Hi all, You may know that Government has launched a consultation document on a proposed advice and information strategy for NI. Accessible at http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/current_consultations.htm .

It talks about things like having a main local provider (a hub) with linked satellite provision; and it looks at issues such as quality; resources and co-operation / duplication.

Advice NI is running an eConsultation on the strategy - inviting views from advisers and alike. Advisers in GB may wish to comment as this may be a fore-runner for things to come in GB.

Please feel free to log on to www.adviceni.net and post a comment.

Just to highlight that I did carry a rightsnet policy news story on this a couple of weeks back Cash boost for Northern Ireland independent advice sector - doing our best to keep up

Great stuff, Paul, didn't see the message but I think it's all go at the moment.There seems to be a train of thought that the strategy may be about rationalising - having one core funded provider (with some satellite provision) per geographical area. This interpretation may well have a major impact in terms of accessibility, choice, responsiveness to local need, etc etc.

I am aware of the 'advice deserts' scenario in GB - do people think that things are already moving towards this type of advice infra-structure in GB. Also with suggestions about a single IT-based case recording system - this may involve the AIMS & CAB systems in direct competition with eachother.

Grateful for any views / comments.

Parallel worlds here - from what we understand from last years CLS strategy's talk of introducing CLACs (Community Legal Aid Centres), it sounds as if these will be (wait for it) one core centre funded by LSC and local authority with satellite offices in some cases, all of which could affect sustainability of smaller agencies and seriously affect accessibility, choice, responsiveness, etc.

We're currently waiting on the publication of the CLS strategy, which should contain more info - will try to have a read of the NI A&I strategy over weekend to see whats in it.

Many thnaks for this Paul, are there any written materials for example CLS strategy documents in the public domain that talk about funding one 'core' centre. I think this would give a broader context to our debate over here.

If you go to this Legal Services Commission website page, you can see a list of documents down the RH side, about 5 down is "Making Legal Rights a Reality" - vol.1 details the draft strategy up for consultation, whilst vol.2 contains an overview of the achievements of the Community Legal Service to date and some stats/research.

The stuff about CLACs and CLANs (Community Legal Aid Networks) can be found in vol.1 at chap. 7.

I have also attached a briefing that I prepared last year which covers the main points of the consultation, if you don't fancy reading the whole thing.

Cheers.

Had a quick read thru of the strategy last nite, i share your concerns about the proposed structure mitigating against any diversity of advice provision with the Primary Generalist Hub proposals. Further, there is no mention of the need to protect the "independence" of the advice centres which is very worrying - as the proposals stand, it feels like these centres would effectively become arms of government, and thus this could also mitigate against some people accessing the services when they need them.

I am surprised but pleased to see that tribunal representation is included as a basic component of the Primary Generalist Hub - Lasa's work as tribunal representatives is very much seen as a specialist service in London, and we have worries about how we will fit into the English CLS Strategy when it is finally published.

I do wonder how other organisations who aren't Advice NI, Citizens Advice, or Law Centre NI members fit into the strategy? For eg, what about Shelter or Age Concerns, assuming that there are such agencies in NI - or what about agencies who are set up for a specific community of people and who have advice as part of their function? The strategy doesn't seem to deal with those, other than mentioning the fact of their existence currently.

I'm also quite surprised that the Legal Services Commission only merit two mentions throughout the document - one would have thought that they would have a key role in much of this - although maybe, given much of the uncertainty around their future strategies and direction, this may not be such a bad move?

Another positive point, I think, is the recognition of the need to ensure local government involvement in developing the strategy. However, you do have to worry about the potential of the proposals for co-ordinated approaches to funding actually meaning that less diversity of provision again. It is encouraging to see the need to ensure sustainability of advice services underlying this thinking though.

Um, that's it for now, good luck with it all and please keep us posted with developments.

Paul, many thanks for your thoughts which I think are well put. If I may, I would like to lift the gist of your post and stick it into our eCon - because I think your views add real value and need to be heard over here, I will also continue to feed into this thread re NI developments. Thanks again, Kevin.