The Isle of Wight Law Center provides invaluable help to islanders at their most vulnerable, helping them navigate often complex systems and access legal advice. The services it provides are sadly more necessary than ever following years of austerity, cuts to all core local services and national cuts to legal aid funding.

The Law Centre demonstrably saves Island tax payers millions each year, and provides help to islanders who find themselves in desperate situations and with nowhere else to turn.

It receives just £70,000 core funding, but The Law Centre estimate their interventions last year (2017) saved the Isle of Wight council between £1.5 to £1.9 million. The Law Centre successfully prevents evictions, at a time when homelessness is increasing at alarming rates.

You can read more about how the Law Centre helps locals, and why it is under threat, at On The Wight, here: https://onthewight.com/saving-of-70000-per-annum-could-cost-isle-of-wight-council-between-1-5-2m-say-law-centre/

At a time when Islanders are suffering the effects of an NHS crisis, a mental health care and social care crisis, a housing crisis, and poverty is at record highs, it is unthinkable that the Isle of Wight Council could consider cutting core funding to the Law Centre.

Access to our justice system is a right,  not  a privilege  afforded only to the wealthy.

We cannot lose this service. We cannot afford not to fund this service.

Sign this petition to demand the Isle of Wight Council abandon ANY plans to cut funding for The Law Centre.

Write to your councillor and express your concerns by going here and entering your postcode: https://www.writetothem.com/

Please consider sharing this petition.

Thank you.