Milbank LLP received the Thomson Reuters Foundation TrustLaw Covid-19 Response Award, together with Women’s Aid, for successfully launching the national “Rail to Refuge” program in the United Kingdom.
Train operators participating in the Rail to Refuge program covered the cost of train tickets for survivors escaping domestic abuse and traveling to accommodations at a recognized refuge during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the program has enabled nearly 3,000 individuals, predominantly women and children, to break from their financial dependency and escape domestic violence.
"It was a joy to work with Women's Aid to ensure the longevity and success of the Rail to Refuge scheme,” said Prudence Buckland, a technology associate in Milbank’s Corporate Group. Ms. Buckland accepted the award on behalf of the firm at the TrustLaw celebration on June 8 in London.
People helped by the program were transported safely to refuges as far from their abusive homes as possible, with some people traveling as far as 540 miles. Approximately two-thirds of those who used the Rail to Refuge scheme have stated that they would not have traveled if the cost of the journey had not otherwise been covered.
"The pro bono support we received was professional and swift, and enabled Women's Aid and the Rail Delivery Group to create clarity in our partnership and build on our working relationship to provide a unique and life-saving initiative,” said Jo Bridger, Procurement Coordinator with Women's Aid.
The TrustLaw Awards celebrate groundbreaking pro bono projects undertaken by legal teams on behalf of NGOs and social enterprises in the TrustLaw network. More than 5,500 NGOs and social enterprises are members, receiving free legal assistance from more than 1000 law firms and in-house corporate counsel. The pro bono service has facilitated 8,400 legal projects across 175 countries.
