Support Through Court — Leeds Combined Court Centre: 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 civil and family courts without a lawyer. This page is about its Leeds service, which supports people attending the Leeds Combined Court Centre (The Courthouse, 1 Oxford Row, Leeds LS1 3BG), verified against the charity's official website and official court listings 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 that has been supporting people facing court alone for 25 years. Its trained volunteers provide support before, during and after court. At the Leeds service — which runs in partnership with Leeds Beckett University — 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 and write statements.
Talk you through how to speak in court and what to expect on the day.

Important: the Leeds service supports in-person hearings at the Leeds Combined Court Centre and Leeds Magistrates' Court, dependent on demand and volunteer availability — these hearings can fall on any day of the week. Day-to-day, most support is delivered remotely or at the charity's office at Leeds Beckett University rather than from a desk inside the courthouse, so contact the charity first to arrange how you will be supported.

Who it helps

Litigants in person — anyone facing the civil or family courts in the Leeds area without a lawyer.
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 — but in Leeds support is by appointment (booked online) or through the phone line, not on a walk-in basis.
If you are anywhere in England or Wales, the charity also runs a national remote/helpline service, so you can get support even if you cannot reach Leeds.

How to use it (steps)

1. Book an appointment through the charity's online booking page (Calendly) linked below, or email leeds@supportthroughcourt.org. 2. Know how the Leeds service currently operates (per the charity's official page): - Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, 10.00am – 4.00pm — remote support only. - Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9.30am – 4.00pm — face-to-face appointments at Leeds Beckett University (Broadcasting Place, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9EN). - In-person hearings at Leeds Combined Court Centre and Leeds Magistrates' Court are supported dependent on demand and volunteer availability, on any day of the week. 3. Tell the charity where your hearing is. If it is at the Leeds Combined Court Centre (1 Oxford Row), ask explicitly for court-day support at the hearing so a volunteer can be arranged if capacity allows. 4. When you call (0113 5221226): the phone line does not accept calls from withheld numbers, so call with your caller ID switched on. 5. Bring your court papers — notices, forms and case details — to any appointment so the first conversation is productive. 6. Cross-check the courthouse listing. The official GOV.UK page for Leeds Combined Court Centre also lists a Support Through Court contact (leeds@thepsu.org.uk, phone 0113 306 2764), and the judiciary's own Leeds page describes the service operating at the Combined Court Centre Tuesday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm. The charity's website is the authoritative source for its current arrangement, so confirm there before travelling.

Contact & location (verified)

These details are published by the charity on its official Leeds location page and the official court pages (verified 2026-08-27):

Service area: Leeds Combined Court Centre, The Courthouse, 1 Oxford Row, Leeds, LS1 3BG (hearings), with the charity's office at Leeds Beckett University, Broadcasting Place, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9EN (appointments).
Email: leeds@supportthroughcourt.org (also listed by the court as leeds@thepsu.org.uk)
Phone: 0113 5221226 (no withheld numbers); the court's own listing also gives 0113 306 2764
Booking: online appointment booking via the charity's website
Operating hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays 10.00am – 4.00pm (remote only); Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9.30am – 4.00pm (face-to-face at Leeds Beckett University)

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, so if your case needs a solicitor, that cost sits outside this service. See our legal aid guide for help with funding representation.
Free help nearby: Citizens Advice Leeds (Oxford House, Oxford Row, LS1 3BE, 0808 278 7878) sits directly opposite the courthouse, and the Leeds Beckett University Legal Clinic offers free legal advice appointments in areas such as housing and debt (lawclinic@leedsbeckett.ac.uk, 0113 812 9190).

How it fits your court case

Before a hearing: use the service to understand what your hearing is for, what 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: for hearings at the Leeds Combined Court Centre, arrange court-day support with the charity in advance — volunteer availability for in-person hearings depends on demand. The courthouse itself has disabled access to all levels via lifts, accessible toilets, hearing loop facilities by prior arrangement, four ground-floor interview rooms, assistance-dog access and Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards on request.
After a hearing: volunteers can help you work out what the outcome means and what your next step is — an order to comply with, an appeal deadline, or further forms to complete.
It complements, not replaces, legal help: the charity explains procedures and helps with forms, but cannot represent you 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), the official GOV.UK court listing for Leeds Combined Court Centre, and the judiciary's Leeds contacts page, 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.