IPR Advice

Islington People's Rights

Independent Welfare Benefits
and Debt Advice in Islington

IPR @ 50

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IPR @ 50

Islington People’s Rights (IPR) is turning fifty!

Since IPR was founded in 1969, we have been committed to reducing poverty and the effects of debt in Islington. We’re celebrating this important work by charting the organisation’s development and achievements over the past five decades.

The main focus of the celebrations will be an exhibition at Islington Museum, open to the public during November and December 2019. The exhibition will tell the story of IPR against a backdrop of social welfare changes, highlighting the current necessity for the advice, casework and representation services IPR delivers.

The exhibition will be accompanied by drop in advice sessions, a series of walks, and even engage the youngest of visitors with the subject through storytelling sessions and activities for under 5s.

We’d like to include people’s stories in the exhibition. If you’ve had any involvement with IPR over the years and would like to take part in an oral history project, please get in touch.

Watch this space for further programme announcements, including an exclusive film screening and Q&A, and the IPR Annual General Meeting to be held on 12 November.

For further information, contact:

Sarah Turner

IPR@50 Project Manager

E: sarah.turner@ipradvice.org.uk

T: 020 7561 3685 extension 215

IPR Annual Review 2018

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Download a copy of our IPR Annual Review 2018 (PDF)

Chair’s Report, 2018

Welcome to our 2018 Annual Review. It’s been quite a year! We’ve expanded our services, moving into financial literacy work that supports our clients in dealing with money issues longer-term; we’ve helped more vulnerable people find solutions to their problems and have been instrumental in driving forward the debate about the impact of Universal Credit on Islington residents. Although we’re open to everyone, we mainly work on the margins of society with people who are hard to reach and whose problems, if left unchecked, can have a dramatic effect on their lives. To do this most effectively within our resources we have concentrated on governance this year.

Good governance is at the heart of any successful long-term operation and we simply cannot cut corners. We have refreshed the Trustee Board, ensured new measures for control and oversight are in place and instigated an improved business and work planning cycle. This demonstrates to our stakeholders that we are an organisation that knows its business, knows its direction and knows how to turn words into action.

Our plans over the coming years are fivefold:

  • To ensure we know exactly who we are helping by gathering better data;
  • To reach and help more people;
  • To support our brilliant staff team and develop our own talent;
  • To diversify our income further to build resilience;
  • To be a positive agent for change in Islington and beyond.

We have made great strides with this plan already yet there is much work still to be done. Universal Credit is now in place in Islington and already we are seeing some
of the devastating effects this chronically under-resourced system is having on our clients. We are pleased that its effects have gained so much national attention and
we will continue to raise endemic issues with our MPs (Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornberry) and in the wider advice community and fight for our clients for positive
change.

Once again, my thanks go to my fellow trustees for their hard work, dedication, insight and scrutiny; to Islington Council for their continued support and their desire
to understand the problems we are dealing with; to our many funders who make the work we do possible and, of course, to our volunteers and staff team who make it all
a reality by delivering the help to the people of Islington.

Matt Brown

Islington People’s Rights AGM 2018

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Tuesday 13 November 6.30pm at Resource for London, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA

The AGM of Islington People’s Rights is always an interesting and informative event, and is in many ways more of a public meeting.

Speakers confirmed to date are: Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North); Cllr Richard Watts, Leader of Islington Council; Dan Norris, Head of Advice and Rights, at the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG); and Linda Perham, Chair of the Thames Water Trust Fund. Whilst Jeremy Corbyn intends to speak important parliamentary business or other matters could intervene.

After the speakers and formal parts of the meeting there will be refreshments and a chance to mingle with trustees, staff, partners and clients. Please contact us if you have any special dietary requirements.

This event is taking place during an unprecedented period of welfare reforms, notably the roll-out of Universal Credit. 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 the 8th November 2018 through https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/islington-peoples-rights-2018-agm-tickets-28688000582

Universal Credit in Islington: A Whole Community Response

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Monday 17 September, 12noon to 5pm, the Great Hall, London Metropolitan University

The Great Hall, London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB (map)

This conference is being organised by Islington Advice Alliance, following the full roll out of Universal Credit in the borough from the 20 June 2018. It is aimed at community and voluntary organisations in the borough, to ensure they have an understanding of the implications of this major welfare reform for their clients and service users. There will be informative speakers, plus ample opportunities for discussions, conversations and networking. A free lunch will be provided from 12.30pm.

Islington Advice Alliance brings together Islington People’s Rights, Islington Law Centre and Citizens Advice Islington, working together to support the local community. We also acknowledge the support of Islington Council and funding from the Big Lottery Fund, that helped make this conference possible.

Conference Programme and Timings

12noon. Registration
12.30pm -1.30pm Lunch and Networking. Information Stalls
1.30pm Opening Plenary. Chair, Matt Brown, Islington People’s Rights
Speakers: Cllr Richard Watts, Leader, Islington Council; Joe Julier, Lead User Researcher, Dept of Work and Pensions (DWP); Dan Norris, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
2.15pm Universal Credit; the experience to date
Speakers: Mohamed Maslax, Community Language Support Services (CLSS); Mulat Haregot, Islington BAMER Advice Alliance (IBAA); Ruth Hayes, Islington Law Centre
Break 2.45pm and 3pm. Tea, Coffee, Biscuits.

3pm. Workshop Sessions.

  1. Impact on Housing and Rent Arrears
  2. The Digital Process; access, challenges and solutions
  3. Food Poverty and Fuel Poverty
  4. Support for claimants; peer support, campaigns and other initiatives.
  5. Overpayments, sanctions, changes of circumstances and other challenges.

4pm Closing Panel. The Whole Community Response. Responding to the key points and questions
4.30pm. Final Networking. 5pm Conference ends.

Free to attend, but registration essential, by the 13th September, through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/universal-credit-in-islington-a-whole-community-response-tickets-48799623989

 

London Legal Walk 2018 – Completed

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IPR took part in the London Legal Walk once again on Monday 21st May 2018. This year IPR had a team of 12, made up of staff, trustees, and supporters, who walked in memory of Jayne Okacha, former IPR locum caseworker, who passed away recently. This 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, and you can donate through: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/IslingtonPeoplesRights18