LSC announces new Community Legal Services grants

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is inviting both existing and new applicants to tender for new complementary services designed to support legal aid across England and Wales.

The funding will come from the Community Legal Service Grants budget, worth up to £1 million a year.

The Community Legal Service Grants will be available for services including those that help not-for-profit providers to adapt how they deliver civil legal aid following the recent reforms. They will also be available for services focused on areas such as special Children Act proceedings, asylum, mental health and help with social welfare issues that will enable people to avoid or climb out of social exclusion.

The LSC is also inviting tenders from organisations interested in providing a stream-lined Specialist Support Service. This service, to be funded to the tune of up to £2 million per year, provides second-tier support to legal aid advice providers through telephone advice and support with casework.

The closing date for applications for both the Community Legal Service Grants and the Specialist Support Service is 12 noon on Friday 15 February 2008. Further information, together with an application form is available from the LSC website:
http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/tenders.asp.