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We are delighted to say the Not Beyond Redemption charity won a prestigious Family Law award for its work helping mothers in prison, or after they have been released.

The Community Interaction award acknowledges innovative voluntary community programmes, corporate social responsibility programmes, and pro bono activity in communities.

The award acknowledges the importance of a hugely successful scheme set up by director Ravi Mahey in the Harrow Family and Childcare Team.

Ravi initially acted as a pro bono lawyer for the charity before becoming a board trustee. The Harrow team handles numerous pro bono cases and supports the ongoing work of the charity, both in and outside of work.

Not Beyond redemption gives a voice to the dispossessed, those women who society believes are beyond redemption.

It recognises that imprisoning women better suited to community service or rehabilitation programmes has a devastating impact on family life, in many cases leading to repeated criminality, homelessness and poverty.

The charity provides pro bono legal clinics at HMPs Send, Downview, East Sutton Park, Peterborough, and Eastwood Park we provide extensive legal advice on children matters.

As part of the scheme, the board at Duncan Lewis have graciously for the last two years allowed trainees from Ravi and Alia Lewis’ team to be seconded to the charity to work to gain legal experience helping mothers who have been imprisoned and separated from their families.

This has been funded by Duncan Lewis and is part of the ongoing collaboration and support for some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Since 2013, legal aid has not been available for parents seeking support in respect of children matters unless they meet the gateway. The work has supported numerous imprisoned women who have been left with no avenue in addressing any issues around contact to their children.

NBR volunteers attend court for women in prison, or who have been freed, and assist them in re-establishing and regenerating the fundamental relationship between mother and child. Duncan Lewis is proud to be a collaborative partner for the charity and honoured to have won the award with the charity.

To find out more visit the Not Beyond Redemption website here Not Beyond Redemption

Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ family law team is ranked in the top tier by the prestigious Legal 500 legal guide for its "insightful, supportive and professional" team, all of whom are all "highly competent" and provide "excellent legal advice".

The team handles all aspects of family law, with particular specialism in representing victims of domestic violence, handling complex divorce matters and securing financial settlement following the breakdown of a marriage.

Ravi Mahey is recognised as a leading lawyer in her filed by both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. Ravi has specialised in children law for over 18 years and litigates in all its areas, in particular public law cases where she acts for children through their guardians, as well as representing parents in adoption and child abduction matters. She has developed a specialism in acting for cases involving forced marriages, abandoned spouses, honour based violence and female genital mutilation (FGM).

For advice in all family and child care matters contact her via email at ravim@duncanlewis.com or via telephone on 020 7923 8514.