New Recruit for Northern Advice Service Facing Changing Times

19 July 2011

A leading Northumberland telephone advice service has welcomed an experienced legal advice professional as its new Contracts and Relationship Manager, to support the organisation as it continues to evolve.

DAWN Advice, which provides free legal advice through a number of regional and national telephone-based contracts, has appointed Michael Fawole as its Contracts and Relationship Manager.

Michael joins DAWN Advice from the Legal Services Commission, where he was a Relationship Manager - managing Legal Aid contracts over £1million. He will now oversee the services offered by DAWN while exploring new contract opportunities.

Liz Chadwick, Chief Executive of DAWN Advice, said she is delighted to welcome Michael to the team and that his vast experience of working within the legal advice industry will allow the organisation to continue moving forward.

She said: "Michael brings to DAWN a wealth of knowledge which is sure to help support the organisation in continuing to move in the right direction at a time when the future of advice services is constantly changing.

"Every case we deal with is unique and different to the next, so it's vital that we have the right services and resources in place to help people resolve their problems as quickly as possible. Michael's experience means he will be confident and adept in further developing our services, and we are thrilled to have him on board."

Michael said: "DAWN Advice is extremely proactive and at its heart is its social enterprise status - giving back to the local community is very important to the whole team - and I'm pleased to be joining such a commendable and ethical organisation.

"DAWN Advice has always had a strong reputation for being innovative and forward thinking in the ways that it offers its advice services. I'm looking forward to helping to enhance the services which it already provides and identifying any gaps in provisions to ensure a truly comprehensive service."

Michael, who is a magistrate in his spare time and a graduate in Social Policy from Newcastle University and University of Northumbria, lives in Newcastle with his wife and young son.

Established in 1998, DAWN Advice is a social enterprise and a member of the UK's largest network of free, advice-providing organisations, adviceuk and is a member of the National Association of Citizen's Advice Bureau.

The social enterprise offers free, confidential and independent advice to people across the region and nationally on issues relating to housing, debt, employment, welfare benefits and family law. It also manages the operation of the DAWN Citizen's Advice Bureau in Morpeth.