Citizens Advice Lewisham (CAL) is the lead agency in Advice Lewisham, a network of the main free advice providers in the borough.

This partnership comprises the following organisations:

• Citizens Advice Lewisham 
• Age UK Lewisham & Southwark
• Action For Refugees In Lewisham (AFRIL)
• Community Advice Works (formerly known as 170 Community Project)
• Lewisham Multilingual Advice Service (LMLAS)
• Lewisham Refugee & Migrant Network (LRMN)

The partnership collaborates and meets regularly to co-ordinate and improve local advice services. Advice Lewisham regularly surveys its clients in order to understand their experience of the service. In January 2019, CAL hosted the first Advice Lewisham Client Forum and set up an ongoing Client Reference Group, in order for the partners to hear first-hand how clients think the service could be developed.

Citizens Advice Lewisham supports Lewisham as the first Borough of Sanctuary, an award granted by City of Sanctuary UK that recognises the borough’s commitment to welcoming and protecting the rights of all migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

We participate in the cross-sector Lewisham Migration Forum, which is chaired by Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN). The Forum brings together over 50 members from a wide range of organisations and institutions providing services in Lewisham.

If you would like to attend the Forum, you can subscribe to the Lewisham Migration Forum newsletter to receive invitations here: https://lrmn.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3581e2b040f6b138e77a6edbc&id=ab67dddbde

To find out more information on the work of Lewisham Borough of Sanctuary, visit: https://lewisham.cityofsanctuary.org/

Learn more about the Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network here: https://www.lrmn.org.uk/

LLC is a partnership between CAL and Southwark Law Centre and aims to increase access to high quality specialist legal advice for disadvantaged residents in Lewisham who cannot afford a lawyer.

The service adds to the services that members of Advice Lewisham partners currently offer. Lewisham Law Centre is currently based at Citizens Advice Lewisham in the Leemore Community Advice Centre.

Clients are referred to LLC by CAL and Advice Lewisham partners, as well as external agencies.

For more information CLICK HERE

CAL receives targeted funding for debt services from Capitalise, L&Q and Phoenix Community Housing. Clients receive a comprehensive service (primarily face-to-face), including assistance with approaching creditors and bailiffs, budgeting, and a review of their benefits.

The Capitalise service provides advice and casework for those in Lewisham who are experiencing debt issues.

Phoenix and L&Q are Housing Associations with a significant local presence and CAL offers debt advice to their tenants, either via referral from the Housing Association, or self-referral.