Get ready to step up for a good cause! On June 13th, more than 10,000 walkers will be hitting the pavement for the biggest London Legal Walk yet! This annual event, organised by the London Legal Support Trust (LLST) in its 19th year, is on track to have more teams and walkers than ever before.
This sponsored walk spans 10km through London, all in the name of fundraising to support free legal advice agencies in London and the South East. This year’s goal is to raise a whopping one million pounds, which will provide a much-needed injection of funding for a sector that is struggling to keep up with demand.
The pandemic has hit the legal advice sector hard, exacerbating existing funding gaps and increasing demand for services by up to 48% in some cases. A report by the Community Justice Fund (2023) highlights that the funding gap for the sector has doubled from £15m to £30m in the last year alone.
This year’s London Legal Walk is more important than ever, and every step counts. The money raised will be used to sustain free specialist legal advice agencies and charities, providing crucial support to those in need. It’s a unique opportunity to come together as a community and make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
So, grab your walking shoes and join us on June 13th for an evening of fundraising and fun! Whether you’re walking as part of a team or as an individual, your participation and support are invaluable. Let’s make this year’s London Legal Walk the biggest and most successful yet!
Law Society of England and Wales President – Lubna Shuja, says: “I am thrilled to be taking part in the London Legal Walk on 13 June with many others from the legal profession to help raise funds for free legal advice charities. The legal help these charities provide to those in need is more important than ever given the cost-of-living crisis. I encourage everyone who can to join the walk and help raise as much money as possible for access to justice.”
A view from one of our centres of excellence front line staff: “The cost-of-living crisis has had a significant impact on our clients. Many of our clients have no recourse to public funds or are on a very low income, and the cost-of-living crisis is adding significantly to the challenges these families already face. We continue to receive very high levels of referrals that outstrip our capacity significantly.”
Who can take part?
The Walk attracts a range of people, from advice agency staff, to lawyers, to law students, to high-ranking judiciary. On the Walk, everyone walks side by side and the camaraderie of the event is unmatched.
Where do the funds go?
With the rising cost-of-living and funding cuts, the funds raised by the Walk will be even more vital for securing the future of free legal advice agencies and the communities they serve. Many people are facing serious issues and are in desperate need of free specialist legal advice. Debt, homelessness, unemployment and domestic violence are all contributing to the hardship faced by many. We know accessing justice makes a difference to people’s lives – for example, LLST’s 38 Centres of Excellence alone helped 187,101 people last year.
