Ahead of today’s election, politicians from around the North East have come together to celebrate the Aberdeen Law Project and acknowledge its importance to access to justice in the North of Scotland.
Jonathan Goodyear, Deputy Student Director of the Aberdeen Law Project, has welcomed the cross-party support of the project:
“Visibility and community trust are absolutely key to our work. I am delighted that we have such a good reputation with the North East’s politicians. We’ve been working hard in the city for ten years now, achieving results for constituents that many felt were impossible. It’s great to know that all of the parties – and their candidates – rate our contribution and consider us vital to access to justice in the North of Scotland!”
Douglas Lumsden, Leader of Aberdeen City Council and Conservative candidate for Aberdeen South, is a big supporter of the project. He commented:
“The Aberdeen Law Project is one of the jewels in the crown of our amazing city. It’s contribution to Aberdeen and the Shire cannot be overestimated.
Founded by a local lad, Ryan Whelan, who attended St. Machar Academy, the project exists to advise, represent and educate those who’d otherwise be without assistance. Now with over 140 student volunteers, a Board of leading lawyers and numerous language capabilities, including French, Italian, Polish and Romanian, ALP is a vital resource to many who call the North of Scotland home.
I’ve been delighted to watch ALP go from strength to strength over the last decade and I look forward to working closely with ALP if I am fortunate enough to be elected in Aberdeen South.”
Guy Ingerson, Green candidate for Aberdeen North, is another prominent supporter of ALP. He said:
“Aberdeen Law Project has been invaluable in helping communities across the city. Very often people are bamboozled by our complex legal system, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds like my own. The project’s legal assistance & advice to people in Torry facing environmentally damaging projects such as the Harbour expansion, and accompanying road & noise pollution, was especially commendable. I hope they can continue to help ordinary citizens for many years to come.”
Another Conservative Councillor, said:
“The Aberdeen Law Project is a rare gem… in the last decade over 15,000 people have benefited from either free advice, representation or education services provided by the project. This is astounding and I know very well how vital they have been in supporting people facing the most difficult of times. As someone who deals with constituents on a regular basis I have always felt confident in referring those requiring legal help to ALP and I know that over the next decade ALP will only continue to grow as a remarkable asset for the city.”
In addition, the Liberal Democrat’s Ian Yuill (candidate for Aberdeen South) recently enthusiastically welcomed ALP’s tenth anniversary, commending the project as a “vital” resource with many successes, and Labour’s Lewis MacDonald MSP has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament commending one of the Project’s new initiatives and the difference the Aberdeen Law Project makes in the North of Scotland.