Personal History and Introduction

My name is Paul and I was born in Stockport and grew up in Cheadle and South Devon. I attended Moseley Hall Grammar School, Churston Ferrers Grammar School and The College of South Devon. After a 20-year career in IT and was the owner/manager of a travel business for 10 years and have lived and worked in Amsterdam for six years and retired in 2022.

At Support Through Court Manchester (2022-2025), I conducted 6,121 appointments with clients (in-person, telephone, email and video) covering issues as diverse as Child Arrangements, Divorce, Money Claims, Employment and Housing, and accompanied Clients to Housing Tribunals, Civil Court, Family Court and The High Court.

At The Booth Centre (2020-2021), I assisted with all the issues surrounding homelessness and rough sleeping and advised on welfare benefits, whilst also acting as the full-time volunteer coordinator.

At The Greater Manchester Law Centre (2018-2019), I accompanied clients to medical centres and hospitals in Greater Manchester for their health assessments and kept detailed records of the conversation that took place that could be used in evidence if the decision was challenged and went before the first-tier tribunal at appeal.

I have volunteered at Tameside Citizens Advice (2014-2016) where I conducted 1,484 face-to-face interviews and his case write-ups were audited by the Legal Services Commission and considered as examples of best practise.

I do not provide legal advice but have extensive experience of providing free, confidential, independent and impartial advice with Tameside Citizens Advice (personal debt, housing and welfare benefits); Greater Manchester Law Centre (health-related welfare benefits, housing and employment); The Booth Centre (homelessness and rough sleeping) and Support Through Court Manchester (civil family matters – specifically, child arrangements, non-molestation orders, housing, general applications and money claims) over a period of eleven years from 2014 to 2025 which has resulted in dealing with over 9,000 clients during that time.

I cannot help with Appeals or Judicial Reviews, nor can I support with criminal matters and all Clients must be permanently resident in the United Kingdom. If the Client’s issue is not one that I can help with, I will make every effort to point them in the right direction to a free service that can.

I have completed the training with the Mckenzie Friend Service (www.mckenziefriendservice.co.uk) and have an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate No. 001645937565.

Last Updated on 31/03/2025 at 09:58