London Legal Support Trust

Charity Number: 1101906

Annual Expenditure: £3.4M
Throughout London, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey, West Sussex

Contact Info

Website: www.londonlegalsupporttrust.org.uk

Phone: 020 7092 3972

Email: ceo@llst.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3,557,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by programme
  • Grant Range: £5,000 (Small Grants) - Unrestricted core funding (Centres of Excellence)
  • Geographic Focus: London and South East England

Contact Details

Website: www.londonlegalsupporttrust.org.uk

Email: ceo@llst.org.uk

Phone: 020 7092 3972

For grant enquiries, organizations can sign up for LLST's advice sector newsletter to stay informed about funding opportunities.

Overview

Founded in 2003 by Bob Nightingale MBE (former Chair of Law Centres Network), the London Legal Support Trust is an independent charity that raises funds for free legal advice services across London and the South East. Registered as a charity in 2004 (Charity Number: 1101906), LLST distributed £3,557,000 in funding to over 100 advice agencies in 2024. The organization's mission is to increase access to justice through grant funding, sector infrastructure support, and helping agencies reduce costs via pro bono or discounted schemes as part of their “Grants Plus” commitment. LLST has celebrated significant milestones in recent years, with the 2024 London Legal Walk marking their 20th anniversary by raising over £1 million for the first time ever, with 18,000 walkers participating. The organization is committed to IVAR's Flexible Funders approach and publishes grant data transparently through the 360Giving Data Standard.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Centres of Excellence (COEx) Programme

  • Status: Currently closed to new applications; undergoing full review
  • Expected reopening: 2026
  • Current support: 42 funded partners
  • Description: Provides capacity building support and unrestricted core funding for charitable organizations working in the free social welfare legal advice sector. Developed in 2014 in response to Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) changes and legal aid funding reductions.
  • Funding partners: City Bridge Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, and LLST events including London Legal Walk
  • Application method: Fixed programme (when open); involves independent diagnostic assessment

Small Grants Programme

  • Status: Applications currently closed
  • Typical grant amount: £5,000
  • Description: Partnership with Greater London Authority providing funding for capital improvements including security measures (cameras, doors, alarms), IT equipment and systems to increase cyber security, and equipment to support better working conditions and client experience
  • Application method: Rolling basis (when open)

Workforce Development Programme

  • Delivered through: Propel initiative
  • Funding: £3.8 million allocated to 8 partnerships (£4.15 million with match funding)
  • Description: Addresses the workforce crisis in the advice sector through collaborative funding with Trust for London, City Bridge Trust, National Lottery Community Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and Legal Education Foundation

Sector Support Projects

  • Example: The Billing Project (funded with Legal Education Foundation) helps advice agencies improve billing processes and increase income. The fourth iteration (2024-2025) involves three London-based agencies, with previous projects generating £443,214 (2020-2022) and £759,333 (2022-2023) in income for participating agencies.

Priority Areas

Organizations must be able to answer “YES” to all three questions:

  1. Do you provide free, specialist legal advice?
  2. Is the advice for people who cannot afford to pay?
  3. Are some or all of the people helped based in London or the Home Counties?

Specific client groups supported include:

  • Homeless individuals
  • Victims of domestic abuse
  • Elderly people
  • Refugees and migrants
  • Pregnant women
  • Other vulnerable populations facing legal challenges

Legal areas of focus:

  • Social welfare law
  • Housing
  • Employment
  • Immigration
  • Benefits and welfare rights
  • Other specialist legal advice areas

What They Don't Fund

  • Non-charitable activities
  • General advice (only specialist legal advice)
  • Organizations operating outside London and the Home Counties
  • Services that charge fees to clients

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Richard Dyton, Emma Turnbull, Graham Huntley, Joy Julien, Marc Sosnow, Amanda Illing, Rodger Pressland, Alistair Woodland, James Harper, Sarah McKeown, Conchita Anastasi, Sophie Hay

Senior Leadership Team

Nezahat Cihan - Chief Executive

Working in free advice provision for around 20 years, Cihan manages grant-making processes and organizational development programs for the free legal advice sector.

Bob Nightingale MBE - Head of Engagement & Relationships

Founder of LLST (2003) and the London Legal Walk (2005). Former CEO of South West London Law Centres and former Chair of Law Centres Network. Awarded MBE in 2000 for services to access to justice. Over 35 years' experience in running free legal advice centers.

Rosa Coleman - Head of Sector Support & Grants

Philippa Hicks - Head of Events & Fundraising

Scott Hendrick - Head of Operations

Patrons

  • The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill – President
  • The Rt. Hon the Baroness Hale of Richmond
  • The Rt. Hon. Lord Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony
  • The Rt. Hon. Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
  • The Rt. Hon Sir Charles Haddon-Cave

Key Quotes from Leadership

Nezahat Cihan, CEO, on access to justice:

“Access to justice is a cornerstone of justice in the UK, but in reality, not everyone can afford to pay for a lawyer when they need legal advice.”

On sector challenges:

“The need for free legal advice continues to grow daily, and specialist free legal advice organisations that still manage to keep their doors open in this very difficult climate are increasingly facing immense pressure due to the level of demand for their services, the complexity of cases, and challenges of recruiting social welfare legal practitioners. At the same time, they also have to fire-fight for vital funds to keep their doors open.”

On technology's potential:

“The potential for legal tech and AI in contributing to fair access to justice is huge. Legal tech could assist with triaging of clients, using basic logic to help answer simple queries and signpost to resources or more tailored support, which undoubtedly saves time.”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

General Process:

  • Organizations should sign up for LLST's advice sector newsletter to receive updates on funding opportunities
  • Grant policies document available on website provides detailed guidance
  • LLST is committed to providing “a more equitable, transparent and accessible offer” following their 2024-2026 review

Centres of Excellence (when open):

  • Previously involved independent consultant conducting diagnostic assessment
  • Assessment covers: organizational management, governance, business planning, financial management, brief file review, and expenditure review
  • Aim is to help organizations reach “pass” status, though some changes needed can take time
  • Approved organizations complete annual review questionnaire each November/December
  • Annual unrestricted grant awarded for core costs following review

Small Grants (when open):

  • Applications submitted on a rolling basis
  • Focus on capital improvements rather than core funding

Decision Timeline

No specific timelines publicly disclosed. The Centres of Excellence programme involves a diagnostic process that can take time depending on organizational readiness and changes needed.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly disclosed. With 42 organizations currently in the Centres of Excellence programme and over 100 organizations receiving funding in 2024, LLST maintains a substantial portfolio of funded partners.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy information is publicly available. Organizations interested in funding should contact LLST directly or consult their grant policies document for guidance.

Application Success Factors

LLST's Funding Philosophy:

  • Committed to IVAR's “Flexible Funders” approach and “Open and trusting grant making” principles
  • LLST describes themselves as “a funder that listens to what their funded partners say and acts accordingly”
  • Focus on long-term sustainability rather than short-term projects

What Makes Organizations Stand Out:

  1. Clear eligibility: Organizations must provide free, specialist (not general) legal advice to people who cannot afford to pay, serving clients in London or Home Counties
  2. Financial sustainability focus: LLST values organizations working toward long-term viability, as evidenced by the Billing Project which helps agencies become “self-sustaining”
  3. Willingness to develop: The Centres of Excellence programme diagnostic assessment helps organizations improve effectiveness and efficiency; willingness to engage in this process is valued
  4. Sector collaboration: LLST works through partnerships (Propel, GLA, etc.) and values organizations that engage with the broader advice sector

Examples of Funded Work:

  • Law Centres providing social welfare legal advice
  • Citizens Advice bureaux
  • Specialist legal advice agencies addressing housing, immigration, employment, and welfare rights
  • Agencies participating in the Billing Project to improve financial sustainability
  • Organizations receiving capital grants for security improvements, IT systems, and equipment

Language and Terminology:

LLST uses terms like “access to justice,” “free specialist legal advice,” “social welfare law,” “core funding,” “capacity building,” “Grants Plus,” and “sector infrastructure support.”

Sector Context Understanding:

LLST recognizes that agencies face a “six-fold increase in the need for help” (as noted during COVID-19), with some agencies receiving up to 450 calls per day. They understand the “workforce crisis” affecting the sector, where contract holders struggle to find housing supervisors, employment advisers, and immigration supervisors. Applications demonstrating awareness of these systemic challenges while showing organizational resilience will resonate with LLST's mission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Eligibility is strict but straightforward: You must provide free, specialist (not general) legal advice to people who cannot afford to pay in London or Home Counties. If you don't meet all three criteria, you are ineligible.
  1. Programmes currently closed: Both Centres of Excellence and Small Grants are closed until at least 2026 and spring 2025 respectively. Sign up for their newsletter to be notified when applications reopen.
  1. Long-term relationships over one-off grants: LLST provides ongoing support to 42 Centres of Excellence partners with annual unrestricted grants, indicating preference for sustained funding relationships rather than one-off project grants.
  1. Beyond the grant money: The “Grants Plus” approach means LLST offers training, fundraising opportunities, consultancy support, and access to pro bono or discounted services. Emphasize your organization's willingness to engage with this broader support ecosystem.
  1. Flexible and listening funder: LLST commits to IVAR's Flexible Funders principles and describes themselves as listening to funded partners. Applications should be honest about challenges and development needs rather than portraying unrealistic perfection.
  1. Sustainability matters: The Billing Project and Centres of Excellence focus on helping organizations become financially sustainable and effective. Demonstrate how funding will contribute to your long-term viability, not just short-term gap-filling.
  1. Collaborative funding context: Many LLST grants involve partnerships with other funders (City Bridge Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, GLA, Trust for London). Understanding the broader London funding landscape and potential for match funding strengthens applications.

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References