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Advice Services Coventry

A great referral system, many projects in sight

 

Advice Services Coventry leafletsHow did it come about?


Advice Services Coventry (ASC) was formed in 2005 and an Advice Strategy was developed which acknowledges the important role that Advice Services has in tackling social exclusion. 
 
The partnership is a consortium of agencies who are classified as providers of independent advice services. Within this group there is a mix of organisations whose only business is advice, and some who also have a range of other functions. Some are part of the local authority, some receive funding from the local authority, and some are completely separate from it.

 

Advice Services Coventry is an informal network at the moment but is in the process of drawing up a partnership agreement.

The network has successfully bid for almost 1 million pounds in funding, which has increased advice service provision.
The network has 12 members and one network coordinator.


What is the network doing?

  • With NRF funding, which ran between April 2006 and March 2008, the network was able to…
  • commission a (web-based) directory of advice services, with details of exactly what is on offer and how to access it;
  • redesign service pathways to make them work seamlessly for the client;
  • after a mapping exercise of needs, post 3 outreach workers where there were no services (this service is now discontinued);
  • establish a common data recording format across all partners in ASC, which is facilitating collation of information about who they are reaching and the types of problems they are resolving;
  • establish nine access points for face to face advice in priority neighbourhoods that did not previously have any local advice service (this service is now discountinued);
  • with big lottery funding, the network is working on, amongst other things, setting up a new general advice service targeted at vulnerable tenants.


How well is the network doing?


The network has done a lot to promote a joint working between its members, especially through its brilliant on-line referral form.
Focus: Advice Services Referral form. 

What happens next for Advice Services Coventry?


Caroline Murray, the network co-ordinator, would like to draw up a membership agreement and terms of reference for Advice Services Coventry. The terms of reference will dictate the criteria for membership. The network would also like to develop a 2nd tier of membership to include other agencies cross the city who provide advice within their ongoing business. This would be similar to a forum.

The network is aware of the importance of Local Area Agreements and wants to make sure the role of advice agencies is taken into account.

The network would like to recruit volunteers on train to gain, and recruit them.

The network would like a short term social policy post.

Contact


Caroline Murray
ASC coordinator
Coventry Law Centre
The Bridge
Broadgate
Coventry CV1 1NG
024 7625 2685

caroline.asc@btinternet.com

Advice Services Coventry files 
Useful links

 

Advice Services Coventry website http://www.adviceservicescoventry.org.uk