Who and how we help
Reaching Justice Wales is a local arm of the Access to Justice Foundation, the only national charity with a focus on funding and supporting access to justice across the UK. The way in which the Foundation helps accomplish this goal is by raising funds through events and distributing grants to charities that provide free legal advice and or representation for the community.
We raise funds and distribute them strategically to those advice agencies that can make the most difference to the lives of vulnerable people.
We fund Law Centres, local citizens’ advice, independent advice agencies, pro bono projects and national charities, which help to facilitate access to justice
Our current objectives are to:
- Increase funding for the advice and pro bono sectors
- To build on the effectiveness of grant making on both a local and national scale
- To support the sector by providing leadership and encouraging collaboration
The Community Justice Fund
In 2021, the Foundation will be making the majority of its grants through the Community Justice Fund, a joint initiative created to support specialist social welfare legal advice organisations with the impact of COVID-19.
The Community Justice Fund is made up of contributions from a range of sources, including funds from independent foundations and donors.
Here listed are organisations we have awarded the Community Justice Fund Grant across Wales, supporting their vital work in providing access to justice for all.
We raise funds and distribute them strategically to those advice agencies that can make the most difference to the lives of vulnerable people.
We fund Law Centres, local citizens’ advice, independent advice agencies, pro bono projects and national charities, which help to facilitate access to justice
Our current objectives are to:
- Increase funding for the advice and pro bono sectors
- To build on the effectiveness of grant making on both a local and national scale
- To support the sector by providing leadership and encouraging collaboration
The Community Justice Fund
In 2021, the Foundation will be making the majority of its grants through the Community Justice Fund, a joint initiative created to support specialist social welfare legal advice organisations with the impact of COVID-19.
The Community Justice Fund is made up of contributions from a range of sources, including funds from independent foundations and donors.
Here listed are organisations we have awarded the Community Justice Fund Grant across Wales, supporting their vital work in providing access to justice for all.
Asylum Justice
Grant awarded: £73, 000
Location: Cardiff
Asylum Justice is the only charitable organisation in Wales, offering free legal advice and representation to asylum seekers. These may include recognised refugees and other vulnerable migrants, such as women previously trafficked to the UK or who are victims of domestic violence. Asylum Justice expect to see increased demand from NRPF (no recourse to public funds) clients, acutely affected by the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequently by the termination of exceptional support under public health measures. This grant will help Asylum Justice meet the increasing demand from this group at risk of destitution by expanding capacity and partnership working, as well as covering the additional costs of remote working.
Oasis Cardiff
Grant awarded: £25, 000
Location: Cardiff
Oasis Cardiff supports refugees and asylum seekers in Cardiff as they navigate integrating into life in the UK. Oasis Cardiff provide one to one support on a wide range of issues including access to healthcare, education, employment as well as assisting with legal advice regarding asylum claims and immigration. Their integration team works with marginalised clients and with the local community to offer support and general advice. They also have one OISC registered staff member solely dedicated to providing legal advice. This grants will help Oasis Cardiff to cope with increased demand by recruiting two additional staff members.
Shelter Cymru
Grant awarded: £83, 881
Location: Swansea
Shelter Cymru provides independent specialist advice, advocacy and legal representation for anyone with housing problems. Last year, their advisers provided face-to-face help for nearly 16,000 people from all over Wales, helping to prevent homelessness in 86 per cent of cases where it was threatened. The grant will help to mitigate loss of income since 1st April and keep services at full capacity so people in Wales have access to specialist housing advice and legal representation and cope with the expected increase in demand due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Riverside Advice
Grant awarded: £80, 820
Location: Cardiff
Riverside Advice offers free specialist advice in welfare benefits, debt and housing and specialise in helping people experiencing mental health difficulties, those who receive assistance from a support worker or organisation, and people with MS. The grant will help Riverside Advice to increase specialist casework for vulnerable people meeting a surge in demand; retain expert staff whilst some funding is temporarily reduced; and give greater capacity for safety and social distancing in the work premises to prepare for a staged move back to face-to-face casework.
Denbighshire Citizens Advice
Grant awarded: £44, 200
Location: Denbighshire
Denbighshire Citizens Advice provides free, confidential and impartial advice and campaign on big issues affecting people’s lives. The organisation is an independent charity and part of the Citizens Advice network across England and Wales. Denbighshire CAB anticipates demand for employment advice at levels necessitating considerable investment to meet community demand. The Community Justice Fund grant will help them to recruit and employ one full time employment adviser per county.
Speakeasy Law Centre
Grant awarded: £4, 200
Location: Cardiff
Speakeasy Law Centre provides free legal advice across Cardiff & the Vale of Glamorgan, tackling social welfare issues including welfare benefits, debt, housing and employment law. Speakeasy employs practising and trainee solicitors to deliver high quality advice in the Cardiff area for the last 25 years, helping thousands of families and individuals to seek justice. The Community Justice grant will help this Law Centre to secure direct financial benefit to their clients leading to improved health and reduced likelihood of future problems.
