Local Law Centres

As many of you know (because I won’t stop talking about it), I’m currently in my second week of jury duty at the Old Bailey. With Tithe often being themed around current affairs, it feels only right that this month’s charity is a legal one.

Doing some digging, I learnt that the UK’s legal charity sector is uniquely top-heavy, with just 1% of charities receiving roughly 75% of all income. This leaves local Law Centres, arguably the backbone of our justice system, chronically underfunded. These independent, not-for-profit legal practices provide essential free representation to over 120,000 people annually, employing fully qualified solicitors to defend those who cannot afford help with housing, debt, and employment rights.

To many, they act as a vital safety net in areas where private firms no longer operate, ensuring that the most vulnerable members of society are not left to navigate complex court systems alone.

The impact of Law Centres is both human and systemic, offering a remarkable multiplier effect where every £1 invested generates approximately £10 in social value by preventing homelessness, unemployment, and health crises.

Beyond individual cases, the Law Centres Network leads national advocacy and strategic litigation to protect the legal rights of the UK's poorest communities, ensuring that systemic injustices are challenged at the highest levels. By supporting the network, we are helping to maintain a nationwide infrastructure that shares resources, data, and expertise to keep these small, local centres resilient against ongoing funding cuts.

Our donation of £500 helps the Law Centres Network provide the critical support, shared data frameworks, and recruitment initiatives needed to sustain these independent hubs. This funding ensures that lawyers can continue to provide "law from the ground up," securing life-changing outcomes for families who might otherwise face eviction or the loss of essential benefits. You can read more about their work, their recent court interventions, and the individual centres they support across the country here.