The Access to Justice Foundation was set up by the legal profession. We are the only national charity solely focused on funding and supporting access to justice. The Foundation give grants to advice agencies across the country that provide legal advice on a range of issues.
To increase funding for the advice and pro bono sectors to ensure we meet the needs of our beneficiaries, to include local and regional fundraising.
To build on the effectiveness of grant making to both local and national organisations within the sector.
To support the sector by providing leadership and encouraging collaboration.
We raise funds and distribute them strategically to those advice agencies who can make the most difference to the lives of vulnerable people.
We fund Law Centres, local citizens’ advice, independent advice agencies, pro bono projects and national charities, which help to facilitate access to justice.
To ensure help reaches those most in need we work in partnership with committees across the regions of England, in Wales and in Scotland. We also work to support the sector in other ways, consulting with sector organisations around what we can most usefully do to support them. This includes exploring new and better ways for the sector to collaborate and to increase the effectiveness of the sector, working closely with other advice funders and working closely with other partners
In 2018, the Access to Justice Foundation distributed a total of £2,080,182 in grants to support free legal help for those in need. The organisations we support work tirelessly to help the most vulnerable in society. Some examples of the work we fund are:
Over the past ten years we have made over 300 grants worth over £7m, providing advice to tens of thousands of people.
The Foundation’s most recent grants round had 100 applications, out of which we will only be able to support around 10% due to the funds that are available.
"We were immensely grateful to receive a grant from the Foundation. It helped us keep vital services open. We were able to develop more sustainable sources of funding, and we're now looking at expanding our services. "
Amira* was let go by her employer at a difficult time in her life. “I underwent surgery and was then unable to do the full range of tasks required of me at work. My employment was terminated on grounds of capability. Southwark Law Centre gave me clear advice, dealt with my employer’s lawyers on my behalf and represented me in person. They helped me obtain a settlement. I would not have been able to do it without them and I am extremely grateful to the Access to Justice Foundation for funding my representation.
Sally* suffered from sexual harassment at the hands of a colleague. Despite filing a complaint, her employer refused to take action against the perpetrator, leading Sally to resign from her post rather than work with her harasser. Feeling powerless, she contacted her local Law Centre, who assisted her in preparing the documentation and represented her in court, where she was awarded compensation. Sally would have not taken her employer to court without free legal representation from the centre, and would have thus never seen the injustice she suffered being redressed.
Tariq*, an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, and his family had been threatened with eviction from the hostel they were staying in by the Home Office. A local immigration charity averted this fate, by lodging an appeal on the family’s behalf and ensuring they were represented in the tribunal. Without the advocacy and representation provided, this family would now be street homeless. Tariq wrote to his advisor: “Without you, they would not listen. Thank you for your help. I do not know what will happen to us tomorrow, but – just because of you – they have listened today.”
Sarah* is a single mum with a disabled 8-year-old son who has a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy and needs support. When her application for PIP was rejected, she had nowhere to turn “I felt I’d come to the end of the road. We were lucky to find out about North Bristol Advice Centre. We were there 15 minutes and got the maximum award from zero. I really feel sorry for people who haven’t got access to support.”
* Real names not used
A national partnership working together to improve the experience of people facing the legal process alone by improving access to information, practical support, advice and representation.
The Access to Justice Foundation is a company limited by guarantee (No. 6714178) and a Registered Charity in England and Wales (No. 1126147) and Scotland (No. SC048584). Registered office: 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1AG.
