Culturally responsive legal advice saves lives

Our funded partners are showing what this looks like in practice with trust-based approaches.

Understanding a community’s needs starts with being part of it. Funded partners reach people where they already are, whether that’s through outreach in rural areas, drop-ins at foodbanks and community hubs, or legal advice that is integrated into healthcare settings. Our learning shows that tailored community engagement can make a real difference. By understanding where people face the greatest barriers, organisations can build services that are accessible, relevant and trusted.

For some funded partners, this means creating dedicated roles focused on understanding barriers to access and redesigning support around trust and early intervention. At IKWRO Women’s Rights Organisation, the Helpline Advisor provides frontline support to people affected by domestic abuse, female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage, child marriage and other harmful practices. Through empathetic, trauma-informed and culturally responsive support, they help people navigate complex situations safely. For survivors, having someone who can build trust, understand their circumstances and assess risk effectively can be life changing.

Partnerships also play a crucial role. Often, the best way to reach communities furthest from legal advice is through organisations that already have trusted relationships and deep roots within those communities. 

Trust sits at the heart of effective support. Understanding the full picture of somebody’s circumstances and connecting them with the help they need depends on people feeling safe, heard and understood. 

These examples show that legal advice does not exist in isolation. The most effective services take a person-centred approach, supporting people through the wider challenges they face as they navigate the justice system. When organisations are rooted in their communities, they are better placed to build trust, understand needs and provide support that lasts.

Our multi-year core funding gives community-rooted organisations the stability to listen to their communities, respond to changing needs and strengthen access to justice over the long term.

Community-led organisations are already doing the vital work. Our funding helps them sustain, strengthen and grow that impact so more people can access the advice they need. 

This is what long-term, core funding makes possible: trusted organisations responding to bespoke needs, removing barriers to justice and creating services that work for the communities they serve.