Affordable Justice, a national charitable legal service, is seeking donations to address rising demand in its domestic abuse legal services.
- The charity requires £205,000 to construct a two-storey extension at the Preston Road Women’s Centre in Hull.
- Established in 2016, Affordable Justice provides cost-effective legal services, particularly benefiting women affected by legal aid cuts.
- The organisation operates on a feminist framework, focusing on empowerment and self-determination for women.
- Expansion is crucial to accommodate both face-to-face and online consultations across the UK.
Affordable Justice, a prominent legal charity, is actively seeking donations amounting to £205,000. These funds are required to build a two-storey extension to its current office space at the Preston Road Women’s Centre in Hull. This expansion is necessitated by a significant increase in the demand for domestic abuse legal services, both locally in Hull and nationwide, facilitated through online consultations.
Founded in 2016, Affordable Justice has revolutionised access to legal services by eliminating the profit margins typically added by commercial legal firms. Consequently, they offer services at a fraction of the usual cost, making them accessible to women who have been disproportionately affected by the 2013 cuts to legal aid. The founder and director, Lisa Hilder, states, “The growth of Affordable Justice has demonstrated the inherent need across the UK for legal services based on our feminist framework.”
The partnership with Preston Road Women’s Centre, also known as The Purple House, is integral to this initiative. The Centre is renowned as a refuge for women suffering from domestic abuse, offering an array of facilities such as a charity shop, laundry services, and childcare, all designed to support women discreetly. As women become familiar with these amenities, they are given the opportunity to explore their legal options, bolstered by the feminist framework of Affordable Justice.
Lisa Hilder further explains that their work is woman-centric, driven by values of empowerment, self-determination, and sustainability. The organisation prioritises the needs and comfort of the women accessing their services, which has empowered numerous women to seek help. The shift to online consultations during the 2020 lockdowns has expanded their reach but also strained resources in Hull, necessitating this expansion.
Ann Clarkson, the Chief Executive of the Preston Road Women’s Centre, has secured planning permission for the extension. She states, “Affordable Justice has been a key part of the journey here at The Purple House.” The extension is seen as the next step in their growth, addressing ongoing needs stemming from domestic abuse, with an integrated model providing a vision of a hopeful future for affected women.
The expansion of Affordable Justice’s premises is a vital step forward in continuing to provide essential legal services to women in need across the UK.
