Thanks to the support of donors, the legal community and income from Pro Bono Costs Orders, we were able to invite national pro bono charities and legal advice organisations across the UK to apply to establish, increase or sustain pro bono provision.

This year, our pro bono grants round had a particular focus on supporting access to justice for disabled people. Census 2021 data revealed that the proportion of disabled people is 17.8% across England and Wales. However, 48% of all client issues recorded by our funded organisations comes from clients with disabilities. As the demand for legal advice increases, those living with disabilities remain more disadvantaged when seeking support in their legal matters. We know that disabled people face substantial barriers to accessing legal advice and these include navigating complex systems such as welfare benefits, mobility issues, living in a rural location and digital exclusion.