National law firm Simpson Millar has announced a new partnership between its Child Care team and Future Living Hertford, a local charity providing counselling, recovery and domestic abuse support services across the Hertford community.
Future Living Hertford exists to break the cycle of domestic abuse by delivering trauma-informed therapeutic services, peer-led support and prevention-focused education for adults, children and families across Hertfordshire.
The charity provides personalised counselling and recovery programmes alongside its flagship group interventions, the Monica Programme and Wise Guys, helping survivors of domestic abuse to recover from their trauma and begin to rebuild their lives.
Future Living places lived experience at the heart of its support, offering opportunities for survivors to shape services, education and influence wider system change. Alongside direct support the charity provides professional training to help those in education, health and other front-lines services support survivors of domestic abuse with trauma-informed approaches.
As part of the partnership, Simpson Millar’s specialist Child Care team – which supports vulnerable clients in both public and private children law matters, including care proceedings, child arrangements and protective injunctions - will deliver specialist legal training to Future Living Hertford’s counsellors.
The training will help them to identify when vulnerable service users may require timely legal advice or safeguarding action, as well as provide practical guidance on recognising early indicators that clients may need legal support in family law, child protection or domestic abuse matters. In addition, Simpson Millar will offer trauma-informed advice to the charity’s service users through regular drop in clinics.
Emma Fleming, CEO of Future Living Hertford, said: “Working with Simpson Millar means our counsellors are better equipped to recognise when legal support could make a critical difference, helping clients feel safer and supported at what can be an incredibly difficult time.”
Esther Ralston, Head of Business Development for Simpson Millar, said: “By working alongside trusted local organisations like Future Living Hertford, we can help ensure vulnerable people receive the right support at the right time, with their wellbeing at the centre of every decision.”
