Welcome To IAG Services

IMPORTANT NOTICE – ADVOCACY SUPPORT EMPOWERMENT PLUS PROJECT/SERVICE START
We have been granted further funding by Big Lottery Fund to deliver a 3 year project, together with our client groups and steering group we have devised our Advocacy Support Empowerment PLUS project to help the local community to address matters relating to Welfare Benefits, Debt and Housing issues. It will be our aim to uplift individuals who feel powerless to resolve matters themselves, improve the quality of their lives, offering dignity, empowerment and self-reliance.
The project is different to our previous project in that we will have a strict criterion in assisting clients. We will be assisting our most vulnerable clients through casework; all other clients will be supported through self-help pathways.
Clients referred onto Self Help pathways will be supported through workshops and one to one sessions to capacity build, increase confidence and capability of our clients to complete their own forms. We will invest in supporting the community to resolve their issues through self-help and peer to peer support to achieve long term outcomes.
Funded by the Big Lottery and Nishkam Civic Association we provide:
Drop-in, one to one sessions, peer to peer support and appointment services based at the Nishkam Centre through our Advocacy Support Empowerment PLUS Project
We are members of Advice UK which is the largest support network for free, independent advice centres.

Our Team
Our team is made up of caseworkers experienced in IAG Services & self-help offering a very high quality specialist level service to clients.
Advocacy Support Empowerment PLUS has been funded for the three following categories:
• Debt and money advice
• Housing Law
• Welfare Benefits and Social Security Law

Debt and money advice
We are able to provide assistance through the different pathways such as self-help pathway in most aspects of debt and money advice including:
• Budgeting advice
• Options on how to deal with your debts
• Negotiating with creditors
• Disputing liability for debts
This service is offered under the Reaching Communities Project.

Housing Law
We are able to provide assistance through the different pathways such as self-help pathway in most aspects of housing law including:
• Rent arrears
• Applications for housing

Welfare Benefits and Social Security Law
We are able to provide assistance through the different pathways such as self-help pathway in aspects of welfare benefits and social security law including:
• Maximising income through welfare benefits
• Benefit applications
• Backdating claims
• Suspensions and overpayments
To name a few we have covered appeals in:
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment Benefit

Opening and closing hours
Monday to Friday between 9.00am to 5.00pm – by appointment (0121 515 4229)
Drop-in sessions: Every Wednesday 9.30am – 12.30pm – No appointment needed

Our aim and commitment to you
We aim to offer our clients a high quality advice, representation, self-help, Peer to Peer Support and advocacy service as necessary.
We will represent your interests and maintain confidentiality of your case.
We will advise on how we will be able to assist, what pathway is relevant to you and the options available to you
We will endeavour to avoid using legal jargon when writing to you.

Communication
Treat you and your situation sensitively and with dignity
In return we ask that you respond to our requests promptly, supply information to us on a timely basis and provide us with clear, timely and accurate instructions. We expect you to to work with us to resolve your queries.
The Nishkam Civic Association is committed to equal opportunities; we provide an independent and confidential service to all irrespective of disability, age, gender, colour, religion and sexual orientation. We also ensure that all referral agencies also have similar policies in force.

Our Volunteers
Volunteers are seen as one of the most essential, unique and invaluable components of the Nishkam Civic Association.
We will be recruiting and utilising the following to help with the different pathways:
Self-help supporters – Assisting clients through the Self-Help pathway
Peer to Peer help – Assisting at drop in / workshops / one to one sessions
Champions/Ambassadors – Engaging with client groups & community
Steering group – We would like our clients groups and the community to be involved and attend quarterly meetings to update and share how the project is doing – If you can spare 2 hours every three months then please contact us
We are also recruiting for the above roles for the ASEP IAG project, please visit the volunteer section for an application form
Our volunteers and supporters assist with co-ordinating projects and events, delivering training and education, and offering guidance and support for the local, national and global community.

As part of their training and development they will assist us on casework files including doing research, observing interviews and advice given, observing cases at tribunal.

In the case of sitting in on client interviews in observance of the caseworker we will seek your permission beforehand.
Please note that all volunteers sign a confidentiality agreement and have to maintain the highest of standards in preserving confidentiality of client information and data at all times.
Contact us
Address: Nishkam Civic Association
Nishkam Centre
6 Soho Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B21 9BH
Telephone: 0121 515 4229
Email: zainab.bibi@ncauk.org
Website Page updated 13/04/2018