A charity which says it has assisted people on over 50,000 occasions through England and Wales through its court-based services, national helpline, online support services and university partnerships is warning more and more people face going through the court process without support as funding cuts force the closure of two services.
Support Through Court, a national charity helping people navigate civil and family courts without legal representation, said the withdrawal of £300,000 of Ministry of Justice (MoJ) funding has forced the closure of its services in Chelmsford and Southend.
The charity is call on the MoJ to reconsider the decision, arguing that the loss of support will affect not only court users but also place additional pressure on courts, judges and HMCTS staff at a time when increasing numbers of people are unable to access legal representation.
Last year, Support Through Court says it assisted people on 51,116 occasions. 50% of the cases they supported with were family cases.
The charity’s network of more than 1,500 volunteers helps people understand court procedures, complete forms, prepare statements and participate effectively in proceedings.
As a result the charity said 94% of those they helped said they better understood court procedures; 94% said they felt better prepared for court; and 93% reported feeling more confident after receiving support.
Emma Taylor, Chief Executive of Support Through Court, said: “Every day we support people facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Many are dealing with family breakdown, domestic abuse, housing problems, debt, disability or poor mental health while trying to navigate a complex court system without legal representation.
“People do not stop coming to court when support disappears. They simply face court alone.
“For more than two decades, the Ministry of Justice has recognised the importance of providing practical support to litigants in person. Together, we have helped hundreds of thousands of people participate more effectively in court proceedings.
Support Through Court said the £300,000 funding represented a “modest investment” within the wider justice system and delivers significant public value through a combination of volunteer effort, charitable fundraising, university partnerships and pro bono support.
It has written to senior members of the legal profession, volunteers and supporters to highlight the impact of the funding reduction and encourage support for efforts to secure a funding review. and is asking supporters to contact their MPs and ministers to explain the importance of maintaining support for people who would otherwise face court proceedings alone.
Lord Neuberger, Patron of Support Through Court and former President of the UK Supreme Court, said: “The pressure on people facing court without legal representation is considerable, and their understandable difficulty in appreciating the legal issues means that their cases take up disproportionate court time. Support Through Court gives such people practical support that enables them to understand and take a more effective part in proceedings.
“For a relatively modest investment, the charity supports tens of thousands of people each year and thereby also helps to improve the effective functioning of the courts.
“So, the inevitable reduction in such support caused by the short-sighted decision to cut the funding of Support Through Court will be felt by both litigants in person and by the justice system as a whole. I hope the Ministry of Justice will reconsider this decision and ensure that this valuable service can continue to be available to those who need it.”
