CLOCK highly commended in 'Peoples Award'
CLOCK makes the justice sector a better place as each member of the community has access to the Community Legal Companion service, regardless of income and status.
CLOCK Community Legal Companions - "a fabulous organisation that contributes to the community" - has been awarded Highly Recommended in the Social Enterprise West Midlands Peoples Award, which recognises the impact that this social enterprise has for its community of benefit.
Louize Cooke, Court Clerk to the Designated Family Judge, submitted the nomination stating: 'CLOCK makes the justice sector a better place as each member of the community has access to the Community Legal Companion service, regardless of income and status. In the last five months CLOCK has assisted 720 litigants of which 131 cases were signposted to professional legal services including mediation and charitable support. 422 cases were unable to find resources for legal representation, and the Community Legal Companions assisted directly in court. This ensures that the most vulnerable are supported as tenants, victims of violence, employees, to respond to the landlords, partners and employers. CLOCK also monitors the number and types of applications and is able to communicate this information to contribute to social and legal policy research. The highest percentage of CLOCK requests are within Children matters, and hence the wider impact for our society in assisting children’s voices being heard.'
The scheme was developed by Dr Jane Krishnadas and launched by the School of Law at Keele. Dr Krishnadas said: 'It is absolutely wonderful to see the Community Legal Companions' dedication and hard work being recognised by the Court, for which 60 law students volunteer on a daily basis, demonstrating their wider impact in society as 'agents of change'. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Sofia Bowler for her day to day coordination of our CLOCK Community Legal Companions'.