Formed just after the Ethnic Minorities Law Centre was established in 1991, the Core Project has continuously carried forward our aims and objectives that we pride ourselves on:

to meet the unmet legal needs of the members of ethnic minority communities.

The Core Project is currently funded by Glasgow City Council through the Development and Regeneration Services Department, and specifically services members of the ethnic minority communities residing in Glasgow.  The Core Project is integral to the operation of the Law Centre, and funds the posts of Principal Solicitor, Advisor and Office Manager and one Administrative Officer. The Core Project’s staff’s main areas of expertise lie in Immigration and Nationality, Asylum and Discrimination law. 

The Law Centre is unique in that the solicitors/caseworkers are supported by bilingual staff and have access to community interpreters and are able to provide culturally sensitive legal advice.  Many clients are distressed because of the insecurity of their immigration position and the isolation they experience due to the change in culture and language barriers, or they feel vulnerable as a result of racial discrimination.  The staff at the Law Centre are sensitive to these issues and committed to providing legal advice and empowering people with the knowledge of their legal rights.

The Core Project also plays a role in commenting on changes in legislation affecting the areas of law in which we specialise.  As there have been many recent changes to Immigration, Nationality and Asylum law, as well as new rules regarding discrimination, there has been a substantial amount of legislation for us to scrutinise.  Our specialist knowledge and experience places us in an ideal position to gauge the effects that proposed changes are likely to have on ethnic minority communities, and therefore to put forward our views on whether these are likely to be beneficial or detrimental to our client group during the consultation period. 

It is vital that all the Law Centre staff are updated on all the changes to statute and procedures which affect our operations, and the Core Project staff provide internal training to ensure that this is achieved, as well as helping disseminate this information to the wider community.  The Law Centre has been developing links with various departments of the Scottish Executive, and this has led to us holding successful meetings with the Ministers for Justice and for Communities, Cathy Jamieson and Malcolm Chisholm.  These meetings have given us the opportunity to raise concerns about relevant issues, and to ensure that the specific needs of ethnic minority communities are recognised and appreciated at the heart of the Scottish Executive.  We plan to maintain and develop this dialogue for the future, whilst continuing to provide our specialist legal service to our clients in Glasgow. 

For further information please contact us at the Glasgow office (contact details below).