Our latest Annual Report
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Dear , 

We’re pleased to share our Annual Report for 2025-26 has now been published.  

In the last year, we have provided support on 51,116 occasions for people facing court without a lawyer. That’s over 51,000 moments of reassurance, clarity and calm, made possible through the continued dedication of our incredible volunteers and the generosity of our supporters. 

This year’s report highlights:  

  • Carrying out 3,718 support sessions through our online service – a 77% increase on last year 
  • The development of a new Theory of Change, setting out how our work makes a meaningful difference both for individuals and the wider justice system 
  • The launch of a new volunteer engagement plan that seeks to develop recruitment of volunteers, as well as recognise and appreciate our existing volunteers, ensuring the experience is positive for all those who deliver our work 
  • The strengthening of multi-year partnerships with universities, supporting student learning while expanding access to support for litigants in person nationwide 

This year’s report also reflects on our legacy and the lasting importance of this work as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. 

“I can't thank you enough for the support. I have been constantly worried by it all - it's overwhelming to cope with. Your kindness… good people are what keep my faith and me going. Your vital service is so appreciated.”  Client, Support Through Court Online

None of this would be possible without you. Whether you’ve donated, volunteered, partnered with us, or helped spread the word, thank you. Thanks to your support, we have been able to be there for people facing court alone not only this year but for the last quarter century. 

Read our Annual Report
 
Our latest blogs
Our longstanding volunteers

Some of our volunteers have been with us for many years, generously giving their time to help our clients access justice. Over the past few months, some of our longstanding volunteers have been sharing their stories, reflections, and what's kept them coming back to help our clients year after year. Each story offers insights into the impact volunteering can have not just on those we support, but on the volunteers themselves. 

Read their reflections
Janet and Annabelle's story

Janet described herself as an “emotional wreck” before her hearing.

Hear from two sides of our impact through Janet, our client in desperate need of our help ahead of her child arrangements hearing, and Annabelle, the student volunteer who sat with Janet, listened, and helped her find her voice before she walked into the courtroom.   

Read their story
 
Our 25th anniversary cake competition 

Our local service offices enjoyed holding celebrations for our 25th anniversary over the summer. As part of this, we held a competition amongst our volunteers for the best made Support Through Court 25th anniversary cake. Our trustees who sit on our service committee have the very difficult task of judging the cake competition, which will be announced in the coming weeks. Our staff and trustees have been so impressed at the effort that went into all the cakes entered – thank you to all our local service volunteers for showcasing their cake baking talents and for making this such a fun event for everyone who took part.

See all the cakes and celebrations
 
News from elsewhere

As we continue to support people facing court alone, we're aware things are constantly changing in the legal space. Here are some recent updates and publications that are reporting on the legal landscape our clients face.

Access to Justice Inquiry Report 

In July, the Justice Committee published its report on the Access to Justice Inquiry into Legal Aid. Echoing the evidence submitted by Support Through Court, the report concludes that restrictive eligibility thresholds have created a growing "justice gap", compounded by a shortage of civil legal aid providers across the country.

We are seeing this trend first-hand; in 2019-20, 32% of our clients sought help with civil matters, compared with 52% of clients last calendar year. The report warns that people falling within this "justice gap" are being denied access to justice and makes a number of important recommendations, including implementing the Means Test Review, increasing legal aid fees, developing a civil legal aid workforce strategy, and funding training schemes to strengthen the civil law sector. 

Read the full report
LexisNexis Legal Aid Research 

LexisNexis has published an in-depth report on legal aid deserts, mapping shortages in legal aid provision across family, housing and criminal law.

The report found that almost one in four people in England and Wales live in an area with limited access to legal aid, highlighting the growing gap between legal need and the availability of support.

This reflects a challenge we see across the justice system: increasing numbers of people are having to navigate complex legal issues without access to legal representation. 

Read their findings
Nuffield Foundation Report 

A recent Nuffield Foundation review of research on “People’s experiences and views of the justice system” found consistent evidence that many users’ information, assistance and emotional support needs are not being met. It highlights how people often struggle to understand court processes, find reliable sources of help, and know what to expect from the system.

The report also draws attention to the particularly difficult experiences for certain people, such as survivors of domestic abuse.  The findings closely reflect the experiences shared by many of our clients, who frequently describe feeling overwhelmed and confused when navigating legal proceedings. 

Read the full report
 
Our valued supporters 

We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support from our partners and community. 

Thank you to 36 Group and 4PB for renewing their pledges as Corporate Guardians and to Matthew Lavy KC for renewing as an Individual Guardian. Your partnership plays a vital role in sustaining and growing our work. 

Also, a huge thank you to David Robertson, for selecting us as the charity partner at the Music in Offices summer concert. We are incredibly grateful for the event raising over £500 in support of our work, and for inviting us along to a enjoy a wonderful evening of music. 

If you're interested in fundraising and event opportunities with us, you can find out more on our website or get in touch with Emma Rushworth.

 
Thank you

We hope you enjoy reading our Annual Report. Alongside our impact statistics, you can read inspiring client stories, including Farah's. With ongoing support from Support Through Court, Farah is navigating her court case as she works to secure a stable future and financial security for her children. 

“[Support Through Court] volunteers are brilliant. Helena helped me from the very start. She does an amazing job. I’ve become less confused and much better informed.” Farah 

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. We have many exciting events planned for the remainder of our 25th anniversary year, as well as the launch of our new strategy coming up in December.

We look forward to sharing more information soon, and please don't hesitate to get in touch in the meantime. We would love to hear from you. 

Best wishes, 

Emma Taylor, 

CEO 

 
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