Shoosmiths Foundation awards £50,000 grant to Inside Justice to launch major justice awareness project

The grant will fund a new immersive programme that covers public understanding of wrongful convictions across England and Scotland.

Inside Justice, the national charity working to prevent and overturn miscarriages of justice, is the latest beneficiary of a £50,000 grant from the Shoosmiths Foundation which will be used to launch a powerful new public education initiative called Access Unlocked.

The project will use realistic crime scene simulations and compelling digital content to help communities, students, and future legal professionals understand how wrongful convictions happen — and what can be done to prevent them.

Over the course three years, Access Unlocked will stage a series of live ‘Crime Live’ events in northern England and Scotland, each simulating a full criminal investigation. These interactive events, created by leading experts including forensic scientists Jo Millington and Tracy Alexander as well as intelligence manager Sam Robins, will highlight the critical moments where miscarriages of justice often occur. The programme will also deliver free resources for families, educators, and journalists — demystifying the appeals process and promoting responsible coverage of justice issues.

Professor Sarah Niblock, CEO of Inside Justice, said:

“This funding is a game-changer. Thanks to the Shoosmiths Foundation, we can build a legacy of understanding, connection and hope in communities where trust in the justice system is often lowest. We’re proud to be working with Shoosmiths to bring this transformative programme to life.”

Max Finney, chair of Shoosmiths Foundation Grants Committee and senior sustainability manager for Shoosmiths, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting Inside Justice in their mission to deliver systemic change across the regions - this is a cause that everyone on the committee strongly believes has been making a difference for over 10 years and will no doubt continue to do so in the years ahead. It is a privilege to be able to support the delivery of their quality education and engagement.

“We were highly impressed with the quality of all the applications submitted in the latest funding round and pleased to see Inside Justice really stand out. Despite the fact that we only chose one charity to support in this round, we thank all the organizations that applied for this grant and for the amazing work you do for our community.”

The first phase of the project begins in late 2025, with public events scheduled to launch in 2026. Shoosmiths colleagues will have opportunities to participate as guests and speakers.