Greater Manchester Law Centre
@gmlawcentre.bsky.social
GMLC is a community Law Centre offering free, independent legal advice & representation. Fighting together for free access to justice. reception@gmlaw.org.uk ⚖️
Congratulations to Zayd Tariq, our student volunteer who won Best Student Contribution at the Manchester Pro Bono Awards last week. Zayd has shown excellent client care skills and flexibility supporting his welfare benefits clients. Thank you Zayd for your work - and the cake!
November 11, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Congratulations to Zayd Tariq, our student volunteer who won Best Student Contribution at the Manchester Pro Bono Awards last week. Zayd has shown excellent client care skills and flexibility supporting his welfare benefits clients. Thank you Zayd for your work - and the cake!
Protest law is becoming increasingly draconian. The Home Office think that protesting outside MPs' homes is "toxic behaviour"- others view it as holding those in public office accountable for their decisions. Peaceful protest should not be criminalised.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Activists could be jailed for six months for protesting outside MPs’ homes
Law aimed at tackling harassment will criminalise protests outside homes of MPs in England and Wales amid rise in complaints
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Protest law is becoming increasingly draconian. The Home Office think that protesting outside MPs' homes is "toxic behaviour"- others view it as holding those in public office accountable for their decisions. Peaceful protest should not be criminalised.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
“Now is the time for a full-throated defence of the European Convention on Human Rights and Human Rights Act. No one has human rights, unless we all have human rights.”
GMLC has signed this statement.
#AccessToJustice
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/almost...
GMLC has signed this statement.
#AccessToJustice
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/almost...
Almost 300 organisations express support for ECHR on 75th anniversary - Liberty
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk
November 3, 2025 at 12:12 PM
“Now is the time for a full-throated defence of the European Convention on Human Rights and Human Rights Act. No one has human rights, unless we all have human rights.”
GMLC has signed this statement.
#AccessToJustice
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/almost...
GMLC has signed this statement.
#AccessToJustice
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/almost...
Lord Neuberger: "Legal aid for advice and representation in civil and family cases which was barely adequate in 1996 has been progressively shrunk in both scope and quantum over the past 30 years".
#AccessToJustice
www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/neuberg...
#AccessToJustice
www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/neuberg...
Neuberger speaks of 'disturbing' plight of ordinary people caught up in the courts
Former Supreme Court president bemoans failure to increase legal aid rates - and cost of public inquiries.
www.lawgazette.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Lord Neuberger: "Legal aid for advice and representation in civil and family cases which was barely adequate in 1996 has been progressively shrunk in both scope and quantum over the past 30 years".
#AccessToJustice
www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/neuberg...
#AccessToJustice
www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/neuberg...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Law Centre
𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀'𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 📖
“It seems that the regulation of free expression is rarely out of the news.”
Raj Chada examines the growing criminalisation of speech and what it means for democracy and justice.
👉 Read the full story in the latest Legal Action magazine @hjacriminaldefence.bsky.social
“It seems that the regulation of free expression is rarely out of the news.”
Raj Chada examines the growing criminalisation of speech and what it means for democracy and justice.
👉 Read the full story in the latest Legal Action magazine @hjacriminaldefence.bsky.social
“It seems that the regulation of free expression is rarely out of the...
There is no doubt that there are almost daily reports of free speech issues in the criminal courts, says Raj Chada.
hi.switchy.io
October 29, 2025 at 5:01 PM
𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀'𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 📖
“It seems that the regulation of free expression is rarely out of the news.”
Raj Chada examines the growing criminalisation of speech and what it means for democracy and justice.
👉 Read the full story in the latest Legal Action magazine @hjacriminaldefence.bsky.social
“It seems that the regulation of free expression is rarely out of the news.”
Raj Chada examines the growing criminalisation of speech and what it means for democracy and justice.
👉 Read the full story in the latest Legal Action magazine @hjacriminaldefence.bsky.social
The Renters Rights Act has finally passed. The Act makes changes to the way evictions, rent increases and tenancy agreements work. Some of its changes are welcome, but its effect in practice remains to be seen - and fought in the courts.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Historic Renters’ Rights Act becomes law
Renters’ Rights Bill receives Royal Assent today, securing a fairer future for 11 million private renters in England
www.gov.uk
October 28, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The Renters Rights Act has finally passed. The Act makes changes to the way evictions, rent increases and tenancy agreements work. Some of its changes are welcome, but its effect in practice remains to be seen - and fought in the courts.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
The most sensible way to bring down the benefits budget would be to introduce rent controls. Raising housing benefit levels helps some tenants in the short-term - but it has a lot of pitfalls.
Only rent controls make long-term sense.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Only rent controls make long-term sense.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Frozen housing benefit see families plunged into homelessness
www.bbc.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 10:37 AM
The most sensible way to bring down the benefits budget would be to introduce rent controls. Raising housing benefit levels helps some tenants in the short-term - but it has a lot of pitfalls.
Only rent controls make long-term sense.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Only rent controls make long-term sense.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Our colleagues at @gmiau.bsky.social have worked with asylum seekers in hotels to put together this letter from the lived experience of living in asylum accommodation.
"We believe it is time for people to hear our side of the story."
gmiau.org/greater-manc...
"We believe it is time for people to hear our side of the story."
gmiau.org/greater-manc...
Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group: Our response to the protests outside hotels - GMIAU
Statement from a group in Manchester who have lived experience of living in asylum accommodation responding to the racist far-right protests
gmiau.org
October 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Our colleagues at @gmiau.bsky.social have worked with asylum seekers in hotels to put together this letter from the lived experience of living in asylum accommodation.
"We believe it is time for people to hear our side of the story."
gmiau.org/greater-manc...
"We believe it is time for people to hear our side of the story."
gmiau.org/greater-manc...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Law Centre
On #AdviceWeek, we’re sharing a few stories of hardship transformed.
This is the contribution that Law Centres make every day to our country. It’s a vital public service, but government underinvestment is limiting its potential.
It's time to give the advice sector the support it needs to thrive.
This is the contribution that Law Centres make every day to our country. It’s a vital public service, but government underinvestment is limiting its potential.
It's time to give the advice sector the support it needs to thrive.
October 23, 2025 at 10:17 AM
On #AdviceWeek, we’re sharing a few stories of hardship transformed.
This is the contribution that Law Centres make every day to our country. It’s a vital public service, but government underinvestment is limiting its potential.
It's time to give the advice sector the support it needs to thrive.
This is the contribution that Law Centres make every day to our country. It’s a vital public service, but government underinvestment is limiting its potential.
It's time to give the advice sector the support it needs to thrive.
Reposted by Greater Manchester Law Centre
‘KEEP THE FLAME BURNING’ OPENS AT THE WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT LIBRARY
The exhibition, that has been co-produced by a group of volunteers, all aged 16 - 25 and working class, opens on Friday 18th July!
Follow the link for more info
wcml.org.uk/event/keep-t...
The exhibition, that has been co-produced by a group of volunteers, all aged 16 - 25 and working class, opens on Friday 18th July!
Follow the link for more info
wcml.org.uk/event/keep-t...
June 30, 2025 at 10:44 AM
‘KEEP THE FLAME BURNING’ OPENS AT THE WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT LIBRARY
The exhibition, that has been co-produced by a group of volunteers, all aged 16 - 25 and working class, opens on Friday 18th July!
Follow the link for more info
wcml.org.uk/event/keep-t...
The exhibition, that has been co-produced by a group of volunteers, all aged 16 - 25 and working class, opens on Friday 18th July!
Follow the link for more info
wcml.org.uk/event/keep-t...
The government must scrap the benefit cap in its upcoming child poverty strategy. It pushes 300,000 children into even deeper poverty, does not achieve its purported aims and would only cost £300 million to abolish.
cpag.org.uk/sites/defaul...
cpag.org.uk/sites/defaul...
cpag.org.uk
October 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The government must scrap the benefit cap in its upcoming child poverty strategy. It pushes 300,000 children into even deeper poverty, does not achieve its purported aims and would only cost £300 million to abolish.
cpag.org.uk/sites/defaul...
cpag.org.uk/sites/defaul...
The Law Society of England and Wales president Richard Atkinson has called on the government to further invest in the civil legal aid system to "begin eliminating legal aid deserts", saying it is a "crucial public service".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Legal aid saved me from my ex-husband'
Norfolk Community Law Service warns that more people are being
www.bbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The Law Society of England and Wales president Richard Atkinson has called on the government to further invest in the civil legal aid system to "begin eliminating legal aid deserts", saying it is a "crucial public service".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"It’s a fundamental principle that everyone, no matter their income, should be able to get access to justice to challenge unfair behaviour at work."
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...
David Lammy rules out charging workers for employment tribunal claims
Justice secretary says right to challenge unfair work behaviour is core to Labour’s work plan after union backlash
www.theguardian.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
"It’s a fundamental principle that everyone, no matter their income, should be able to get access to justice to challenge unfair behaviour at work."
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Law Centre
📒 We have published a new Policy Briefing: Refugee Homelessness in Greater Manchester.
Please read and download the briefing here: gmiau.org/refugee-home...
Please read and download the briefing here: gmiau.org/refugee-home...
October 7, 2025 at 2:01 PM
📒 We have published a new Policy Briefing: Refugee Homelessness in Greater Manchester.
Please read and download the briefing here: gmiau.org/refugee-home...
Please read and download the briefing here: gmiau.org/refugee-home...
The government is coming under renewed pressure to scrap the two-child benefit limit. The two-child limit deprives parents of further child benefit when their third or later child was born after 6/04/17. It now affects 1.67 million children.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Scrapping child benefit cap makes economic sense, Rachel Reeves told
Senior Labour MP and leading economist urge the chancellor to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The government is coming under renewed pressure to scrap the two-child benefit limit. The two-child limit deprives parents of further child benefit when their third or later child was born after 6/04/17. It now affects 1.67 million children.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Law Centre
We recommend signing up for GMLC's newsletter!
t.co/KJ0wbqPKS5
This month's newsletter has great tips on finding free legal advice.
You can find further info on one of their recommendations, which is to join a union to receive support and employment law advice here: gmlaw.org.uk/employment-l...
t.co/KJ0wbqPKS5
This month's newsletter has great tips on finding free legal advice.
You can find further info on one of their recommendations, which is to join a union to receive support and employment law advice here: gmlaw.org.uk/employment-l...
GMLC is now on Bluesky! Hello to those of you who have followed us already.
Today we visited the picket line at the Manchester Early Intervention services strike for better funding of mental health services.
#ManchesterstrikeMH
Today we visited the picket line at the Manchester Early Intervention services strike for better funding of mental health services.
#ManchesterstrikeMH
September 29, 2025 at 9:43 AM
We recommend signing up for GMLC's newsletter!
t.co/KJ0wbqPKS5
This month's newsletter has great tips on finding free legal advice.
You can find further info on one of their recommendations, which is to join a union to receive support and employment law advice here: gmlaw.org.uk/employment-l...
t.co/KJ0wbqPKS5
This month's newsletter has great tips on finding free legal advice.
You can find further info on one of their recommendations, which is to join a union to receive support and employment law advice here: gmlaw.org.uk/employment-l...
Reposted by Greater Manchester Law Centre
We're delighted to have sent our Social Justice packs to this year's brilliant cohort of Legal Education Foundation's Justice First Fellows.
The Fellowship supports aspiring lawyers to pursue #SocialJustice law. We're proud to play a small part in this.
#AccessToJustice
The Fellowship supports aspiring lawyers to pursue #SocialJustice law. We're proud to play a small part in this.
#AccessToJustice
September 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
We're delighted to have sent our Social Justice packs to this year's brilliant cohort of Legal Education Foundation's Justice First Fellows.
The Fellowship supports aspiring lawyers to pursue #SocialJustice law. We're proud to play a small part in this.
#AccessToJustice
The Fellowship supports aspiring lawyers to pursue #SocialJustice law. We're proud to play a small part in this.
#AccessToJustice
Reposted by Greater Manchester Law Centre
We’re recruiting for 4 roles on our Disabled People’s Archive 🎉
Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (made possible by National Lottery players) we’re looking for an Archive Project Assistant (staff), plus freelance Oral Historian & Evaluator. (1/2)
Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (made possible by National Lottery players) we’re looking for an Archive Project Assistant (staff), plus freelance Oral Historian & Evaluator. (1/2)
Jobs | Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People
gmcdp.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
We’re recruiting for 4 roles on our Disabled People’s Archive 🎉
Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (made possible by National Lottery players) we’re looking for an Archive Project Assistant (staff), plus freelance Oral Historian & Evaluator. (1/2)
Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (made possible by National Lottery players) we’re looking for an Archive Project Assistant (staff), plus freelance Oral Historian & Evaluator. (1/2)
The two-child limit on benefits is a policy that gets worse over time - more and more children are plunged into poverty each year.
It's time for the government to scrap this policy once and for all.
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
It's time for the government to scrap this policy once and for all.
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Two-child benefit cap is 'punishing' working families, Labour warned
Families hit by the two-child limit on benefits describe how "the system is truly unfair" for those with more than three children.
www.bigissue.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The two-child limit on benefits is a policy that gets worse over time - more and more children are plunged into poverty each year.
It's time for the government to scrap this policy once and for all.
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
It's time for the government to scrap this policy once and for all.
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
The cost of living crisis hasn't ended just because the news has moved on.
There has been no improvement in the key measures of hardship over the last year, with over 7 million low-income families still going without essentials.
www.jrf.org.uk/cost-of-livi...
There has been no improvement in the key measures of hardship over the last year, with over 7 million low-income families still going without essentials.
www.jrf.org.uk/cost-of-livi...
A year of Labour but no progress: JRF’s cost of living tracker, summer 2025
A year into the new Labour Government, key hardship measures show no improvement - over 7 million low-income families are still going without essentials.
www.jrf.org.uk
September 15, 2025 at 9:59 AM
The cost of living crisis hasn't ended just because the news has moved on.
There has been no improvement in the key measures of hardship over the last year, with over 7 million low-income families still going without essentials.
www.jrf.org.uk/cost-of-livi...
There has been no improvement in the key measures of hardship over the last year, with over 7 million low-income families still going without essentials.
www.jrf.org.uk/cost-of-livi...
Family reunion for refugees is one of the last remaining 'safe routes' to the UK for those facing war, persecution and violence.
But the government has decided to suspend applications.
If you need to apply to bring your family here, do it today!
gmiau.org/refugee-fami...
But the government has decided to suspend applications.
If you need to apply to bring your family here, do it today!
gmiau.org/refugee-fami...
Changes to Refugee Family Reunion - GMIAU
The Home Secretary has announced that refugee family reunion applications will be suspended. Act now if you need to make an application.
gmiau.org
September 3, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Family reunion for refugees is one of the last remaining 'safe routes' to the UK for those facing war, persecution and violence.
But the government has decided to suspend applications.
If you need to apply to bring your family here, do it today!
gmiau.org/refugee-fami...
But the government has decided to suspend applications.
If you need to apply to bring your family here, do it today!
gmiau.org/refugee-fami...
Join @gmiau.bsky.social and Garden Court North for the upcoming North West Migrants’ Rights Conference on 30/09/25. Our solicitor Kathy Cosgrove will be speaking alongside knowledgeable speakers on asylum aid, trafficking, age assessments. Get your ticket here: gcnchambers.co.uk/event/migran...
North West Migrants' Rights Conference - Garden Court North Chambers
Garden Court North will be co-hosting the Migrants' Rights Conference with Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit on 30 September.
gcnchambers.co.uk
September 2, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Join @gmiau.bsky.social and Garden Court North for the upcoming North West Migrants’ Rights Conference on 30/09/25. Our solicitor Kathy Cosgrove will be speaking alongside knowledgeable speakers on asylum aid, trafficking, age assessments. Get your ticket here: gcnchambers.co.uk/event/migran...
"Manchester city council spent the most on landlord incentives, spending £3.3m in 2024-25, with Enfield council in north London spending £2.7m, Ealing council in west London spending £2.3m and Birmingham city council spending £1.7m."
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
English councils pay private landlords millions in incentives to house homeless families
Exclusive: Data gathered by Generation Rent shows 37 councils spent £31m in 2024-25 in one-off payments to individual landlords
www.theguardian.com
September 2, 2025 at 3:31 PM
"Manchester city council spent the most on landlord incentives, spending £3.3m in 2024-25, with Enfield council in north London spending £2.7m, Ealing council in west London spending £2.3m and Birmingham city council spending £1.7m."
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
What we know about the UK–France ‘one in, one out’ small boats agreement - from @gmiau.bsky.social:
gmiau.org/one-in-one-o...
gmiau.org/one-in-one-o...
What we know about the UK–France ‘one in, one out’ small boats agreement - GMIAU
What we know about the 'one in, one out' agreement on small boats between the UK and France, and what we think about it.
gmiau.org
August 15, 2025 at 3:46 PM
What we know about the UK–France ‘one in, one out’ small boats agreement - from @gmiau.bsky.social:
gmiau.org/one-in-one-o...
gmiau.org/one-in-one-o...
"[T]he participants receiving benefits struggled to access proper nutrition [...].
"We saw the kind of nutrient deficiencies that you see in developing countries and it seems this was driven solely by people's financial capabilities," he added."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"We saw the kind of nutrient deficiencies that you see in developing countries and it seems this was driven solely by people's financial capabilities," he added."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Living on universal credit is a constant battle' - BBC News
Keith Williams says he uses a food bank as his monthly £368 benefit payment lasts "about a week".
www.bbc.co.uk
August 8, 2025 at 11:49 AM
"[T]he participants receiving benefits struggled to access proper nutrition [...].
"We saw the kind of nutrient deficiencies that you see in developing countries and it seems this was driven solely by people's financial capabilities," he added."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"We saw the kind of nutrient deficiencies that you see in developing countries and it seems this was driven solely by people's financial capabilities," he added."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...