03 November 2020
National Pro Bono Week
The Access to Justice Foundation celebrates National Pro Bono Week 2020 with Go the Extra Mile for Justice Day
The Access to Justice Foundation (ATJF), is asking
supporters and fundraisers to take part in ‘Go the Extra Mile for Justice Day’
on Thursday 5th November in celebration of National Pro Bono Week 2020
(2 – 6 November).
The legal community throughout the UK will be asked to join
together on Thursday 5th November to take part in the Foundation’s
virtual fundraising challenge ‘Go the Extra Mile for Justice’, designed to
raise money to support free legal advice services in all parts of the country.
The Go the Extra Mile for Justice challenge tasks
participants with travelling a number of miles in any form they like, from
walking to running, skipping, cycling, or even hopping. For every mile they
complete, participants can ask friends and family to sponsor a mile each, with
a suggested donation of £10 per mile.
The Foundation is hoping that members of the legal
profession across the UK who usually take part in the legal walks will get
involved in ‘Go the Extra Mile for Justice Day’ during Pro Bono Week, to show
their support for access to justice and for the voluntary contribution made by
lawyers across the UK in giving free legal help to those in need.
The challenge was launched by the Foundation in July as a
virtual fundraising initiative in place of the regional legal walks (outside of
London and the South East), which were postponed earlier this year due to the
Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing measures.
Whilst the Go the Extra Mile for Justice challenge runs throughout
2020, the Foundation is encouraging those who haven’t signed up yet to get
involved and take part in Go the Extra Mile for Justice Day on Thursday 5th
November.
“We would love to see as many individuals and firms from all
over the UK take part in Go the Extra Mile for Justice Day to raise money for access
to justice services and highlight the importance of pro bono work in what has
been an extremely challenging year for the free legal advice sector.” Said
Laura Cassidy, Development and Fundraising Manager at the Access to Justice
Foundation.
“We would normally join together across the country to take
part in the Legal Walks, but as we’re sadly unable to do this, Go the Extra
Mile for Justice Day is a great opportunity for us to raise money and awareness
together by individually walking, running, cycling, swimming or even hopping
for justice. The more people who get involved, the bigger the difference we are
able to make for these vital services and the vulnerable people who need them
throughout the UK.”
Go the Extra Mile for Justice is sponsored by the Law
Society of England and Wales and CJCH Solicitors. For more information on the
challenge, or to sign up, visit: atjf.org.uk/go-the-extra-mile-for-justice or
follow the hashtag #GotheExtraMile.