Empowering Communities Through Rights-Based Public Legal Education
In partnership with the University of Glasgow’s GO Justice Centre, The Marie Trust hosted a series of interactive workshops exploring homelessness, human rights and housing law.
The workshops aimed to help learners better understand their rights, challenge decisions, access support and build confidence in advocating for themselves and others.
Listen to the podcast
A new podcast brings together learners, students and staff involved in the project, sharing reflections on lived experience, legal education and the importance of understanding your rights.
The episode features contributions from The Marie Trust’s Education Manager Adam McIlwaine, learners who took part in the workshops, and law students from the University of Glasgow.
Listen to the full episode below.
What the workshops explored
In March 2025, law students from the University of Glasgow’s GO Justice Centre designed and delivered a series of interactive workshops for Marie Trust learners.
The sessions explored practical aspects of housing law and human rights, including:
- accessing statutory homelessness services;
- challenging local authority decisions;
- remedies available under housing law; and
- standards in temporary accommodation.
The workshops created opportunities for learners to develop their knowledge, ask questions and reflect on their own experiences.
What learners said
One participant, Lynn, reflected on the impact the workshops had on her confidence and understanding of her rights:
“At the time of the workshop, I had actually been homeless for 16 months. I was getting passed about from pillar to post, no two people gave me the same answer. Coming along to the workshops, it made me realise I was important, what my rights were, and gave me the confidence to actually push myself forward again.”
Why the partnership matters
The project brought together legal knowledge and lived experience, helping participants better understand how the law can be used in practice.
The podcast also explores the importance of future lawyers engaging directly with communities and recognising that people’s real experiences do not always fit neatly with legislation or policy.
Law student Jorgi reflected:
“Advocacy should be collaborative. Everybody's got a good view, and it definitely opened my eyes to legislation and case law can say one thing, but people's lived experience is entirely different.”
Learning, confidence and empowerment
Adam McIlwaine, Education Manager at The Marie Trust, reflected on how public legal education can help people understand their rights and feel more confident in asking for support:
“It's the core of what we're doing at The Marie Trust. You're trying to make people aware that they have these basic human rights, and they have the right to dignity, and they have the right to be able to ask for help and expect to get that help as well.”
The project shows how learning in a supportive community environment can help people develop knowledge, confidence and a stronger ability to advocate for themselves and others.
Looking ahead
The Marie Trust and GO Justice plan to continue working together to develop new workshops and explore creative approaches to public legal education, including photography, creative writing and legislative theatre.
Last Updated: 22 July 2026