This year the Law Clinic has doubled the amount of work it is involved in, with 120 cases taken on by volunteer students since September 2015. It has also expanded the number of partners it is working with in the community, most recently commencing work with Learning Partnership West (LPW).

LPW provides a range of innovative support for children and young people between the ages of 8 – 25. The partnership with the Law Clinic will help the most disadvantaged young people in our society understand what their legal rights are on a number of issues that concern their wellbeing.

John Peake, Director of the Law Clinic said:

We are thrilled that the work of Law Clinic students has contributed to the Students’ Union achieving this award. With cuts to legal aid society’s most vulnerable people are being left unprotected. The Law Clinic helps fill that gap and as a person that has spent most of my working life as a lawyer and more recently a judge this makes me immensely proud.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, Professor Hugh Brady, said:

Voluntary work is hugely helpful to society, and Bristol SU’s volunteers have done fantastic work in the city, helping a wide cross-section of people. This award is well-deserved, and I send all those involved my warmest congratulations.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis said:

I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups. The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the very best of democracy in action.