Sangat Advice Centre, is a not for profit company, limited by guarantee, with no share capital, We are based in Harrow Wealdstone. which is the most deprived part of Harrow and has a very large South Asian population, many of whom have very little knowledge of the English language.

The London Borough of Harrow has over 60,000 members of the South Asian communities resident in the Borough. This population is the third highest in London. Given the substantial numbers in the community, the need for accessible advice and provision of service is critical.

However, despite this critical need, the services available for the community have been reduced due to cuts in resource allocation. Members of the Asian community who were concerned about the lack of facilities came together and, with the assistance from Anglo-Indian Circle, a registered charity, established Sangat Advice Centre in 1997.

The original centre was established in a former Territorial Army hut, and in 2001, the present centre was built with grant funding from the Millennium Commission and fundraising from Asian residents in Harrow.

The centre was officially opened by the Earl and Countess of Wessex on the 26th June 2002

The aims of the Centre are to:

1. •ensure that local Asian community have information about the Law to enforce their rights to welfare benefits, debt, Immigration, Discrimination, etc.
   

2. •help prevent homelessness through advice and advocacy.
   

3. •ensure that, via advocacy, elderly, frail, people with learning disabilities, people with mental health difficulties and disabled people get access to statutory services.
   

4. •provide information, advice, advocacy and case-work on issues of concern to the Asian community in particular and to the community at large.
   

Management

A Board of Directors oversees the management the Centre. Members are elected at the Annual General Meeting onto the Board. The Board members are committed to the Centre's services and give significant personal time in managing the affairs of the Centre. Individual members play an important role in securing the effectiveness of the Centre. They have a reputation for speaking with authority on the basis of their direct experience and knowledge of the views and opinions of service users. The present Board consists of a qualified accountant, Social worker, businessman, community worker, and persons with fund raising and project planning skills and much other expertise.

We also have volunteers who have agreed to offer their honorary services in the field of Law, Banking, Tax consultancy etc.

Funding

We charge nominal fees to cover administrative costs for the services we provide. We also rely on donations and fund-raising activities under taken by the committee members and supporters. Our accounts are approved by members at the Annual General Meeting and audited, as legally required by the Companies Acts.

Client Group

We serve the deprived, needy and inarticulate members of the Asian community and other minority communities living in Harrow and neighbouring boroughs. If we cannot assist a client or provide a particular service needed, we will either sign post or refer the case to an appropriate agency. We work closely with the statutory services, Housing Associations, Benefit Agency, and a number of voluntary organisations.