An advice project will be launched to help disabled people and carers seek legal advice.

The Enfield Legal Partnership Project, set up by Enfield Disability Action, will start on October 21, and will offer peer support and legal advice on welfare benefits, employment, community care and housing.

The scheme is also intended to help disabled people to have better access to justice.

Edmonton MP Andy Love has thrown his support behind the scheme.

He said: “Welfare reforms have hit disabled people hard, notably the cruel and unfair bedroom tax, which affected 1,387 Enfield residents from May to November last year alone, two-thirds of whom are estimated to have disabilities and many are carers.

“It is hard to keep up with the additional casework the welfare reforms have brought, so it’s helpful that Enfield Disability Action has stepped up to deliver a legal advice service offering residents the specialist help they desperately need, particularly in the face of cuts to legal aid.  I would urge people to make use of the service.”

Enfield Disability Action chief executive Liane Burn said: “With all the reforms taking place, we are seeing more clients who are in very hard situations and need more complex legal advice.  I am very happy to be working in partnership with voluntary sector colleagues and law firms to be delivering this much needed service.”