Looking for help in your family court proceedings?Bridge The Gap is a free, community-built guide to UK family court, written by litigants and McKenzie Friends, for litigants. Real observations, plain English, and people who can help.

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McKenzie Friends

Real people. Real support.

A McKenzie Friend can sit beside you in court, help you prepare, and quietly guide you through the process — without the solicitor price tag. Meet the friends listed on Bridge The Gap.

Featured Friends

Members of the Bridge The Gap community.

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Emma Louise Bell

Emma Louise Bell

North East

Emma Louise Bell is a specialist in complex health and social care advocacy with over twenty-five years' experience across SEND, SEMH, neurodivergence and disability. Combining frontline practice with senior leadership, she delivers legally robust, outcome-focused solutions while building strong, trusted relationships with statutory and non-statutory partners. Emma is nationally recognised for her pioneering work in transitions and inclusive employment. She was the first transitions worker in the UK to secure successful judicial DoLS applications enabling young people to move into Independent Supported Living, including via managed direct payments. She also designed and developed The Vault — the UK's first hotel and traineeship for autistic people — featured on Made in Tyne & Wear TV, funded by Access To Work, and running successfully through St Camilla's Care Group since 2014. Emma is the driving force behind The Vault Unlocking Potential CIC, a social enterprise supporting and advocating for parents and carers navigating local authority services, with emphasis on child protection, safeguarding, housing, employment advocacy, mental health and welfare rights. "I love outcomes and I am passionate about social justice. I work hard to get the best outcome for my clients so that they get their needs acknowledged and their voice heard — empowering them to take control, challenge unfairness, and self-advocate in the future." What clients say about Emma: "Emma and her team have supported me in now 2 child protection cases and three times as a McKenzie Friend at Durham Family court and can not be more grateful for all the support they given me so far and still give me it now👍" "Can't thank Emma enough for all her help and support leading up to send tribunal, attending tribunal with very little notice and her support after. We appealed sections B, F and I of EHCP and judge ordered changes to all and we got the provision our son needed 💙"

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Jennie Sutton

Jennie Sutton

Midlands (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)

Jennie Sutton is an award-winning divorce coach who cuts through the noise with practical, hard-hitting guidance for women facing the complexities of separation and divorce. Drawing from her own experience of ending her 30-year marriage seven years ago, Jennie founded Untying The Knot to ensure no woman faces this life-changing decision alone or unprepared. Based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and with more than 20 years of coaching experience, Jennie offers real-life insights with straightforward strategies to help women feel more in control, reduce anxiety, and build their new future. A mother of four and grandmother of four, her approach is compassionate but never sugar-coated. Jennie is a co-author of Emotional Alchemy, by The Divorce Coach Sara Davison, launched in February 2026. She mentors coaches within Sara's elite team and is internationally recognised for her contribution to divorce and domestic abuse coaching.

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How a McKenzie Friend can help

Practical, in-person support through the family court process — without giving legal advice.

Sit beside you in court

Quiet moral support and note-taking during hearings.

Help prepare documents

Organise evidence and draft position statements.

Explain the process

Walk you through what to expect at each stage.

Keep you calm

Emotional steadiness when the pressure rises.

Help you present

Confidence to speak clearly and stay on track.

No referral fees

Direct contact — no middlemen, no lead-generation.

The people behind the support

Our McKenzie Friends are quietly changing outcomes for litigants every day — bringing patience, clarity, and genuine care to some of the hardest moments people face. Hear what their clients have to say.

This content reflects observational insights and lived community experiences. It does not constitute legal advice — always consult a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.

An unregulated profession. McKenzie Friends are not regulated, vetted, or endorsed by Bridge The Gap. Always read each profile carefully, ask questions about qualifications and experience, and make your own judgement before engaging anyone.

Find the right fit for you

Every friend's profile includes their services, expertise, testimonials, and direct contact details — so you can reach out when you're ready.

Please note

Please note: Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice and we are not liable for any reliance on the information provided. Family court rules and procedures can change, and whilst this was correct at the time of writing, circumstances may have changed since publication. For up-to-date guidance, please refer to Gov.uk or consult a qualified legal professional.

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Disclosure: Divorce Navigator (divorcenavigator.uk) is a separate service run by the same team as Bridge The Gap. We list it because we believe it is useful, not because we receive a fee.

Intellectual Property: All content on this website — the "Bridge The Gap" name and concept, gap analyses, case journey structures — is the intellectual property of Bridge The Gap and its creator. © 2026 Bridge The Gap. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of any content is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.

Bridge The Gap provides observational insights and collective community experiences only. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or caseworker services. Always consult a qualified legal professional for your specific circumstances.

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