Sangat Advice Centre
Harrow
has an estimated number of 58,792 members of the South Asian communities
resident in the Borough. Local Indian population is the third highest
in London. Given the substantial numbers in the community, the need
for accessible advice and provision of service is critical.
However, despite this critical need, the services for the community
have been reduced due to cuts in resource allocation.
Members
of the Asian community who were concerned about the lack of facilities
came together and, with the assistance from Anglo-Indian Circle
a registered charity, established Sangat Advice Centre in
1997.
Sangat
Advice Centre, a not for profit company limited by guarantee, with
no share capital, is based in Harrow Wealdstone. Wealdstone is the
most deprived part of Harrow and has a very large South Asian population
many of whom have very little knowledge of English language.
The AIMS of the Centre are:
- To
ensure that local Asian community have information about the
Law to enforce their rights to welfare benefits, debt, Immigration,
Discrimination, etc..
- To
help prevent homelessness through advice and advocacy.
- To
ensure that, via advocacy, elderly, frail, people with learning
disabilities, people with mental health difficulties and disabled
people get access to statutory services.
- Provide
information, advice, advocacy and case-work on issues of concern
to the Asian community in particular and to the community at
large.
Management
A
Board of Directors manages the Centre. Members are elected at the
Annual General Meeting onto the Board. The Board members are committed
to the Centre's services and give significant personal time in managing
the affairs of the Centre. Individual members play an important
role in securing the effectiveness of the Centre. They have a reputation
for speaking with authority on the basis of their direct experience
and knowledge of the views and opinions of service users. The present
Board consists of a qualified accountant, Social worker, businessman,
community worker, and person with fund raising and project planning
skills and much other expertise.
We
also have volunteers who have agreed to offer their honorary services
in the field of Law, Banking, Tax consultancy etc.
Funding
Until
recently we relied on donations and fund-raising activities under
taken by the committee members and supporters. We have now secured
grant from the Association of London Government for the project.
Our accounts are approved by members at the Annual General Meeting
and audited, as legally required by the Companies Acts.
Client
Group
We
serve the deprived, needy and inarticulate members of the Asian
community and other minority communities living in Harrow and neighbouring
boroughs.
Any
one who does not fall under the Centre's target group, would be
sign posted to an appropriate agency.
Getting
in touch with us
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The
demand for our services is greater than our resources. However,
we aim to be as fair and as helpful as possible.
You
can contact us by letter (Sangat Advice Centre, Sancroft Road,
Harrow, HA3 7NS), Telephone (020 8427 0659), Fax ( 020 8863
2196 ) or by visiting our office. We are fully accessible
for people with mobility problems.
Our
office is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
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| Above:
The newly built Sangat Centre |
How
we respond
When
a client first contacts us, we offer an appointment with one of
our advice workers within a few days. This appointment gives the
client a chance to talk through his/her concerns or problems with
the adviser who will then help the client in considering how s/he
wishes to go forward.
Some
of the areas of services we cover are:
Welfare
benefits: Income support, Incapacity benefit, Job seeker's allowance,
widow's benefit, pensions, Disability living allowance, attendance
allowance, funeral payments etc.
Housing:
Private and council house, Housing Association house, Private/Public
disrepair, Homelessness, Repossession, Housing benefit, Council
Tax benefit, Harassment, nuisance etc.
Debt:
Mortgage arrears, Rent arrears, Council Tax, Utility debts/disputes,
Fines, Hire purchase, Loan etc.
Discrimination:
Employment, Race, Sex, Religion, Unfair dismissal, Education,
Goods/services etc.
Immigration:
Deportation, Over stay, Refusal (appealable), marriage, Dependent,
Student, Registration, naturalisation, visa etc.
Appeals:
We represent clients at the Appeals Tribunals. Our success record
so far is 80%.
We
keep on expanding our field...
Opportunity
for other resources
If
we cannot assist a client or provide a particular service needed,
we will either sign post or refer the case to an appropriate agency.
We work closely with the statutory services, Housing Associations,
Benefit Agency, and a number of voluntary organisations.
Executive
Committee 2001-2002
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