Empowering Our Communities: Helping Support Through Court Expand Their Legal Helpline

The Irwin Mitchell Charities Foundation (IMCF) is proud to announce it is donating a further £20,000 to a charity which helps those who are forced to represent themselves through court proceedings, Support Through Court.

The announcement comes as the charity look forward to their BBC Radio 4 appeal on 16th February, which is being fronted by Irwin Mitchell colleague and broadcaster, Joanna Gosling.

Working in the civil and family courts, Support Through Court provides practical information and emotional support to people navigating life-changing cases without legal representation.

This latest donation is part of a three-year project, which has seen the IMCF donate a total of £50,000 to fund the expansion of Support Through Court’s national helpline, a vital resource to the increasing number of users.

The IMCF’s support has played a vital role in supporting the helpline’s growth. So far this year the charity has delivered almost 16,200 sessions to users, an 18% increase since 2022.

Access to justice is an issue of increasing concern in the UK following a lack of investment in civil legal aid over the last decade which has left millions of people in the UK unable to access legal support for issues ranging from housing to domestic abuse.

The charity applied to receive the funding from the IMCF after it was nominated by colleagues for a grant, via the IMCF Fund, in 2023. The Trustees decision to support this project aligns with Irwin Mitchell's wider commitment to addressing the growing issue of ensuring access to justice, which forms an integral part of its Responsible Business strategy and commitment to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).

Thanks to the £30,000 donated so far, the charity has introduced a new phone system, a dedicated volunteer database, and a client booking system to simplify and improve the user experience.

Donations like these are in part made possible thanks to the hundreds of colleagues who participate in Irwin Mitchell’s Give As You Earn salary sacrifice scheme, where monthly donations to the IMCF are matched by the firm.

Liana Telvi-Blom, Deputy Head of Fundraising at Support Through Court, said: “Thanks to our shared commitment to improving access to justice, you’ve funded the improvements we set out to make to allow us to grow the service further, expand our reach, and ensure that no one has to face court alone, regardless of their location.”

The National Helpline is based at Nottingham Law School and staffed by volunteers who are studying law at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) providing a stream of 220 dedicated student volunteers this academic year. Nottingham Law School, NTU have been instrumental to the running of this service by generously hosting the work on their campus, as well as offering vital support as the official university partner of the Helpline.  

Liana added: “Working on the helpline also forms a huge part of the students’ education, helping them to build resilience from working with vulnerable clients whilst developing vital communication and problem-solving skills. Not only does this improve their chances of accessing the legal profession but we hope it’ll spark a life-long interest in access to justice for each of them.”

Thanks to her background as a former BBC journalist, Joanna Gosling, now a Senior Associate, Mediator in Irwin Mitchell’s London Family team, was asked by the charity to front their appeal which is being broadcast on BBC Radio 4 over the coming weeks.

Expert Opinion

“While I’m passionate about helping people to avoid having to go to court and work to support that as a mediator, the fact is that sometimes it’s unavoidable. Even with legal representation the process can feel complicated and bewildering. Without representation you are facing a situation that is hard to navigate alone - it's intimidating and can be overwhelming.

“Support Through Court helps those who can't afford legal representation to get their thoughts in order, source relevant and reliable legal information, understand complex procedures, complete forms, and present their case clearly before the judge. On top of the practical guidance, the volunteers are a source of emotional comfort when it feels like everything has unravelled.” Joanna Gosling

You can listen to Joanna share the story of Nikita, who left her abusive husband, and was forced to go through court without a lawyer on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 16th February at 7.53am and 9.25pm, and on Thursday 20th February at 3.25pm, or listen on demand via the BBS Sounds app.