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The Welwitschia Legal Advice Centre [Centro De Aconselhamento Legal Welwitschia] was created in December 1998 , in Great-Britain, more precisely in London as a community and voluntary organization. It is recognised and registered with charity commission of England and Wales charity number: 1131751 and registered as company with Company House, Company number: 6528173.
This organization was found by a group of young Angolan intellectuals with sacrifice, commitment and a strong will who believed in the dream that today is actually a reality to the whole community and beyond.
WLAC is made up of an elected board and a general assembly.
Organization goals:
- the organization goal is to support and defend the interests and concerns of the whole Angolan Community and in particular the PALOP (Portuguese Speaking African Countries) community. We operate an equal opportunity policy. It means any member of the public who needs our services is welcomed.
- we support and assist settled as well as newly arrived community members access the mainstream services, to get to know their rights and entitlements, combat isolation, poverty and help with integration into British Society.
- our work is performed with great care, attention and the utmost possible responsibility.
- our Services refer mainly to:
- Translation and interpreting services
- To go with clients to lawyers, hospitals, health centres, to deal with housing, social issues, etc.
- To visit clients in detention, custody centres and in their Homes.
- To help looking for jobs, school and college enrolments -To help in case of appeal against decisions taken by the social security, housing and immigration services
- Referral to other services in order to obtain a more advanced support(specialist advice) in matters we can not solve.
Immigration
We help with the procedures to:
- obtaining permanent residence in the United Kingdom (ILR)
- obtaining British nationality through naturalisation
- registering children born in United Kingdom as British
- obtaining certificate of Residence for European Community citizens
- obtaining the British passport
- further representation to the Home Office-Lodge fresh Claim to the Home office
Therefore any information the community wants regarding the Home Office regarding immigrants, please contact our office.
We are always up to date with Home Office regulations and any change regarding Immigration laws.
Social security
- Income support
- Jobseekers allowance
- Child benefit
- Child tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Employment Support Allowance
Housing
- We defend citizens who are about to be expelled from their residences
- How to get a Council permanent housing - Homelessness issues
Education:
- Advice on all aspects of education legislation in the United Kingdom
- Appeal against school expulsion
- Help in choosing an educational institution of your preference
Debt/Money & Consumer Issues
- Help with Fuel debts
- Water Debts
- Negotiate With Creditors on your behalf
- Help With Budget
- Help With Other Consumers Issues that You might have
We carry out outreachwork in different parts in Greater London by accompanying clients to different places and by visiting the housebound, in their homes. We organise cultural and recreational activities for the youth and elderly people. The WLAC has a Women's Forum as well as Youth Forum.
As such, our work demand high quality and we will keep on fighting for the best. All our work is free of charge and absolutely confidential. We are bounded by the Data Protection Act 1998. We are registered with Information Commissioners Office. The WLAC holds quality mark from CLS at general help level with casework on immigration, housing, welfare benefits and refugees issues.
WLAC is affiliated to the following organisations-: OISC, CLS, ILPA, NCVO, Evelyn Oldfield UNIT, ADVICE UK,BAN and many others.
At the moment we are sponsored by:
- London Councils
- Lloyds TSB Foundation
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