Services - The community resource team
Our Community Resource Team provides a range of free and confidential services for anyone living in North Liverpool, including:
- Support for victims and witnesses
- Legal advice on housing, debt and welfare benefit
- Help for those with problems with drugs and alcohol
- Help with education and employment
- Individual support through our mentoring scheme, Side by Side, which uses local volunteers
The centre has a unique problem-solving approach which operates on two levels, providing support for offenders going through the court system, while offering free and confidential advice to everyone in the community residents, victims of crime and witnesses.
On-site services, available to anyone living in North Liverpool, include:
- Victim and Witness Support
- Financial Advice
- Housing Advice
- Drug and Alcohol Advice
- Education and Employment
- Anti Social Behaviour
- Safe n' Sound
1. Victim and Witness Support
Victims and witnesses of all ages can be given free advice and confidential support from specialist staff based within the Community Justice Centre. The charity, Victim Support, helps people affected by crime, along with their family and friends if needed. It provides:
- Someone to talk to in confidence
- Information on police and court procedures
- Help in dealing with other organisations
- Information about compensation and insurance
- Links to other sources of help
Through its Witness Support service, staff can also help witnesses who are called to give evidence, including defence witnesses. This can include:
- Someone to talk to in confidence
- A chance to see the court beforehand and learn about court procedures
- Someone to go with you into the courtroom, when giving evidence
- Practical help - for instance with expense forms
- A chance to talk over the case when it has ended and to get more help or information
2. Financial Advice
Liverpool Specialist Advice Service staff are part of the Community Resource Team at the Community Justice Centre. They can provide wide-ranging advice and support on debt and welfare benefits.
3. Housing Advice
Liverpool Housing Trust staff are on hand at the Community Justice Centre to provide advice on housing issues.
4. Drug and Alcohol Advice
Charities, Addaction and Lighthouse are based at the centre as part of its Community Resource Team. Specialist staff are able to help people facing the challenge of alcohol or drug abuse, either personally or with friends and family members.
5. Education and Employment
The Probation service is based at the Community Justice Centre and can carry out basic skills assessments for any member of the community (not just offenders as at other courts) to help improve their employment prospects.
Additionally a JOB Café is up and running at the Centre to help local residents and minor offenders into work.
The café run by the council-funded Jobs Employment and Training Service (JET) is open every Monday from 10am till 4pm allowing local residents or people passing through the centre to discuss jobs or training opportunities with specialist advisors.
6. Anti Social Behaviour
Staff from Liverpool City Council's Anti Social Behaviour Unit (LASBU) are based within the Community Justice Centre, and are specialists in dealing with anti social behaviour, including dealing with complaints and supporting witnesses.
7. Safe n' Sound
'Safe n' Sound' is a unique service for the victims of crime which links the Community Justice centre with other partners, such as Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Trading Standards. Community Support Officers visit victims of crime across North Liverpool, offering practical help from the centre team on issues ranging from personal and home security and fire safety to advice on legal matters and assistance with housing problems.