Personal Support Unit announces new name to better reach those in need of vital court support services

The Personal Support Unit, a charity dedicated to providing free, independent assistance to individuals facing court alone, will in future be known as Support Through Court, following an extensive rebrand. 

The new name, coinciding with the charity’s 18th birthday, is designed to convey more effectively the service the charity offers, which is increasingly vital at a time of extensive cuts to legal aid. 

The charity, which has 23 offices nationwide and is run in Exeter from Exeter Combined Court Centre in Southernhay Gardens, Exeter, EX1 1UH, relies on the work of dedicated volunteers and financial support from corporate and individual donors. 

From April 2018 to March 2019, it had 75,432 contacts with individuals across the country, with 63% of assisted cases being family-related. The charity also supports individuals facing immigration, housing, employment and bankruptcy court hearings by helping them sort through paperwork, organise case notes and giving litigants the confidence to represent themselves in court. 

Matthew Bass Branch Manager for the Exeter office said: “Our rebrand will help us attract more volunteers and reach more people in need. We help some of the most vulnerable in society to access justice - almost half of the individuals we assist are unemployed and a quarter have mental health problems or a physical disability. We hope our new name, logo and imagery articulate much more effectively the essence of what we do and will give us better reach among those facing court alone.”

The PSU is grateful for the assistance of branding agency Toucarilive in delivering this project and will be rolling out its new name and imagery from today at all of its local offices across England and Wales.