the failing assessment and appeals system.

We are delighted that this project has been largely funded for the next three years by Trust for London, with whom we have worked previously, and look forward to further developing our partnership with them. If you are an organisation working in a similar field and would like to explore working collaboratively with us on this project, or if you are a funder interested in supporting this project, get in touch through

If you live in Islington and need help with challenging a welfare benefits decision, or to find out more about IPR Justice, ring the IPR Telephone Advice Line on 020 7561 3685 on a Monday, Tuesday or Friday between 2pm and 4pm.

Remote Justice? Virtual benefits tribunals and disabled clients

Over the summer of 2021, IPR carried out research with welfare benefits advisers all over the country who had experience of representing disabled people at tribunals held by phone or video, and a small number of disabled people who had challenged their benefits decisions at tribunals. The results showed that holding tribunals in this way can work for some disabled people, but brings plenty of pitfalls and does not work for all. Our most important recommendation from this work is that everyone challenging a benefits decision at tribunal must be offered a genuine and informed choice of format, including a face-to-face hearing.

The Report entitled “Remote Justice? Virtual benefits tribunals and disabled clients” was launched at the IPR AGM on 9th November 2021, and is available for download here: Remote Justice? Virtual benefits tribunals and disabled clients (PDF).

There is also a short briefing document that summarises the key points from the report, available here (PDF).

IPR addressed the conference of the National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA) on the 10 December 2021, attended by around 180 delegates. Lindsay Owen presented the report and research at this virtual conference, and further discussion took place in breakout rooms. A summary of the advice is available here (PDF).

IPR Enable

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Islington People’s Rights (IPR) is delivering additional targeted specialist advice in welfare benefits to residents most affected by Covid-19, through the IPR Enable project. Islington residents have faced major challenges since March 2020, with many needing urgent support in relation to welfare benefits. IPR is providing additional targeted specialist advice in welfare benefits, particularly to those with mental health issues, and to those with other disabilities. The IPR Enable project focuses on supporting disabled residents, and those with underlying health conditions who have been at high risk in relation to Covid-19, and been shielding at certain points. Many live alone and, given their mental health issues, have struggled over recent months. Those with low literacy and IT skills need extra support to access benefits. IPR is meeting the increased demand for welfare benefits advice and casework support through additional casework capacity, plus technological enhancements. We are offering tailored welfare benefits advice, support and representation to additional vulnerable individuals in Islington. If you need help with welfare benefits issues, get help through the IPR Enable project. Contact the IPR Advice Line on 020 7561 3685 (Option 1) on a Monday, Tuesday or Friday between 2pm and 4pm.

This project was funded by the Trust for London, through the London Community Response Fund, and ran to 31st March 2021.