South West London Law Centres

09/10/2026

Did you know Croydon Council is currently consulting on further reducing Council Tax Support for people who are disabled and lone parents with little children under 5?

Council Tax Support is a lifeline and was significantly reduced in 2022 and pushed residents into crisis.

Council tax is one of the biggest debt issues people contact Croydon advice services about and it is already really hard for people to meet this cost.

Council tax in Croydon is one of the most expensive council tax charges in the country. Further reductions of vital support for disabled people and lone parents will push thousands of Croydon residents further into crisis. The council have said they are committed to listening to residents on this issue so if you receive Council Tax Support please tell decision makers what the changes would mean.

You can respond to the consultation here. https://cts.commonplace.is/

Some residents have found the language in the consultation confusing so if you also feel this, tell us as that is part of the community feedback.

This consultation closes at 11.59pm, Tuesday 10 November 2026.

21/09/2026

Do you live in temporary accommodation in Croydon?!

Come join our temporary accommodation campaign TOMORROW 22nd September, 10am - 12noon at South Norwood Community Kitchen. We will be sharing food and experience and pushing for change!

Spread the word.

21/09/2026

Did you know you could access some free school uniform in Merton?!

Announcement from Merton Council below 👇

FREE SCHOOL UNIFORM :

Merton Council, in partnership with Donate to Educate, have a large surplus of brand-new school uniforms from Marks and Spencer and other school kit for local families in need to collect for free.

Available to families who are eligible for free school meals, the uniforms are from various suppliers and include boy’s shirts and trousers, girls blouses and skirts, cardigans and jumpers (limited stock) and are available in all ages, sizes and school levels.

The new uniform collection location, dates and time have been released. Please see below for further details

Best Start Family Hub at Acacia (230 Grove Road CR4 1SD) Friday 18 Sept - 1pm - 4:30pm
Ivy Gardens Children Centre (Ivy Gardens Mitcham, CR4 1BR) Monday 21 Sept 9am - 12pm
Phipps Bridge Youth Centre (Cobham Court, Haslemere Avenue, CR4 3PR) Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September 3-7pm
Lavender Steers Mead Children's Centre (Lavender Park Pavilion CR4 3HL) Wednesday 30 Sept 1pm - 4:30pm
Please come along with your proof of residence in Merton or attendance at a Merton school.

14/09/2026

TOMORROW 15th September 10am.

We will be back at Home Community Cafe with our temporary accommodation group sharing support and experience.
We will be at the Home Cafe within St Andrews Church, 571 Garrett Lane (by Earlsfield station) at 10am. We will be providing food and drink. Babies and children are welcome.

We will be wearing a blue tshirt that says 'South West London Law Centres' come say Hi!

14/09/2026

DISABILITY BENEFITS WEBINAR THIS WEDNESDAY 📣
16th September at 4pm.

What you hear in the media about disability benefits can be misleading. You can be in work, or not be working and receive disability benefits.

Don't be misled -
Come and learn about disability benefits for you, someone you know or to improve your knowledge for the future 💪

This webinar with The Economic Justice Team at South West London Law Centres is aimed at those who are considering claiming disability benefits but want more information about them.

It will cover the following benefits:

👦Disability Living Allowance for up to age 16
👷‍♀️ Personal Independence Payment for working age
🗝Attendance Allowance for those who are retired

It will look at whether you should be claiming disability benefits, how they work and the problems you may find with making a claim. As well as including information on the three main disability benefits and the criteria for claiming them, it will explain what you need to consider when filling in your application form, such as important phrases you should include (e.g. ‘repeatedly’, ‘safely’, ‘to an acceptable standard’ and ‘in a reasonable time’) and how to get more information and help if you don’t feel confident completing it on your own.

Also covered are how decision makers go about considering an application form, the criteria they use for each of the benefits, and what to do if you don’t get awarded the benefit.

Next Disability Benefits webinar: Wednesday 16th September at 4pm

14/09/2026

Did you know...

We offer a series of free webinars and workshops on a range of subjects. Our free webinars and workshops last for around one hour and give you the chance

18/08/2026

We have no Croydon temporary accommodation action group next Tuesday, instead we are part of the SNCK family fun day tomorrow 19th August from 11am - 2pm. There will be food, games and music - all for free.
Rhi will be wearing a blue tshirt that says 'South West London Law Centres' tomorrow at the kitchen, come and say hi and get involved in our social justice work.

13/08/2026

🍎 FREE Food Parcel Collection 🍞🥕🥫

Need a little extra support? Aydin's Dinners is here to help by providing FREE food parcels for local families.

📅 Collection Date: Thursday 13th August
🕟 Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
📍 Collection Location: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Family Hub, South Norwood

Register today to secure your food parcel:
🔗 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/RHC5H27394?origin=lprLink

Please share this post with anyone who may benefit. Bringing Families Together, One Meal at a Time💚