Support Through Court — Central Family Court London: what they do for self-representing families

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27

Facing court alone is one of the hardest things anyone is asked to do. Support Through Court is an independent charity (formerly known as the Personal Support Unit) that provides free, practical and emotional support to people who have to face the courts without a lawyer. This page is about its office inside the Central Family Court at First Avenue House, 42–49 High Holborn, London — the charity's dedicated family-cases service in London — verified against the charity's official website on 2026-08-27. It is general information, not legal advice — always confirm current opening times directly with the charity before travelling.

What this service is

Support Through Court is a registered charity (charity number 1090781) that has been supporting people facing court alone for 25 years. Its trained volunteers provide support before, during and after court. In a safe space inside the Central Family Court, volunteers will:

Listen to your story without judgement.
Help you problem-solve and decide your next steps.
Help you source reliable legal information (they do not give legal advice themselves).
Explain complex court procedures in plain language.
Help you complete court forms.
Talk you through how to speak in court and what to expect on the day.
Accompany you into court hearings where that is arranged — a volunteer can sit with you so you are not in the courtroom alone.

Important: this office supports family cases only. If you need help with a civil case in London, the charity's face-to-face civil service is at the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand — see our Royal Courts of Justice page.

Who it helps

Litigants in person in family proceedings — anyone dealing with the family courts in London without a lawyer (for example children arrangements, divorce/finances, or other family matters heard at the Central Family Court).
People facing life-changing outcomes — the charity exists because cuts in legal aid mean more people than ever face court alone, on matters that can involve loss of access to children or homelessness.
You do not need to be an existing user to ask for help — walk-ins are accepted according to capacity, though appointments take priority.
If you cannot travel, or the office is closed, the charity also runs a National Helpline and an online remote service covering England and Wales.

How to use it (steps)

1. Check it's the right office. This office handles family cases only. Civil cases are supported at the Royal Courts of Justice office; remote support is available via the National Helpline or online service. 2. Book an appointment or walk in. Book by email (londonfamily@supportthroughcourt.org) or phone (0204 520 4063), or come as a walk-in — but appointments take priority. 3. Know the operating hours: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10.00am – 4.00pm, closed for lunch 12.30pm – 1.30pm. (Always check the charity's website for temporary closures before travelling.) 4. Note the walk-in rules. Walk-ins are accepted throughout the day according to capacity. The charity cannot guarantee support to everyone who arrives and reserves the right to turn people away if capacity is reached, even before closing time — so booking ahead is the safer route. 5. When you call: the phone line does not accept calls from withheld numbers, so call with your caller ID switched on. 6. Bring your court papers. Having your notices, forms and case details to hand makes the first conversation much more productive.

Contact & location (verified)

These details are published by the charity on its official Central Family Court location page (verified 2026-08-27):

Office address: Support Through Court, Room 4.12, Central Family Court, First Avenue House, 42–49 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6NP
Getting there: the nearest tube stations are Chancery Lane (Central line) and Holborn (Central and Piccadilly lines), both a short walk away on High Holborn.
Email: londonfamily@supportthroughcourt.org
Phone: 0204 520 4063 — available Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10.00am – 4.00pm (closed for lunch 12.30pm – 1.30pm), when the office is open; no withheld numbers.
Operating hours: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10.00am – 4.00pm (lunch closure 12.30pm – 1.30pm).

Costs (honest)

The service is free. Support Through Court is a charity, funded by donations and funders — the charity states it costs its funders around £32 to support one person, but there is no charge to you for using the service.
Volunteers do not charge fees, and there is no means test to qualify.
Watch out for anyone charging for "support services" at court — this charity's help is free. If in doubt, verify through the official website linked below.
The charity cannot give legal advice or represent you, so if your case needs a solicitor, that cost sits outside this service. See our legal aid guide for help with funding representation.

How it fits your court case

Before a hearing: use the service to understand what your hearing is for, which forms you still need, and how to present yourself. A single session can turn a confusing bundle of papers into a clear plan.
On the day: the office is inside the Central Family Court building, so if you are attending a family hearing there you can drop in (subject to capacity) for calm, practical help while you wait — and, where arranged, a volunteer can accompany you into the hearing.
After a hearing: volunteers can help you work out what the outcome means and what your next step is — an order to comply with, a deadline to meet, or further forms to complete.
It complements, not replaces, legal help: the charity explains procedures and helps with forms, but cannot represent you, speak for you in court, or tell you what to argue. Pair it with our preparing for a hearing guide and, if appropriate, a McKenzie friend.
Emotional support counts: people consistently report that simply having someone listen and sit with them before going into court makes the day more manageable. That is a core part of what this service is for.

Official links

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Support Through Court, HMCTS, or gov.uk. Service details above are sourced from the charity's official website (supportthroughcourt.org) and verified on 2026-08-27; opening hours and capacity arrangements can change, so always confirm directly with the charity before travelling. This page is general information and is not legal advice. Nothing on this page is an endorsement of any legal service, and Support Through Court does not endorse this site.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.