It’s getting closer and closer to this year’s London Legal Walk. The great news is that there are 800 teams registered, with a whooping 8000 walkers! London Legal Support Trust are on course for their biggest year yet and the excitement is building.
On June 13th, teams of legal professionals, in their thousands, will be hitting the pavement to support free legal advice agencies in London and the South East.
With the need for advice and specialist legal support rising, the fundraising from this event is vital.
Latest stats from Trust for London show:
- 27% of Londoners are living in poverty, after housing costs
- 39% of Londoners living in non-white households are living in poverty, after housing costs
- 53% of single parents in London are living in poverty, after housing costs.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. London Legal Support Trust and advice agencies are reporting increased levels of homelessness, debt, discrimination, mental health issues, unemployment and family issues; all of which are impacting households in London and the South East, and beyond.
The London Legal Walk is in its 19th year and every step counts. The money raised will provide crucial support to those in need and help sustain the advice centres, who are working harder than ever. 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! If you can’t attend the Walk, you can also make a donation in support of the fundraising efforts of others. Just head over to the London Legal Support Trust site or if you know a team taking part, you can donate via their fundraising page. All the money raised will go directly to support advice agencies’ work.
Catherine Bailey, Managing Director, Bar Marketing , says: “Bar Marketing supports the London Legal Walk and the advice centres it funds to give access to justice for everyone. That’s why we promote London Legal Support Trust’s biggest annual fundraiser (and other events!) in our free monthly marketing-tips newsletters. We’re delighted that so many chambers have already signed up to walk on 13th June and look forward to seeing many more joining in by registering to take part too. Fingers crossed, this year’s walk will raise the most funds to date.”
A view from one of our centres of excellence front line staff: “We are finding the cases we deal with and more complex and multifaceted. We are also finding that there are more complaints from distressed people who cannot get help.”
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.
