Since 2012, access to legal aid has been reduced to less than a quarter of previous levels and simultaneously funding for councils which might be able to mitigate the worst effects of this was also significantly reduced. Research conducted by Dr James Organ & Dr Jennifer Sigafoos at the University of Liverpool, School of Law and Social Justice, has shown that there have been devastating effects on people’s mental and physical health as a result of reduced access to advice which meant that problems went unresolved and spiralled out of control. Liverpool City Council has responded to the resultant need for maximising the availability and effect of the advice provision available in our city by funding the Access to Justice Project which aims to monitor the impact of cuts as well as mitigate the worst effects.

In order to facilitate better communication and partnership working between third sector organisations, the Access to Advice Network was created ( https://www.liverpoolaccesstoadvicenetwork.org.uk/) and identified a need for greater understanding of the intersectionality between changes to the immigration system and all other advice areas.

This year saw enormous changes to the immigration system: the end of the treaty right to free movement for EEA citizens in the UK, the end of the grace period for making applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), the introduction of the Points-Based-System (PBS) and its implementation to EEA citizens. As EU citizens are now subject to the Hostile Environment Policies.

This conference hopes to explore what problems can be expected to arise and what lessons can be learned from the Windrush scandal to avoid greater problems in the future.

Some of the speakers are:

• Dr James Organ, University of Liverpool, School of Law & Social Justice, Access to Justice
• Prof Helen Stalford, University of Liverpool, School of Law & Social Justice, Children's Rights.
• The Our Liverpool Programme, Liverpool City Council, Advice provision for migrants.
• Chris Desira, Seraphus / EU delegation
• Ake Achi, Migrants at Work
• Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, Work Rights Centre
• Beth Saunders, Citizens Advice Liverpool, EUSS Supervisor
• Jennifer Mirdamadi, Citizens Advice Liverpool, General Adviser
• Nigel Guy, Windrush Generations
• Elena Remigi, In Limbo Project
• Caroline Gale, Your Housing
• Anna Barton, the Whitechapel Centre
• Cristina Tegolo, Settled
• Asylum Link

There will be a lunch break at 12-1pm (and other short breaks in between speakers) and after lunch, two sessions of breakout rooms (with six rooms to choose from).