The Support Through Court Business Board

Support Through Court is a national charity that provides practical and emotional support to people attending civil or family court cases without legal representation. Our vision is to help unrepresented litigants better access justice.

As an independent charity we need to raise significant funds to ensure our services can continue helping a growing number of people in need. We are looking for dynamic, pro-active, experienced and well-connected senior leaders within the legal and business community who can help us by sharing their networks and advice. They will join our Business Board that helps raise funds and awareness of Support Through Court.

Business Board Members will raise funds by:

• Engaging corporate support for fundraising products (such as our Partnership schemes) through your company or personal network
• Gift in kind support – offer rooms for meetings and events, or offer marketing expertise
• Introducing speakers, help shape high level events, promote and sell tickets for events
• Promoting Support Through Court to personal and professional networks, to engage supporters and sponsors
• Make a personal contribution of at least £50 per month, which over a year equates to supporting 24 people through our service.

The Business Board’s members are senior level individuals with a drive to increase access to justice. Current members are:

• Tim Nash: Tim has been a Partner and CEO of Edwin Coe since 2008. He is responsible for leading the team, ensuring that the firm meets clients’ expectations and is for designing and maintaining risk and compliance processes for the firm. Prior to joining Edwin Coe, Tim was Group Financial Controller at Eversheds, responsible for statutory and management reporting.
• Wilf White: Wilf is Director of Engagement and Public Engagement at the Bar Standards Board. Wilf is responsible for leading the BSB’s engagement with its stakeholders to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to contribute to our policy making, raising awareness of our work and promoting the role of the BSB as the regulator of barristers with all relevant stakeholders. Before joining the BSB Wilf spent twelve years in HM Treasury and fourteen years at the BBC advising on financial and regulatory issues. 
• Nick Luckman: Nick leads the Practice Management Team at Wilberforce Chambers. He sits on the Management Board and is responsible for instigating and delivering agreed business strategies. Nick has specialist experience delivering professional services to domestic, international and offshore legal markets.
• Isabelle Brennan: Director Real Estate Finance, M&G Investments
• Asim Butt: 25 years at a top 50 law firm previously as a director of motor and counter-fraud claims solutions, sitting on their executive board and now as a consultant.

Opportunities and benefits from joining:

• Make a positive impact on your community, empower people alone in court
• Acquire further skills in fundraising, leadership and volunteering; all desirable for future trustee positions
• Be part of a successful volunteer fundraising board and help take their fundraising to the next level
• Highlight your philanthropy within a business environment
• Become part of the Support Through Court family, receive regular updates, visit your local service office and come to our networking events

Past Business Board Breakfast Events:

• 2019: ‘Access to Justice- how legal tech can help’. Lord Briggs and a panel from across the legal tech sector spoke about how legal tech could produce solutions for access to justice problems. The Law Society hosted the event.
• 2019: The rise in mental health issues in the family courts and how can we help? A panel event hosted by the law society with Sir Andrew Macfarlane as the keynote speaker.
• 2020: Digitisation of the Courts: opportunities and challenges to empower Litigants in Person; hosted by Allen & Overy, with District Judge Chris Lethem as keynote speaker
• 2020: Coping post Covid: The road ahead for the Family Courts with a keynote speech from Sir Andrew McFarlane