NAWRA is calling upon UK governments to introduce a statutory duty to provide social welfare advice, available equally to all who need it and free at the point of delivery.
Concern over the loss of advice services as highlighted by bodies such as the Access to Justice Foundation[1] and Advice UK[2], has been mounting in recent years and has been brought into sharp focus this year by the ending of the Macmillan contract for specialist welfare rights support[3].
The value of access to free advice is widely recognised, and the Work and Pensions Select Committee has said:
‘The complexity of the benefits system means that expert welfare rights advice is often needed. In some areas, local authorities, third sector and community organisations work together effectively to do this. The rewards are significant …
We have heard about the research conducted on the economic gains from take-up. This research should be promoted to encourage the investment needed, including in welfare rights advice and community advocacy.[4]
Reversing the decline in advice availability will have positive effects for individuals and families, and across society. Timely advice can prevent delay and error in decision making, avoid unnecessary and costly tribunal hearings and other forms of resolution, as well as helping prevent eviction, homelessness and mounting debt. Independent modelling commissioned by the Access to Justice Foundation has shown that for every £1 invested in free, specialist advice saves £2.71 in public costs.[5]
There are also benefits in terms of the prevention of future crises for individuals, broader information and support for the wider public, and improvements in public health.
Join our call
We officially launched our campaign on 13 January 2026 at a reception at the House of Commons hosted by Labour MP Marsha de Cordova. The event included speeches from Marsha, NAWRA vice chair Daphne and Tara Mulqueen from the University of Warwick Law School.
[1]https://atjf.org.uk/about/why-we-exist
[2] https://www.adviceuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AdviceUK-Submission-to-the-Justice-Select-Committee-Inquiry-on-Access-to-Justice.pdf
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/may/05/macmillan-cancer-support-charity-specialist-benefits-advice-services
[4] https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/164/work-and-pensions-committee/news/208519/mps-call-for-national-strategy-to-tackle-pensioner-poverty/
[5] The-value-of-justice-for-all-a-report-for-the-Access-to-Justice-Foundation-and-the-Bar-Council-from-Pragmatix-Advisory.pdf
See photos of the event below –
NAWRA members working for the following organisations have joined our call:
Age UK
Anchor Hanover Group
Banburyshire Advice Centre
Big Book of Benefits
Building Resilient Households Group
Burmantofts Community Projects
Camden Council
Campaign for Disability Justice
Carers UK
Central England Law Centre
Centre for Responsible Credit
Child Poverty Action Group
Citizens Advice Somerset
Citizens Advice South Warwickshire
Cleveland Housing Advice Centre
Cumbria Law Centre
Disability Benefits Consortium
Disability Rights UK
Dudley MBC
entitledto
Equity Trade Union
Family Fund
Ferret Information Systems
Financial Inclusion Centre
Gipsil
Govtech Solutions Ltd
Grampian Advice Forum
Greater Manchester Law Centre
Greater Manchester Money Advice Group
Irwin Mitchell LLP
King’s College London
Lathom Solutions
London Borough Redbridge
Money A+E UK
Money Advice Camden – Camden Council
Norfolk Community Law Service
North Bristol Advice Centre
Prospect Community Housing
Quaker Social Action
rightsnet
Royal British Legion
Sandwell MBC – Welfare Rights Teams
Sensory Support UK
Single parents support and advice services
South East London Mind
Southdown
Southway Housing Trust
Spitfire Advice &Support Services
St Anns Advice Group
Stockport Council’s Welfare Rights & Debt Advice
The Action Group
The Brain Charity
The Project Birmingham
University of Staffordshire
Vauxhall Law Centre
Vulnerability Registration Service
We Care Campaign
Welfare Benefits Team, Springfield Psychiatric Hospital
Welfare Rights Advisers Cymru
Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service, Bristol City Council
West Kent Housing Association
Working Families
Z2K