Support Through Court, a charity that exists to support people going through court without representation as litigants in person, has this week launched an emergency appeal in response to recent funding cuts.
The charity, which is based in courts across the country as well as running a national helpline, recently became concerned about changes to regular funding it receives from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The MoJ, which has funded the charity for eight years, will be changing the method of distributing funding to charities working in the space of access to justice. The charity has limited information about the funding available going forward.
Left with a £400k shortfall, Support Through Court has launched an appeal for support, looking at the most effective way of using resources to help as many people facing court alone as possible. The charity remains committed to doing everything possible to support people facing court alone as litigants in person, seeking to raise funds to plug the funding gap and to keep its doors open.
Chief Executive, Eileen Pereira, says: ‘It remains crucial that we’re based in court buildings across the country. Every day, we see hundreds of people who can’t access legal aid who walk into court buildings in need of procedural support and guidance. Many don’t have access to tech; we provide them with a space to be heard as well as helping with court bundles and by logging on to hearings with them.
Without the funding we’ve received for eight years, we’re facing the real possibility of closing the doors on the support we provide to these people. To end up closing any of our services would have a devastating impact, not just on the clients we support but on the whole court system.’
Support Through Court relies on the support of nearly 500 volunteers to provide practical and emotional support to litigants in person.
Support Through Court have launched their emergency appeal at www.supportthroughcourt.org/doorstojustice
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Notes
- Support Through Court relies on the support of nearly 500 volunteers to provide practical and emotional support to litigants in person. In the last financial year, Support Through Court has assisted over 49,000 people facing court alone without representation.
- Support Through Court have launched their emergency appeal at www.supportthroughcourt.org/doorstojustice
- For any further enquiries, please contact Support Through Court’s Communications Manager: press.enquiries@supportthroughcourt.org / 0300 400 0143
About Support Through Court
Every year, thousands of people in the UK face court alone. Without help, they have to represent themselves while they go through a divorce, seek custody of their children, defend or put forward a personal injury claim or face eviction from their home. They are forced to navigate a complex legal system alone, often against the professional legal representation of the other party. The increase in cuts to legal aid over recent years has meant that thousands more people face the civil or family courts alone. Their access to justice is limited by how overwhelming the legal system can be to those who have never faced it before, and many struggle to represent themselves effectively in court.
We exist to reduce the disadvantage of people facing the civil or family justice system without a lawyer. Going through court can be incredibly complex and bewildering. We provide practical and emotional support to people facing court alone, empowering people who feel that they have nowhere else to turn. An award-winning charity with 500 dedicated volunteers, we operate from 17 courts across England and Wales. Despite the growing need for our work, we remain the only organisation providing this service.
