Your Questions Answered

Because we believe public services should aim to get things right the first time. Whether someone is dealing with the DWP, Child Maintenance Service, NHS, local council, schools, housing services or the family courts, people should receive accurate information, fair treatment and clear decisions. When things go wrong, the consequences can affect people’s finances, health, families and futures. Our belief is simple: It costs less to get things right the first time than to keep putting things wrong.

Right First Time UK was created because too many people experience difficulties navigating public services, understanding their rights and challenging decisions they believe are wrong. We wanted to build something that helps ordinary people find information, understand procedures and know where to turn for support. Rather than simply talking about problems, we want to help people understand them, find solutions and encourage improvements.

Right First Time UK is a UK-based, not-for-profit organisation focused on public information, signposting, awareness, community participation and campaigns for better public services. We aim to make complicated information easier to understand and more accessible to everyone.

Yes. Registered name: Right First Time UK Ltd
Company number: 17493370
Structure: A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
Our organisation is designed to work for its purposes and members, rather than distributing profits to shareholders.

Our website is being developed to provide a growing range of information and practical tools, including:

• Public service information and guidance.
• Benefits, DWP and Child Maintenance Service information.
• SEND, EHCP and education guidance.
• Housing and homelessness information.
• Family court and parental support information.
• Public service news and updates.
• Campaigns, petitions and awareness projects.
• Member tools, community discussions and messaging.
• Document assistance and everyday organisational tools.

Some services are still being developed, tested or prepared for launch.

No. Right First Time UK is not a law firm or a regulated legal advice provider. We provide general information, explain publicly available rules and procedures, and signpost people towards appropriate organisations and qualified professionals. We believe understanding information is an important first step towards making informed decisions.

We want to bring information about multiple public services together in one accessible place. Instead of expecting people to search through numerous websites, documents and organisations, our aim is to make information easier to find and understand. We also want people to share experiences, identify recurring problems and help highlight where systems could improve.

No. We recognise that public services are essential and that many people working within them do valuable work. Our concern is with errors, poor communication, unfair treatment, unnecessary delays and failures to correct mistakes. We support accountability, not hostility.

PCS is a Right First Time UK service being developed to help separated parents discuss, calculate, agree and record voluntary financial contributions towards their children. It is intended to promote communication, transparency and affordable arrangements. PCS does not replace the statutory Child Maintenance Service, change legal obligations or receive and hold parents’ child-contribution payments.

Membership helps support the organisation’s development and gives people access to additional tools and community features. Our aim is to keep membership affordable so more people can benefit. Membership also creates opportunities for people to contribute ideas, give feedback and participate in the organisation’s future.

Absolutely not. Although family services, child maintenance and education are important parts of our work, Right First Time UK is intended for everyone. Whether you’re a parent, carer, pensioner, disabled person, worker, student or someone simply looking for information, our aim is to make support easier to find.

We aim to use official and reliable sources, including GOV.UK, legislation, government departments, regulators, published decisions and recognised support organisations. Where possible, we provide links to original sources so people can check the information themselves. We also aim to review and update information as rules and guidance change.

Yes. We believe real experiences can help identify problems that statistics alone might not reveal. Our community features are intended to let members communicate, share experiences and discuss issues respectfully. Personal experiences are not automatically treated as verified facts, and community participation is subject to our rules.

Yes. Right First Time UK aims to encourage volunteers, campaign leaders and members to participate in projects that matter to them. This could include raising awareness, helping improve information, sharing community resources or supporting responsible campaigns for change.

We want to help create a UK where:

• People can understand their rights and responsibilities.
• Public information is accurate, accessible and understandable.
• Mistakes are acknowledged and corrected fairly.
• Families and individuals are treated with dignity.
• Public services are accountable for their decisions.
• People’s experiences help drive meaningful improvements.

Success isn’t simply about website visitors, membership numbers or how many tools we build. It’s about whether our work helps people find answers, understand their options, avoid unnecessary difficulties and feel more informed. If we help someone understand a complicated process or find the correct place to seek assistance, that matters.

As a not-for-profit organisation, our aim is to use income to support the organisation’s purposes, including website hosting, development, information resources, member services and operating costs. We believe financial transparency is important, and we want people to understand how the organisation is funded and what it spends money on.

You shouldn’t need to be a lawyer, accountant or expert to understand how public services work. You shouldn’t have to spend months trying to find straightforward information. And when mistakes happen, there should be clear, fair ways to put them right. Right First Time UK exists to help make information clearer, encourage accountability and give ordinary people a stronger voice.