A new advice centre has officially opening in Roehampton, with Justine Greening MP attending the launch even on November 21.

The MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields was joined by Professor Paul O'Prety, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Roehampton and Polly Toynbee at the opening event at the Picasso Building, Mount Clare.

The University or Roehampton and Citizens Advice Wandsworth (CAW) have partnered up to open the Roehampton Advice Centre, which will allow CAW to continue to provide information and advice services to residents. The centre is located on the edge of the Alton Estate, in a building which is part of the university. This will enable CAW to offer residents advice on a number of issues, from social welfare legal guidance to locally-based affordable facilities.

By joining forces with the University of Roehampton, and in particular its Law School, CAW is able to continue to provide its much needed services in the heart of the Roehampton district in Wandsworth. The new facilities will offer a secure and comfortable environment for clients, employees and volunteers.

In the future, the University’s law students will also benefit from the opportunity to contribute to service provision, giving them valuable practice based learning experience whilst meeting local demand for advice.

The Roehampton Advice Centre is open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays, providing a mixture of advice appointments, information and signposting. On other days the Centre will offer appointment-only services with specialist advisers. Over the next 12 months it is anticipated 1,800 residents will use the new Centre.

Professor Paul O’Prey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Roehampton, said: “Our partnership with CAW will allow us to both offer our law students the practical and on-the-job experience needed to flourish in their future career, and also help residents with much needed advisory and support services. I am confident the new Roehampton Advice Centre will become a place of great value to our students and Roehampton residents alike.”

CAW chief executive Mary-Ann Foxwell said: “I am delighted that thanks to the support of the University of Roehampton we have been able to retain a Roehampton Advice Centre. We know how much residents value our advice and support, and how important it is that we are accessible.

"Roehampton is an area of high need that lacks infrastructure, its poor transport links mean it is also isolated – for these reasons we were determined to keep a Roehampton Advice Centre, and are grateful that the University shared this goal. We look forward to working with the University of Roehampton to meet local advice need, whilst at the same time working with the law students to help prepare them for their future careers.”

Wandsworth Council finance spokesman Cllr Guy Senior said: “The council is proud of our long association with, and financial support for, the Wandsworth Citizens Advice Service. It’s important to us that our residents get the free advice they need, where and when they need it, so we are delighted that this new facility is now available in Roehampton.”