For over 40 years South West Lancashire Independent Community Advice Network has continued to work as a grass roots organisation providing quality advice and support on Employment Law, Welfare Rights and Money Advice.

From our newly refurbished I.T. suite we also provide training and support in basic and advanced I.T., as well as providing CV writing assistance, job search and much more. Our services are free, accessible and client friendly and are delivered from our base at the Ecumenical Centre and at a number of outreach venues.

Our Vision

South West Lancashire Independent Community Advice Network (SWLICAN or ICAN for short.) is a driver of social inclusion through the provisions of accessible resources, training and social activities for individuals and local Voluntary, Community and Faith organisations in West Lancashire.

ICAN’s basic philosophy is the empowerment of people to be active citizens who are able to help themselves, either by accessing services or volunteering and employment opportunities. We want people to be able to solve their problems themselves by providing them with the necessary life skills, confidence, resources and facilities to do so.

Our Aims

South West Lancashire Independent Community Advice Network is a grass roots organisation which aims to provide quality advice and support on Employment Law, Welfare Rights, Debt, Health and Safety, plus access and support on ICT, Job Search and Interview Techniques.

Our aims are to provide a free, accessible and customer friendly service delivered through a network of community-based venues to help people overcome the effects of social and economic exclusion.

ICAN Team

• Jimmy McDermott - Senior Adviser
• John Earle - Welfare Rights Adviser
• Karen Dempsey - Benefits Adviser
• Lynne Dempsey - Benefits & Money Adviser
• Kevin Hudson - Volunteer

Specialising in Welfare Benefits, Disability Benefits, Employment Law, Debt and Money Advice, IT and Get Online Support.

Providing FREE, independent and confidential advice

• Jan Fitzsimons - Development Officer and Administration
• Ian Appleton - I.T. Facilitator
• Phill Savage -  Volunteer IT Tech Support

Providing assistance in Basic and Further I.T. Skills, Browsing the Internet and Emails, C.V. Assistance and Online Job Search

Management Committee

Paul McConnell, David Vickers, John Fleet, Cllr Gareth Dowling, Cllr Janice Monaghan, Charles Evans, Phill Savage, Tess Reddington, John Earle, George Hughes

 

What we did in 2021

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Our assistance increased up to 50% from 2020

We started a New Debt Advice service

We worked with, and helped, over 50 organisations from across the North West and the wider UK

Our IT Suite remotely assisted clients with getting online, applying for benefits and jobs, CVs, digital online courses, and Job Search.

We conducted a survey with our clients in West Lancs

View Consumer Vulnerability in West Lancs-A SWLICAN Survey March 2022.pdf