Janet* came to Support Through Court ahead of a child arrangements hearing. She was required to attend court against her late daughter’s former boyfriend and was particularly distressed at the thought of seeing him for the first time in several years. With limited family support around her, the prospect of attending court alone felt overwhelming. 

When Annabelle*, one of our student volunteers, first met Janet, she was visibly upset and described herself as an “emotional wreck.” Janet was worried that her nerves would prevent her from speaking clearly in front of the judge. 

Before entering the courtroom, Annabelle focused on providing emotional reassurance to Janet. She listened carefully to Janet’s concerns, helped her organise her thoughts, and encouraged her to slow her breathing. She reminded Janet that it was okay to feel nervous and that the court process was there to hear her voice. 

During the hearing, the other party did not attend, allowing the judge to make a swift decision in Janet’s favour. Although the outcome was positive, what stood out most was Janet’s response afterwards. She expressed sincere gratitude for Support Through Court, saying that having someone beside her had made a huge difference to how she coped with the experience. 

The support Annabelle gave Janet cost just £32. For that, Janet didn’t have to face court alone and a family’s future changed. Your donation today means we can be there for the next Janet, and the one after that. 

What it meant for Annabelle

For Annabelle, the experience was equally significant. She reflected that before starting her volunteer placement, she had not fully anticipated the seriousness of the situations clients would face. Annabelle found that simply being present, calm, and reassuring can help someone navigate one of the most stressful moments of their life. 

Supporting Janet helped her develop confidence, communication skills, and professionalism under pressure. Through conducting client interviews and attending hearings, Annabelle gained practical insight into how the law operates in real life, particularly in family cases, which she found especially rewarding.

Annabelle is one of our many student volunteers bringing our service to more people across England and Wales. Your support helps us to build these partnerships, giving more clients someone to stand beside them and giving more students like Annabelle the experience that shapes the legal professionals they’ll become.  

“Overall, this experience has been incredibly rewarding and eye-opening. I believe it was an invaluable addition to my course, deepening both my personal skills and understanding of the legal system.” 

Janet and Annabelle’s story is one of thousands that happens in our services across England and Wales every year. Behind every case is a person who deserves to be heard and with your support, we can make sure they don’t have to face it alone. 

*Client and volunteer names changed