Nigel’s story

Hear from Nigel, a volunteer at our service based in London’s Central Family Court.

I first heard about Support Through Court (or rather, PSU, as it was called in those days) back in 2017. I was a sitting family magistrate, and I was seeing litigants in person coming into court with a volunteer. The volunteer was always very helpful to the client and the court.

I was approaching the compulsory retirement age for magistrates. One day a former fellow magistrate came into my court as a PSU volunteer. I knew her and I decided to ask her about PSU. So, at the end of the case, I told her that I would like her to stay behind as her client left. I asked her about PSU and she explained it all in friendly, but relieved tones, as she thought I was going to tell her off for doing something wrong! It sounded like a good project if I wanted to continue to be involved in family court cases.

On another occasion, the same former magistrate was in my court with a litigant in person and the other party was also unrepresented. They edged towards an agreement but didn’t know quite where the common ground was. I knew the PSU volunteer would know what to do. So, I asked the parties to go out of the court, and to see if this volunteer could help both of them. Some 10 minutes later she told me that the parties had reached an agreement. For me, this really showed how good PSU volunteers were.

So, on my retirement as a family magistrate, I volunteered to work in CFC in High Holborn in London. I started in 2018 and have thoroughly enjoyed myself ever since. It is rewarding for me for several reasons. First, I am able to use my knowledge of the family court system, as it relates to children, and help clients understand the way the courts work. Secondly, I can use my past working life for knowledge and experience. Thirdly, I can use my life’s experiences, of working for my family, of family life, of family problems and challenges, and of schools.

This work is intensely rewarding, and it is very enjoyable being with colleagues at Support Through Court who have the same passion.

This work is intensely rewarding, and it is very enjoyable being with colleagues at Support Through Court who have the same passion. Indeed, for me at the CFC, I always think of the children involved in any case. We know that we only hear one side of a dispute, and we don’t know where the real true position lies, but children often lie at the heart of the conversations being had. They need our help, even though we rarely meet them.

Nigel Wildish

18 September 2025