Josie Hicklin
Host Organisation: Greater Manchester Law Centre
Josie is passionate about using her legal skills to stand alongside vulnerable people to ensure their rights are realised. She previously worked with a charity supporting Roma street children where she observed the inequality these children faced solely because of their social status and skin colour and decided to stand against such inequality wherever she could.
After studying for her law degree, Josie moved to London to complete her Legal Practice Course. Whilst studying in London she worked as a communication officer for an international development charity and volunteered with housing and immigration advice services.
In 2018, she began working at Greater Manchester law Centre as a volunteer housing caseworker before joining them as a Justice First Fellow and trainee solicitor in 2020.
Project
Homelessness is an increasing problem in Greater Manchester as it is across the UK, however Manchester consistently has some of the lowest figures for housing people under homelessness legislation. A move towards a charitable focus as opposed to a rights-based approach within frontline homelessness services leaves homeless people vulnerable to not being able to access the housing they are entitled to. The project I am working on aims to increase access to justice for homeless people in Manchester by working closely with these frontline homelessness agencies, providing training and support to ensure a robust and effective housing advice is given throughout Greater Manchester.
