Description
In Poland there is a difficult access to free-of-charge legal assistance for people at risk of social exclusion living in rural areas. The project enhances and sustains advisory support network for individuals at risk of social exclusion through development of free-of-charge civic and legal advisory services, including legal and civic education. The target group and local aid institutions will be involved in the decision-taking process concerning the direction and quality of those activities in a participatory process of reviewing advisory services and planning most effective and practical methods and forms of support. Legal and civic education component as well as participatory process component of reviewing and planning the offer have not been carried out before in that geographical area. The project is targeted at the residents of 4 rural districts in Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship (Lipnowski, Radziejowski, Rypiński, Włocławski districts) and the residents of Włocławek town (approx. 960 individuals).
Summary of project results
"One of the indicants of exclusion is the difficult reach of legal advice or incapability of using the available forms of support. Out of five counties in Kuiavian-Pomeranian voievodship with low social and economic condition (lipnowski, radziejowski, rypiński, włocławski and the City of Włocławek) the foundation was the only institution which concentrated on giving free of charge information and civil and legal advice. The experience indicated that hitherto scale of support was not enough. The aim of the project was to develop the legal offer of the foundation, organizing open theme meetings dedicated to legal education and including the persons benefiting from the counseling in planning and reviewing legal advice. 3881 persons received information and legal advice on the premises of the Organization during mobile on duty hours and educational and informational meetings in the county and district towns in Kuiavian-Pomerinian voievodship. 26 persons engaged in reviewing legal advice and in the their planning. During the project The office for Civilians - the point of support carried out by two lawyers, was open from Monday to Friday. 2691 persons benefited from it. 17 legal education meetings for 260 persons were carried out, 68 experts on duty hours in Wlocławek, and 68 mobile on duty hours in small towns (930 persons). The working team was created consisting of consulting beneficiaries which developed the standards of support and legal education. All project activities were completed in accordance and close co-opertion with public and non-public subjects which promoted and supported the consulting and took part in developing the standards of its implementation. 27 local authority and NGO institutions cooperated within the consulting network. The beneficiaries of the project were 3881 persons threatened by the social exclusion in Kuiavian-Pomeranian voievodship."
Summary of bilateral results