New £5.8 Million Centre for People's Justice Collaboration Announced

The Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is awarding £4.1 million to a new research centre aimed at responding to the public’s need for the law to be fairer, safer, and more inclusive.

The £5.8 million Centre for People’s Justice, led by the University of Liverpool, is a coalition of 45 organisations from the following sectors:

• community

• business

• philanthropic

• cultural

• artistic

• charitable

• legal

• government

• university

It will work across the UK in partnership with:

• University of Glasgow

• The University of Sheffield

• Swansea University

• Wrexham University

• Ulster University

• Institute of Advanced Legal Studies

Improving lives across the UK

Arts and Humanities Research Council’s (AHRC) Executive Chair Professor, Christopher Smith, said:

"Our commitment to research and innovation arising from the study of law and justice illustrates our belief in the potential of arts and humanities research to improve the lives of everyone across the UK and represents the growing importance and excellence of socio-legal research across the UK, which is of world-class quality."

"Our legal system is and has been for centuries fundamental to a resilient and secure society. It is essential that access to justice is available to all, a principle enshrined already in Magna Carta. That’s why this Centre’s work is so important, and we look forward to its concrete and significant policy recommendations."

The centre will undertake its work in collaboration with household names such as:

• The Big Issue

• Citizens Advice

• National Museums Liverpool

• the Royal Shakespeare Company

It will:

• develop a creative programme of research and training to connect the public more closely with how the law is made

• improve accountability for how the law is put into practice

• enhance people’s understanding of their legal rights

The centre will take a grassroots approach, empowering communities to prioritise and co-produce research that responds to urgent social and legal issues including:

• food insecurity

• low-waged work

• tackling violence and conflict

• children’s rights

New £5.8 Million Centre for People's Justice Collaboration Announced - created 16.4.25