HM Courts & Tribunals Service

🗣️ “It’s really nice to be involved in delivering opportunities that I got to benefit from myself when I was younger.”

Alongside his role at HMCTS, Ed dedicates his free time to supporting Millwall Football Club and the local community, continuing a family tradition of volunteering.

What started as being a ball boy as a child has grown into 17 years of giving back. Inspired by his sister, Ed now helps create memorable experiences for local children through matchday mascot programmes, community fun days and Christmas events.

🗣️ “It was more to kind of give back and give other kids that opportunity that I had.”

Volunteering has also helped Ed develop skills he uses throughout his career, from leadership and communication to building relationships and managing challenging situations.

⚽ The impact of volunteers like Ed goes far beyond football. By creating opportunities for local children and families, he shows thats football clubs are shaped not just by what happens on the pitch, but by the people and communities behind them.

📢 This National Volunteers’ Week, we're proud to celebrate our staff who volunteer. Meet Margaret, a dedicated colleague and magistrate supporting justice and her community.

Margaret’s journey into volunteering began with a simple but powerful desire to “put something back into the community I live in.” What started as wanting to help improve the environment around her and support young people has become more than two decades of service, commitment and impact.

🗣️ Reflecting on why she became a magistrate, Margaret shared:

“One big thing that belongs to me is my time and my experience and my efforts to do things. I thought it’s my way of putting something back into the community I live in, to help myself and to help those around me to make it a better place.”

Over the years, Margaret has supported countless people through the justice system alongside her role as a magistrate, she has also built a successful career within HMCTS, where she says the two roles complement each other perfectly.

“Being a magistrate sharpens your listening skills. It improves your observational skills and helps you make decisions based on the information you have. These are transferable skills whether you are in work, at home or in the community.”

She describes the skills and confidence gained through volunteering as priceless within her HMCTS role, helping her to think differently, communicate more effectively and support others with empathy and fairness.

Margaret is also passionate about encouraging others to volunteer and believes the role is open to anyone willing to give their time and experience:

“Volunteering gives you the opportunity to improve the quality of life for yourself and for those around you.”

👏 Thank you, Margaret, for your dedication, your service to justice and your continued commitment to supporting communities both inside and outside of work.

ℹ️ Why do courts display the Royal Coat of Arms ?

The Royal Coat of Arms dates back to 1399, during the reign of King Henry IV, and is used by the reigning monarch.

It appears in almost every courtroom in England and Wales, showing that justice is delivered in the name of the monarch and that courts form part of the Royal Court.

Judges and magistrates act as representatives of the Crown, rather than in a personal capacity.

This also explains why some people bow when entering or leaving a courtroom. The gesture is not for the judge or magistrates, but for the Royal Arms, as a sign of respect for the authority of the court.

Today, the coat of arms remains a symbol of the rule of law, linking modern courts to centuries of justice.

📢 Poole Law Courts will be temporarily closed for an anticipated period of six months.

Court users will be directed to alternative venues, including Southampton and Weymouth.

See below for more information👇

🗣️The history of the Welsh language in our courts

For centuries, Welsh was prohibited from being spoken in courts across Wales. Laws introduced in the 16th century required that all legal proceedings be conducted in English, creating barriers for many Welsh speakers.

Change began in 1942, when Welsh was permitted to be spoken in courts for the first time in hundreds of years, followed by further reforms in 1967 and 1993. Over time, this led to Welsh and English being treated equally in the justice system.

Today, people can use the Welsh language in any court or tribunal hearing in Wales, and HMCTS services and information are available in Welsh. This enables people to access justice in the language they feel most comfortable using.

🎧 Want to learn more? Listen to our recent Welsh language podcast ⬇️