Alongside our core legal services, Southwark Law Centre develops projects that bring legal expertise into communities, tackle barriers to accessing justice and address problems before they reach crisis point.
Our projects combine specialist legal knowledge with partnership working, community engagement and strategic action. They help build legal knowledge within communities and frontline services, reach people who might otherwise struggle to access specialist support, and use what we learn to tackle wider and recurring problems.
Access to Education Rights
Building knowledge and strengthening access to education rights for children and families.
Access to Education Rights is a network facilitated by Southwark Law Centre for community organisations, advice services, education professionals and others working with children and families across Southwark and surrounding areas.
The network brings organisations together to share knowledge and identify recurring problems affecting children’s access to education, including SEND, school exclusions, children living in temporary accommodation and difficulties securing suitable education.
We provide training and, where possible, specialist second-tier legal advice to help organisations understand education rights and support the families they work with. The network also provides a space to identify systemic problems and explore how organisations can work together to address them.
The group meets quarterly, with additional training and events. Organisations and professionals working with children and families can join the network.
Find out more and join Access to Education Rights
Planning Voice
Helping communities have a meaningful voice in the decisions shaping their neighbourhoods.
Planning Voice works with residents and community groups to help them understand and engage with the planning system, particularly where major developments could have a significant impact on their communities.
We provide specialist planning advice, practical support and accessible information to help people understand planning proposals and make their voices heard.
We also work alongside communities to influence planning policy and promote development that delivers greater public benefit, including genuinely affordable housing and better outcomes for existing residents.
Find out more about Planning Voice