Groundbreaking seminar to help Harwich families

All families are different and need different support - that was the message from leading lawyers and specialists who work with families experiencing problems, at a landmark seminar which took place at the Pier Hotel in Harwich recently.

The seminar entitled “Different families: different problems’ was held by law firm Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP, and explored various ways in which experts could work together to improve services offered to families in crisis.

Family law specialist Nigel Humphreys from Fisher Jones Greenwood, which operates a publicly funded legal advice service in Harwich for families with limited means through its Tendring Outreach Scheme, said: “At our legal advice surgery we deal with many families who are experiencing multiple problems whether it is with housing, domestic discord, financial difficulties or sometimes child related problems including intervention by social services or exclusion from school. Our idea was to present a whole picture, rather than focus on one particular problem. The seminar was based around a scenario involving an imaginary family and was a great success stimulating lively debate and discussion.”

More than 50 local representatives from advice agencies, social workers, GPs, health visitors and councillors attended and heard legal experts from Fisher Jones Greenwood talk about housing, family, young people and education law.

Mr Humphreys added: “We felt it was crucial that everyone involved in working with families in the Harwich area, was given the opportunity to get together and look at practical and effective ways in which we could work in partnership.”

Fisher Jones Greenwood’s legal advice service operates every Tuesday from the Citizens Advice Bureau office at 298 Main Road in Dovercourt. The scheme, the first of its kind in Tendring, has been partly funded by a grant from the Legal Services Commission, and is especially aimed at those seeking advice on family law, including domestic violence, housing, employment, welfare benefits and community care.  Although many clients are referred through agencies anyone in need of advice can make an appointment to see a solicitor. Fisher Jones Greenwood can also offer advice in other publicly funded areas from the firm’s offices in Colchester. For further information please call 01206 578282.