We will continue to provide free, impartial advice and information to Angolan nationals in Greater London and elsewhere in the UK to the highest standard.

Our advice will always be independent of the policies of any funders.

We will actively continue to develop our outreach work services to meet the needs the most vulnerable members of our community.

We will always involve our users/clients and community interests in management of the service.

We will continue to develop our commitment to training of our volunteers to achieve the highest possible standard of advice.

The Welwitschia  Legal  Advice  Centre aims to provide advice and information service that meet the needs of African  Portuguese  Speaking  nationals, people  of  African  descent  and  any  member  of  public  who  needs  its  services.  We  operate  in  Greater  London  but  mainly  in North  East  London. In the next two years, our aim is to expand our services in other parts of Greater London through outreach work especially in the areas where most Portuguese  Speakers  reside. It is envisage that with this expansion the centre will be able to serve over 1000 clients  a  year. We also aim to employ a coordinator to take charge of a much-needed coordination not only of the project but also for the centre as a whole.

Also in the next two years we would like to employ a second adviser preferably an
Housing adviser. In  future  we  would  like  to  move  from  our  current  location  as  yet  again  it  has  become   too  small  for  our  activities. This will enable us to deliver more services to our clients and help in the development and expansion of our activities.
We also wish to  maintain both; the Quality Marks and certification of exemption from OISC.  We  aim  to  achieve   Investor  in  People  and  Matrix.  Also in the near future subject to funding, clients and members will be updated with news of African  Portuguese  speaking  countries as well as law and legislation in the UK through newsletters. Finally, social activities will be increased in order to combat isolation in the community.

Our Values
The services we provide are based on values that we regard as fundamental. There are:
Equality
Confidentiality
Free service to all
Empathy and non-judgmental approach with clients
User involvement in planning our services
Open complaints process.

Our Strengths
Established reputation for providing free, impartial, independent and good quality advice. Affiliated to Advice  UK. CPGA and JCWI Evelyn Oldfield Unit,  ILPA  and  NCVO
Good networking links with Local Authorities, refugee Community Organizations and we maintain a high local profile within the Boroughs we operate in Greater London.
Dedicated and experience volunteers
Good language ability within staff there is a multilingual volunteer team.
Compassion and understanding of refugee issues.

Our Weakness
Our office space has gone smaller and smaller and we are expanding and we need to secure a bigger office space where we can accommodate more staff and volunteers and client’s waiting room.

Our opportunities
At  the  moment, we  are  in  BAN  partnership.  We  submitted  partnership  application  through  BAN  to  London  councils commissioning.  We  are  considering  reaplying  to  ESmee  Fairbairn   Foundation so  that   we  can  add  another  adviser  to  our  centre.  With  help  from  Evelyn  Oldfield  Unit  we  are  exploring   the  possibility  of  other  funders.   

WLAC provide the following services:

• free, confidential and impartial advice
• interpreting service
• PALOP news
• accompanying clients to welfare offices, doctors, solicitors, schools and home office
• visiting clients in detention centre
• referring clients to other agencies
• Provides information on :
  immigration
  housing
  education
  health
  welfare benefits
  employment opportunities
  new UK legislation