It has been an eventful couple of weeks here at the Yorkshire Legal Support Trust, especially now that the Legal Walk season is in full swing!! We’ve had great fun traveling across Yorkshire meeting all the fabulous walkers fundraising for a great cause. So far we’ve had a great turn out at the events in York and Sheffield. All together over 111 people have come out after work to walk 10k in their city, rain or shine. We want to say a huge thank you to all of you who have got involved so far and raised money to support free legal advice in your local area! And not forgetting our brilliant sponsors and lead walkers all of whom have simply been incredible in helping make these events a success!

Our next stop for the YLST Legal Walks will be Leeds on the 12th June. We are thrilled to be visiting Leeds and look forward to meeting all the walkers and raising more funds which will be used to help individuals who would otherwise be unable to access vital legal advice. To find out more information or sign up a team visit our website at www.ylst.org.uk/our-events

Exciting news here at the Yorkshire Legal Support Trust! We are holding our next Legal Walk in York on Tuesday 2nd May and with exactly 5 weeks to go before the big day(or evening, I should say) there is still plenty of time to come together with your colleagues or friends and get involved for a great cause. 

Starting at 5.30pm from York Crown Court, the 10k route can be walked at your own pace! Upon completion of the route there will be the opportunity to all come together and have some well deserved refreshments. Additionally, we are holding a photography challenge during the walk so please remember to take some photographs and share them with us afterwards @YorkshireLST using #legalwalk.
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We are fundraising because a reduction in Government and Local Authority spending has impacted the most vulnerable people in our communities, preventing access to legal advice for those who desperately need it.  Our fundraising events such as the York Legal Walk and the recent Great Legal Bake, are of vital importance to support continued provision of services and overcome the damaging impacts of funding cuts. Help us help those who need legal advice, walk with us in York on 2nd May!

Talking of baking, our recent Legal Bake fundraiser held during February was a great success! Raising an incredible £33,000 across all Support Trusts in the UK. The money raised in each area will be used to keep legal advice free and available to all.

We are always looking for more teams to get involved, if you enjoy walking and supporting great causes then this is for you! If you haven’t signed up yet, not to worry, follow the link and enter a team today! Together we can support local legal advice agencies.  --> www.ylst.org.uk/york-legal-walk 

The Great Legal Bake is on its way!

The Great Legal Bake cannot come fast enough and as the days speed by the numbers of bakers continues to grow! We now have 75 bakers committed to getting their scales out to support local advice agencies in their mission to ensure access to justice for all.

Last year we had 77 bakers get involved, and we’re already hoping to beat that number this year. After raising over £20,000 last year let’s all get our whisks at the ready to raise even more in 2017!

The Yorkshire Legal Support Trust is doing great so far with Zenith Chambers and Mills & Reeve just signing up to join many others to make this Great Legal Bake the best one so far. You can see who’s already signed up here.

We’re very excited to start baking and hope you will all join us! 

​Not long now - we're excited for the Yorkshire Legal Support Trust Great Legal Bake!
 
​We are really excited about the Great Legal Bake coming up in just over one month from February 20th-24th. We already have 50 teams organised so far, all ready to bake and raise funds to support access to advice for all. Last year, we raised over £20,000 in baking efforts, and are looking forward to surpass that amount in baking extravaganzas this year. 
 
The Yorkshire Legal Support Trust was established to support the provision of free legal advice in Yorkshire and the Great Legal Bake is an important part of our fundraising activities. The organisations we support make a huge difference in the lives of many people. The recent cuts to legal aid and reduced household income for many working families has increased demand for free access to specialist legal advice and it is more important than ever that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community have access to such support. For example, the trust has supported projects such as the Public Law Project which included gaining "exceptional funding" necessary to prevent breaches of fundamental rights.  
 
During the week, there will be bakes across the country at various firms and organisations. This is an opportunity for lawyers to showcase their inner Mary Berry’s and show off their baking talents in support for a great legal cause. Cupcakes, cookies and cakes at work (savoury and sweet) - what’s not to love!
 
We would like to get as many people involved as possible, so gather your co-workers, friends and family to get involved in the baking to raise vital funds for legal advice agencies!

As part of National Pro Bono Week, over 70 organisations signed themselves up for the biggest quiz of the year. Yorkshire Legal Support Trust teams tested their knowledge of everything from films to the Olympics to raise funds in support of access to justice in Yorkshire.
 
A big thanks to teams from Bond Dickinson (Leeds), Harrowells, Leeds Beckett University Junior Barristers Society, University of Bradford Law Society, University of Huddersfield Legal Advice Clinic, University of York, Young Legal Aid Lawyers Sheffield and Zenith Chambers.
 
Topping the fundraising leader board in Yorkshire so far are the fabulous Harrowells who raised an amazing £160.00! However, funds are still coming in and we’re confident that this will be the most successful Great Legal Quiz yet!
 
All teams did a great job in raising money, and we are very grateful to everyone for pulling out all the stops to raise as much money as possible to support access to justice in Yorkshire.
 
The charities supported by The Great Legal Quiz help thousands of people every year gain access to justice. These charities are often the last resort for people facing difficult and distressing legal circumstances but without the resources to pay for private legal advice. Without this charitable work many vulnerable people would be left alone to navigate the court and justice system without any advice or support.
 
The national winners will be announced very shortly – watch this space!

​It is time to warm up those brains as the Great Legal Quiz is fast approaching. If you would like to take part, there is still time for you to join us by registering here.

We currently have 7 teams signed up in Yorkshire, all raising vital funds to support access to advice for all. 
 
The Quiz is completely self-run: we supply the questions and advertisement posters. Advice organisations can use the Great Legal Quiz to fundraise completely for their own organisation or if you are not an advice organisation then you can split the funds 50/50 between the YLST and a charity of your choice. All you need to do is sign up and prepare to get quizzed!

The charities supported by the Great Legal Quiz help thousands of people every year gain proper access to justice. These charities are often the last resort for people facing difficult and distressing legal circumstances but without resources to pay for private legal advice. Without this charitable work, many vulnerable people would be left alone to navigate the court and justice system without any advice or support. 

We are very excited for Wednesday and we hope that you all are too! But please keep spreading the word and get as many people involved as possible, the questions will not be law-focused so anyone with any general knowledge is invited to participate.

​We are so grateful to everyone taking part, the event would not be possible without your contribution.

​We are really excited about the Great Legal Quiz coming up in just over one month on Wednesday 9 November. We already have 30 teams signed up for the self-run, nationwide quiz, all ready to raise funds to support access to advice for all as part of National Pro Bono Week. We will supply the questions, and posters for you to use to advertise your quiz night wherever you want; in a local pub, your office, the charity where you volunteer, or just at home- all you need to do is sign up!
 
If you were hoping to take part on behalf of a charity, you also have the option to use the Great Legal Quiz to fundraise 100% for the charity of your choice, or split the funds you raise 50% with the Yorkshire Legal Support Trust!
 
The Yorkshire Legal Support Trust was established to support the provision of free legal advice in Yorkshire (North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and South Yorkshire) and the Great Legal Quiz is an important part of our fundraising activities. The organisations we support make a huge difference to the lives of many people, supporting the most vulnerable by providing funds to local organisations such as Sheffield PSU and Leeds Citizens Advice. Since the recent cuts to legal aid have come into force, the number of Law Centres has decreased by 20%, and reduced household income for many working families has increased demand for free access to specialist legal advice. It is more important than ever that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community have access to such support.
 
We would like to get as many people involved as possible, so gather your co-workers, friends and family (you don’t need a legal brain to participate) to join us for an evening of quizzing and fun while raising vital funds for legal advice agencies!

It was a fantastic day on Monday 13 June for 204 members of the legal profession who embarked on a 10 km challenge and raised funds to support access to justice in Leeds. The route took in the lovely sights the city has to offer, including the less well known parts of the city, and the weather was bright and breezy, a perfect spring day to walk and raise money for a vital cause.
 
We had a grand total of 22 teams signed up with the biggest teams on the day coming from Squire Patton Boggs and Leeds PSU!
 
A big congratulations goes out to Leeds PSU, who topped the fundraising table having raised over £800! This is a huge achievement and we are very grateful to our team who pulled out all the stops to raise as much money as possible to support access to justice.
 
We were joined by five charities, BPP University Pro Bono Centre, Citizens Advice Leeds, Leeds PSU, Manuel Bravo Project, and the University of Huddersfield Legal Advice Clinic. Charities like these are often the last resort for people facing difficult and distressing legal circumstances and find themselves unable to pay for private legal advice. The funds raised by the Leeds Legal Walk, and the YLST as a whole, will go to support these charities and more, throughout the region helping thousands of people every year navigate the complicated legal system.
 
This event ended with a welcoming finish line reception. It was a perfect end to a great walk and the drinks were very well received by our thirsty walkers.
 
The walk has broken all previous records, raising just under £5,400 so far. Without your contribution the Leeds Legal Walk and the work of the YLST would not be possible.

It was a fantastic day on Monday 23 May for 75 members of the legal profession who embarked on a 10 km challenge and raised funds to support access to justice in Sheffield. The route took in the lovely sights the city has to offer, including the less well known parts of the city, and the weather was bright and breezy, a perfect spring day to walk and raise money for a vital cause.
 
We had a grand total of 10 teams signed up with the biggest teams on the day coming from Helena Kennedy Centre and Irwin Mitchell!
 
A big congratulations goes out to Irwin Mitchell, who topped the fundraising table having raised over £460! This is a huge achievement and we are very grateful to our team who pulled out all the stops to raise as much money as possible to support access to justice.
 
We were joined by a charity, the Helena Kennedy Centre. Charities like this one are often the last resort for people facing difficult and distressing legal circumstances and find themselves unable to pay for private legal advice. The funds raised by the Sheffield Legal Walk, and the YLST as a whole, will go to support these charities and more, throughout the region helping thousands of people every year navigate the complicated legal system.
 
This event ended with a welcoming finish line reception. It was a perfect end to a great walk and the drinks were very well received by our thirsty walkers.
 
The walk has broken all previous records, raising just under £2,000 so far. Without your contribution the Sheffield Legal Walk and the work of the YLST would not be possible.

It was an exciting day on Monday 25 May for 60 members of the legal profession who embarked on a 10 km challenge and raised funds to support access to justice in York. The route took in the lovely sights the city has to offer, and despite the weather being hailing and rainy, it did not stop our walkers from participating with smiles on their faces and raising for a vital cause!
 
We had a grand total of 11 teams signed up with the biggest teams on the day coming from York JLD and Pryers Solicitors!
 
A big congratulations goes out to Harrowells, who topped the fundraising table having raised over £615! This is a huge achievement and we are very grateful to our team who pulled out all the stops to raise as much money as possible to support access to justice.
 
We were joined by a charity, Welfare Benefits Unit. This charity, and others are often the last resort for people facing difficult and distressing legal circumstances and find themselves unable to pay for private legal advice. The funds raised by the York Legal Walk, and the YLST as a whole, will go to support these charities and more, throughout the region helping thousands of people every year navigate the complicated legal system.
 
This event was supported by York JLD and the Yorksire Law Society who sponsored the welcoming finish line reception. It was a perfect end to a great walk and the drinks were very well received by our thirsty walkers.
 
This legal walk was the first of its kind in York raising over £2,400 so far. This is a fantastic achievement and we strive to beat this next year. Without your contribution the York Legal Walk and the work of the YLST would not be possible.
 
Please continue to fundraise and ensure that we can help more vital services than ever before.