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2024-07-31-accounts

COMPANY NUMBER 0 2786099 CHARITY NUMBER 1024148

THE MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE

(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

CONTENTS

Report from the Chair Report from the Chair 2
Reference and Administrative Details 3
Report of the Board of Trustees 4 - 11
Members 12 -14
Statement of Financial Activities 15
Balance Sheet 16
Statement of Cash Flows 17
Notes to the Financial Statements 18 - 27

Page 1

THE MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE REPORT FROM THE CHAIR FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR

The has had another extremely busy year, assisting over 1,400 people with their legal issues during 2023-24. The Centre has provided specialist advice casework and representation in the areas of debt, housing and welfare benefits, as well as generalist advice as part of its holistic service provision, and a pro bono service offering advice on employment, housing, consumer, general civil litigation, and family law. The advice has been provided at the Centre offices and at various outreach locations.

The Centre added to the locations from which it operates during this period, moving into the new Mary Ward Centre building in Stratford, Newham. The Centre now operates from offices in Camden and Newham, whilst serving people from any borough in London. The expansion into Newham is much-needed given the lack of specialist advice provision in the borough and the level of need.

-of-living

Support Trust) to help address increased demand due to the cost of living crisis by providing additional specialist housing and welfare benefits advice.

The pressures on the clients approaching the Centre for help are considerable. Many face homelessness, poor housing conditions impacting their health, growing debts as they struggle financially, loss of essential welfare benefits (many of which are to support those with a disability and/or a long-term health condition), and discrimination. Clients often present with multiple issues and these are often complex and inter-related.

The legal advice sector is facing a recruitment and retention crisis, which impacts the ability to maintain and grow service provision. To help address this, the Centre is supporting several trainee solicitors and apprentices to become future social welfare lawyers. This has only been possible through the generous funding from the Justice First Fellowship scheme, Linklaters and the GLA.

The hard work and commitment of the Centre staff and pro bono volunteers has resulted in many successful outcomes for clients, including reducing homelessness, increasing incomes, reducing debts, improving housing conditions and wellbeing.

We are grateful to the following funders and donors for 2023-24 who have enabled the Centre to continue its work in changing lives: London Borough of Camden, Legal Aid Agency, Money and Pensions Service (Debt Free Advice), Trust for London, Access to Justice Foundation, Legal Education Foundation, London Legal Support Trust, Henry Smith Charity, GLA, AB Charitable Trust, St Andrew Holborn, Linklaters, Clifford Chance, Weil Gotshal & Manges, Bishop & Sewell LLP, Powell Gilbert LLP, and Farrer & Co. The centre is also grateful for the continued pro bono support from Eversheds Sutherland.

Veronica Daly Chair

Page 2

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

REFERENCE DETAILS

Charity number: 1024148 Company number: 0 2786099 Address and Registered Office: The Mary Ward Centre, 275-285 High St, London E15 2TF

KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

represented by the following in 2023-24:

Warden, CEO Therese Reinheimer-Jones Director of Mary Ward Legal Centre Paula Twigg Director of Finance and Resources Juliet Woodford

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

A full list of trustees is given on page 8 of these Financial Statements.

Ms. Beverley Campbell acted as Clerk to the Board of Trustees throughout the year under review.

PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDITOR

Buzzacott Audit LLP 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL

INTERNAL AUDITOR

Validera 30 Camp Road Farnborough Hants GU14 6EW

BANKERS

The Co-operative Bank plc 3rd floor, St Paul's House 10 Warwick Lane London EC4M 7BP

Page 3

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

nnual Report, together with the Financial Statements of Mary Ward Legal Centre for the year ended 31[st] July 2024. This report is also prepared to meet inancial Statements for Companies Act purposes.

NATURE, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

LEGAL STATUS

The Centre is a company limited by guarantee (number 2786099), is a registered charity (number 1024148) and is governed by its Memorandum of Association dated 25 January 1993.

The Financial Statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).

THE PURPOSE OF THE CENTRE

The Mission of the Centre is to provide members of the public in conditions of need, hardship or distress with advice, information, assistance and representation dealing with the question of housing, welfare rights, employment, immigration, taxation, insolvency and bankruptcy and other financial and legal problems.

planning future activities.

registered charity (number 223066) and a company limited by guarantee (number 46188).

CORE VALUES AND OBJECTIVES

alues are:

bjectives are:

Page 4

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

CORE VALUES AND OBJECTIVES (continued)

The Centre is on target to meet both the service and Strategic Objectives.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

achievements for 2023-24 are outlined below:

Page 5

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The actual performance against the agreed targets are set out in the table below:

Key Performance Indicator Target
2023-24		 Achieved
2023-24		 Target
2022-23		 Achieved
2022-23
Meet annual target for matter starts 1,230 1,407 1,480 1,887
Maintain the number of people who
get advice through pro bono clinics		 100 122 175 174
Maintain a high level of client
satisfaction		 95% 99% 95% 99%
Maintain the high % of cases that
have a positive outcome		 92% 96% 92% 95%
A high % of clients who respond to
our survey report an improvement in
health and well-being		 88% 96% 88% 94%

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The results for the year are set out on page 15. There has been a surplus for the year of £36,045 (2022-23: deficit £43,798). Income, including the value in kind of pro bono donations of goods or services valued at £227,744 (202223: £75,000), increased overall by £253,418 to £1,330,488 (2022-23: £1,077,070). The increase reflects a rise in grants to support the work of the Centre.

Income from the Debt Free London contract, at £134,325, was lower than the previous year (2022-23: £153,835), due to a change in the contract terms. Other income for specialist advice, which comes primarily from the Legal Aid Agency and the London Borough of Camden totalled £415,201, (2022-23: £419,354). Legal aid income increased by £45,060 to £214,089, following several years of very low volumes during and after the Covid-19 pandemic which impacted the number of possession cases being listed.

Other sources of funding included the Access to Justice Foundation, the Henry Smith Charity, the London Legal Support Trust, Trust for London, the Legal Education Foundation, and St Andrew Holborn, jointly contributing £389,774. The two main corporate funders, Linklaters and Clifford Chance both continued with their generous funding, donating £77,000 and £31,000 respectively (2022-23: £83,000 and £30,000), and both continued to donate the services of trainee solicitors, pro bono, as in previous periods, which have been valued at a total of £75,000. In addition the Centre has benefitted from pro bono advice provided by Eversheds Sutherland, valued at £152,744.

Page 6

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

FINANCIAL REVIEW (continued)

Costs rose by £173,575 to £1,294,443 (2022-23: £1,120,868). Total salary costs were £894,568 (2022-23: £898,072), of which £75,000 (2022-23: £75,000) was the recognised value of donated services from Linklaters LLP and Clifford Chance LLP. Other admin and premises costs rose by £177,079 to £399,875 (2022-23: £222,796) during 2023-24 compared to 2022-23, of which £152,744 was the recognised value of donated services from Eversheds Sutherland. Excluding the value of the donated services, the underlying increase of 10% during the period, primarily reflected the investment in case cost drafting services to assist with prompt billing and cash flow management.

Costs in general continue to be carefully managed where possible; however, growth of services is essential in order to meet the future income targets for future sustainability, and the targets of our funders. The demand for the the Centre remains committed to at least maintaining the level of provision, with plans to increase over the next few years as soon as resources and capacity allow.

TREASURY MANAGEMENT

market transactions, the effective control of the risks associated with those activities and the pursuit of optimum performance consistent with those risks.

There was a net increase in the cash held by the Centre of £104,296 to £183,005 (2022-23: £78,709). While an improvement on the position at the end of 2023, the tight margins in the operational activity of the Centre mean that c

RESERVES POLICY AND GOING CONCERN

The Centre aims to hold reserves equivalent of 1 to 3 service in the event of unexpected financial crisis. Unrestricted reserves at 31[st] July 2024 were £118,222 (2023 £82,177) an improvement from 2022-23 to 124% of the lower end of target, and 41% of the higher end (2022-23: 100% of lower end of target and 33% of the higher end). This reflects the operational improvement during the period, to a reported surplus following several years of deficits in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The expectation is that reserves will remain at a similar level until the Centre has the resources and capacity to invest in longer term, sustainable growth.

The Centre reported an operating surplus of £36,045 for the year (2022-23: deficit of £43,798) against an original budgeted surplus of £17,000. While the out-

challenge for the next few years will be to continue to secure sufficient, reliable, income streams to support its key operations, including the core costs that underpin them.

Cashflows and budgets to April 2026 and beyond include the following assumptions:

There are material uncertainties with the above assumptions, but taking the above factors into account the Board considers that the Centre has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and until at least April 2026. For this reason it continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Page 7

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

Looking forward the Centre expects to be able to achieve the following:

FUNDRAISING

The Centre manages its own fundraising activities and aims to achieve best practice in the way in which it communicates with donors and other supporters. It takes care with both the tone of its communications and the accuracy of its data to minimise the pressures on supporters. It applies best practice to p and never sells or shares data, and ensures that communication preferences can be changed at any time. The Centre undertakes to react to and investigate any complaints regarding its fundraising activities and to learn from them and improve its service.

During 2023-24, the Centre received no complaints about its fundraising activities.

STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The following statement is provided to enable readers of the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Centre to obtain a better understanding of its governance and legal structure. The statement covers the period from 1[st] August 2023 to 31[st] July 2024 and up to the date of the approval of the Annual Report and Financial Statements.

The Centre is a registered charity. The Board confirms that it has had due regard for the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and that the required statements appear elsewhere in these Financial Statements.

THE BOARD

The directors of the Centre, a charitable company, are its trustees for the purpose of charity law. The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Adeola Akande Pierre-Noel Adeola Akande Pierre-Noel (appointed 25thJune 2024)
Frances Bates (appointed 1stMarch 2024) Chair (from 1stMarch 2024) (resigned 10thDecember 2024)
Nadine Cartner
Graham Collins
James Collins (resigned 25th June 2024)
Christine Cryne (resigned 29th February 2024) Chair (until 29thFebruary 2024)
Veronica Daly (appointed 10thDecember 2024) Chair (from 10thDecember 2024)
Kim Duong (resigned 7thOctober 2024) Treasurer
Eva Henry
Nick Janmohamed (appointed 25thJune 2024)
Beatriz Montoya
Paul Nichols (re-appointed 31stJuly 2024)
Sally Todd (re-appointed 31stJuly 2024; resigned 7thOctober 2024)
Emma Wyatt
Company Secretary: Therese Reinheimer-Jones

Page 8

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD

The Centre operates selection criteria for recruitment of trustees to the Board so as to ensure that their skills and experience reflect the governance and operational needs of the Centre. Prospective trustees are interviewed by the Mary Ward Settlement Governance and Nominations Committee, which includes at least one trustee from the Centre. On selection, references will be taken up as to their suitability to be a trustee prior to a vote by the

TRUSTEE INDUCTION AND TRAINING

Each new trustee will have an induction programme designed to meet their needs as a trustee. The content of the programme will vary depending on their level of experience as a charity trustee and their knowledge and understanding of the Centre.

The programme will include spending time with each of the key management personnel. They are also encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.

ORGANISATION

The Centre has its own Board of up to 14 members who are trustees, nominated by Mary Ward Settlement. For the period under review Mr P Nichols and Ms E Wyatt were trustees of the Centre only. All other members were also trustees of the Mary Ward Settlement Board, which provides overall leadership and strategic direction. Subcommittees of the Settlement Board include a Finance Committee, Audit & Risk Committee and a Remuneration Committee which meet as necessary to manage key staffing, finance, fundraising and equal opportunities matters within a clear framework.

Day-to-day operational management of the Centre is delegated to the Chief Executive who is supported by a Senior Management Team consisting of the Director of the Centre and the Director of Finance and Resources.

The Chief Executive and her Senior Management Team oversee the smooth running of the Centre's staff who are divided into teams in accordance with Centre activities and projects.

RELATED PARTIES AND CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS

None of the trustees receive remuneration or other benefit from their work with the Centre. For the year under review, no trustee received remuneration in the year for their role as a trustee. There were no expenses and no related party transactions for the year ended 31[st] July 2024 (2023: none).

Any connection between a trustee or senior manager of the Centre and any organisation associated with the Centre must be disclosed to the Board in the same way as any contractual relationship with a related party. In the current year no such related party transactions were reported.

The Centre has built up strong positive relationships over many years with a range of agencies in both the public, private and charity sector. The Centre continues its outreach activities and the delivery of face-to-face legal advice to financially and socially excluded communities within London boroughs. As such, the Centre enjoys good co-operative working relations with an ever-growing number of partners and stakeholders in relation to a range of borough-based projects and activities that meet core charitable objectives.

PAY POLICY FOR KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

The trustees and the Senior Management Team comprise the key management personnel of the Centre in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the Centre on a day to day basis.

The pay of the Senior Management Team is reviewed annually by the Remuneration Committee, which then makes recommendations to the full Board. The employment costs of the Senior Management Team for their work in relation to the Centre are allocated to the Centre.

Page 9

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Board has a risk management strategy which comprises the following:

This work has identified that financial sustainability is the most significant risk to the Centre, given that approximately half of its income, excluding value in kind donations, comes from three sources: the Debt Free London debt advice contract funded by the Money and Pensions Service, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA); and Camden Council.

The Centre has a strategy to expand its housing advice provision as soon as it is able to do so, having secured additional legal aid contracts for the London boroughs of Southwark and Newham, leading to increased income streams as the services are developed. The key risk from this strategy relates to the current uncertainty over how quickly legal aid income will grow, following the extended impact of Covid-19 on the volume of housing possession work, which impacted both income and cash flow for several financial periods, and the difficulties in recruiting and retaining suitably qualified and/or experienced staff. In mitigation, the plan to grow the team has been temporarily stalled while legal aid income has been low; a close watch is being kept on volumes; and the Centre has invested in billing services, to enable more prompt and accurate billing, and to improve cash flows.

To address the risk of over-reliance on a small number of key funders, we continue to try to diversify our source of funds. The Centre has been successful in accessing new streams of funding, but these are small in comparison to the existing contracts and tend to be time limited to usually no more than 3 years.

Other significant risks facing the Centre are increasing demands being placed on already hard-working staff and quality failure in the advice being offered, and in our ability to recruit good staff either to replace leavers, or as we seek to grow the Housing Team. The first is mitigated by the use of an effective support and supervision system and regular team meetings, alongside a supportive culture and one that encourages open and honest communication. The second is minimised by the operation of an effective quality management system which is regularly externally assessed. To help mitigate the potential future risk of being unable to recruit suitably qualified staff, the Centre is investing in trainee solicitor/ apprentice roles.

Other operational risks are considered to be at a low level and are monitored by management.

Page 10

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

N TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

preparing t tatements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the income and expenditure of the Centre for that period.

In preparing these Financial Statements, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Centre and enable them to ensure that the Financial Statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Centre and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included -site. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

STATEMENT AS TO THE DISCLOSURE TO OUR AUDITORS

In so far as each of the trustees is

By order of the Board of Trustees

16/04/2025

Veronica Daly Chair

Page 11

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

Opinion

ended 31 July 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows, and the notes to the financial statements, including the principal accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting applicable in the UK and Republic of (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the cal responsibilities in accordance with these. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Material uncertainty related to going concern

7 the accounts on a going concern 18 of the financial statements, which indicates that material uncertainties exist related to going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements;

and

Page 12

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more s, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

Page 13

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR 9 S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our

Use of this report

members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s members those in an auditor’s report and for no other p urpose. To the fullest extent

members as a body, for our audit work, or the opinions we have formed.

Date: 17 April 2025

Catherine Biscoe (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Buzzacott Audit LLP, Statutory Auditor 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL

Page 14

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

Notes
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities:
Legal Services
4
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds:
Generating donations
and grants
Charitable activities:
Legal services
5
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET
INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
Transfers between
funds
19
NET MOVEMENT IN
FUNDS
RECONCILIATION OF
FUNDS:
FUNDS AT 1st AUGUST
2023
FUNDS AT 31st JULY
2024		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
321,374
157,361
478,735
11,717
-
11,717
467,018
(430,973)
36,045
82,177
118,222		 Restricted
Funds
£
32,259
819,494
851,753
-
1,282,726
1,282,726
(430,973)
430,973
-
-
-		 Total Funds
2024
£
353,633
976,855
1,330,488
11,717
1,282,726
1,294,443
36,045
-
36,045
82,177
118,222		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
181,155
119,619
300,774
11,510
-
11,510
289,264
(333,062)
(43,798)
125,975
82,177		 Restricted
Funds
£
18,333
757,963
776,296
-
1,109,358
1,109,358
(333,062)
333,062
-
-
-		 Total Funds
2023
£
199,488
877,582
1,077,070
11,510
1,109,358
1,120,868
(43,798)
-
(43,798)
125,975
82,177

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The charitable company has no recognised gains or losses other than those shown above.

The notes on pages 18 to 27 form part of these accounts.

Page 15

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 JULY 2024

Notes
CURRENT ASSETS
Work in progress
14
Debtors
15
Cash at bank and in hand
LIABILITIES
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
16
NET CURRENT ASSETS
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
NET ASSETS
THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY:
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
General fund
RESTRICTED FUNDS
19
TOTAL FUNDS		 2024
£
268,661
142,160
183,005
593,826
(475,604)
118,222
118,222
118,222
118,222
118,222
-
118,222		 2023
£
253,661
234,130
78,709
566,500
(484,323)
82,177
82,177
82,177
82,177
82,177
-
82,177

These accounts are prepared in accordance with Section 1a of FRS102 and the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act relating to small companies.

The notes on pages 18 to 27 form part of these Financial Statements.

Approved by the trustees on 1[st] April 2025.

Signed on behalf of the trustees

16/04/2025

Veronica Daly Chair

Company registration number: 0 2786099

Page 16

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

Notes
Net cash flows from operating activities:
22
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
23
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year		 2024
£
104,296
104,296
78,709
183,005		 2023
£
34,279
34,279
44,430
78,709

Page 17

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the Financial Statements are laid out below:

a) Basis of preparation

The Financial Statements have been prepared for the year to 31[st] July 2024. They have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policies below, or the notes to these Financial Statements. They have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006.

The Centre meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102.

The Financial Statements are presented in sterling and are rounded to the nearest pound.

b) Preparation of the Financial Statements on a going concern basis The Centre reported an operating surplus of £36,045 for the year (2022-23: deficit of £43,798) against an original budgeted surplus of £17,000. While the out-turn was an improvement on the anticipated level, the ll be to continue to secure sufficient, reliable, income streams to support its key operations, including the core costs that underpin them.

Cashflows and budgets to April 2026 and beyond include the following assumptions:

There are material uncertainties with the above assumptions, but taking the above factors into account the Board considers that the Centre has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and until at least April 2026. For this reason it continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

c) Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

Preparation of the Financial Statements requires the trustees to make significant judgements and estimates.

The item in the Financial Statements where these judgements and estimates have been made consist of the recoverability of work in progress and any consequent provision needed against work-in-progress and related debtors, and estimating the value of donated goods and services.

d) Income recognition Income is recognised in the period in which the Centre has entitlement to the income and the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received. Income is deferred only when the Centre has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor or funder has specified that the income is to be expended in a future accounting period.

Legal Aid Agency income is recognised for all work carried out on approved Legal Aid Agency cases at the point in time it is earned, at Legal Aid Agency rates. Where cases become eligible for payment at commercial, Inter Partes, rates, the higher fee is recognised only when the case is complete and ready to be billed.

Income comprises donations, bank interest, grants, fee and contractual income and other sundry income.

Page 18

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

d) Income recognition (continued) Donations and grants are recognised when the Centre has confirmation of both the amount and settlement date. In the event of donations and grants pledged but not received, the amount is accrued for where the receipt is considered probable. In the event that a donation or grant is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the Centre is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the Centre and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Fee and contractual income represent the amounts receivable for the services provided to clients, excluding value added tax, under contractual obligations which are performed gradually over time. Incomplete contracts at the balance sheet date are accounted for by reference to the fair value of the work performed and amounts due but not received at the balance sheet date are described in the Financial Statements as contractual income debtors.

Other sundry income is recognised to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Centre and the revenue can be measured reliably. It is measured at fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts, rebates, value added tax and other sales taxes.

Donated professional services are recognised as income when the Centre has control over them, any conditions associated with the donated service having been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the Centre of the item is probable and that the economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102), the time of general volunteers is not recognised.

Donated professional services are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the Centre which is the amount that the Centre would have been willing to pay to obtain those services on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the same period.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Centre; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

e) Fund accounting Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the Centre. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of

f) Expenditure recognition Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Centre to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and is classified as follows:

g) Allocation of support costs Support costs represent indirect charitable expenditure. In order to carry out the primary purposes of the Centre it is necessary to provide support in the form of personnel development, financial procedures, provision of office services and equipment and a suitable working environment. Governance costs comprise the costs involving the public accountability of the Centre (including audit costs) and costs in respect of compliance with regulation and good practice.

Support costs and governance costs are allocated to the one charitable activity: legal services.

Page 19

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

h) Leased assets Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as incurred.

i) Tangible fixed assets Individual fixed assets costing more than £1,000 or more are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their useful economic lives on a straight line basis as follows:

Furniture, fixtures and office equipment

20%

j) Work in progress Work in progress is the estimated value of legal work that could potentially have been invoiced at 31[st] July of the year in question. The value is calculated with reference to the time recorded by case workers which is expected to result in billable work, and is valued at standard Legal Aid Agency rates.

k) Debtors

Debtors are recognised at their settlement amount, less any provision for non-recoverability. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid. They have been discounted to the present value of the future cash receipt where such discounting is material.

l) Cash at bank and in hand Cash at bank and in hand represents such accounts and instruments that are available on demand or have a maturity of less than three months from the date of acquisition.

m) Creditors

Creditors are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Creditors are recognised at the amount the Centre anticipates it will pay to settle the debt. They have been discounted to the present value of the future cash payment where such discounting is material.

n) Pension contributions

of Financial Activities when they are payable to the scheme. The Centre has no liability beyond making its contributions and paying across the deducti

by the National Employers Savings Trust (NEST). Staff make a contribution of 2% and the Centre 6%.

Page 20

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

2. LEGAL STATUS OF THE CENTRE

The Centre is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the Centre being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the Centre.

3. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

NCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
Donations
Donated services		 2024
£
125,889
227,744
353,633		 2023
£
124,488
75,000
199,488

Donations include £77,000 from Linklaters LLP, £31,000 from Clifford Chance LLP, £5,000 from Weill, Gotschel & Manges, £5,000 from Farrer and Co and £1,500 from Bishop Sewell. Donated services comprise the estimated value of pro bono legal services by Eversheds Sutherland and the estimated value of seconded trainee solicitors by Linklaters LLP and Clifford Chance LLP. The equivalent expenditure of the donated services is included in operational staff costs and professional fees.

The Centre also benefits from the involvement and support of a number of other volunteers. In accordance with FRS102 and the Charities SORP (FRS102), the economic contribution of general volunteers is not recognised in the Financial Statements.

All of the above income is unrestricted except for donations of £32,259 which are restricted (2022-23: £18,333).

4. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

NCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Legal services:
Revenue grants
Advice and casework		 2024
£
410,281
566,574
976,855		 2023
£
304,393
573,189
877,582

All of the above income is restricted except for revenue grants of £157,361 (2022-23: £119,619) which are unrestricted.

5. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Salaries (including donated services)
Casework costs
Insurance
Other direct costs
Support costs (note 7)		 2024
£
654,685
55,712
3,396
23,916
545,017
1,282,726		 2023
£
660,594
18,567
3,543
13,976
412,678
1,109,358

Page 21

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

6. SUMMARY ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE AND RELATED INCOME FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Costs
Advice and casework contracts
Revenue grants
NALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS (incl. GOVERNANCE COSTS)
Staff costs
IT costs
Audit costs
Premises
Other support costs		 2024
£
(1,282,726)
566,574
410,281
(305,871)
2024
£
228,166
35,049
20,983
96,646
164,173
545,017		 2023
£
(1,109,358)
573,189
304,393
(231,776)
2023
£
225,968
34,310
17,000
122,881
12,519
412,678

7. ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS (incl. GOVERNANCE COSTS)

8.
NET EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR
2024
This is stated after charging:
£
:
Financial statements audit
12,983
SAR audit
8,000
Operating lease rentals
32,500
9.
ANALYSIS OF STAFF COSTS, TRUSTEE EXPENSES AND THE COST OF KEY
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
2024
£
Wages and salaries (including £75,000 donated services (2023: £75,000))
784,257
Social security costs
Other pension costs
68,353
41,958
894,568		 2024
£
12,983
8,000
32,500		 2023
£
9,000
8,000
61,281
2023
£
780,399
67,208
50,465
898,072

No above £60,000 in the year (2023: none).

23: £nil) nor did they receive any other benefits from employment, nor were they reimbursed any expenses (2023: £nil). No Centre trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the Centre (2023: £nil).

Page 22

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

9. ANALYSIS OF STAFF COSTS, TRUSTEE EXPENSES AND THE COST OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL (continued)

The key management personnel of the Centre comprise the Director of the Centre and those members of the Senior Management Team of Mary Ward Settlement who provided services to the Centre as part of their role for the Mary Ward Settlement. These members of staff, comprising the Warden and CEO and Director of Finance and Resources of the Mary Ward Settlement did not receive any additional remuneration for their work on behalf of the Centre, however, a portion of their costs were recharged by the Mary Ward Settlement. Total recharged costs from the Mary Ward Settlement for recharged staff was £157,932 (2023: £153,294), of which £10,186 (2023: £11,250) related to the Senior Management Team of Mary Ward Settlement. Total key management personnel remuneration for the year was £68,773 (2023: £71,309).

10. STAFF NUMBERS

The average number of staff employed each month was 26 (2023: 24). The average number of staff, in both number and full-time equivalent, employed each month was as follows:

Operational staff
Support staff		 2024
No.
fte
19
17
7
4
26
21		 2023
No.
Fte
18
16
6
5
24
21

11. ULTIMATE PARENT UNDERTAKING AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Mary Ward Settlement, a registered charity (Charity Registration Number 223066) and company (Company Registration Number 46188) is the ultimate parent undertaking of the Centre. The Financial Statements do not include disclosure of transactions between the Centre and the Settlement. As a 100% controlled subsidiary undertaking, the Centre is exempt from the requirement to disclose such transactions under Financial Reporting Standard 102 Section 33.

There were no other related party transactions in the year (2023: none).

12. GOVERNMENT GRANTS

The Centre receives income from both the Legal Aid Agency and the London Borough of Camden. However all of the funding is contractual and relates directly to the provision of services.

13. CORPORATION TAXATION

The Centre is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

14. WORK IN PROGRESS

Work in progress is the value of legal casework not yet assessed by the Legal Aid Agency.

Page 23

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

15. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors		 2024
£
104,283
34,067
3,810
142,160		 2023
£
85,916
134,464
13,750
234,130

16. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Taxes and social security costs
Accruals and deferred income
Annual leave accrual
Amounts owed to group companies
Other creditors		 2024
£
12,946
291,216
14,938
150,998
5,506
475,604		 2023
£
19,406
289,955
14,938
158,735
1,289
484,323

17. DEFERRED INCOME

Deferred income is made up of income, received in advance, for services to be delivered after 31[st] July 2024.

Opening balance as at 1stAugust
Amount released to income earned from charitable activities
Amount deferred in year
Balance as at 31stJuly		 2024
£
245,413
(245,413)
208,956
208,956		 2023
£
57,173
(57,173)
245,413
245,413

18. LEASE OBLIGATIONS

At 31st July the Centre had minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases falling due as follows:

Land and buildings
Not later than one year
Between one and two years
Between two and five years		 2024
£
32,500
32,500
65,000
130,000		 2023
£
32,500
32,500
97,500
162,500

Page 24

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

19. ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE FUNDS

Restricted funds:
Legal Aid Agency
Money
and
Pensions
Service
Debt Free Advice
London
Borough
of
Camden
Legal Education
Foundation
Trust for London
London Legal Support
Trust
Community Links
Advice UK
Housing Possession Court
Duty Scheme
GLA AiCS
St Giles & St George
St Andrew Holborn
Linklaters LLP
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
General fund
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 Balance
1 August
2023
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
82,177
82,177
82,177		 Movement
Income
£
214,089
134,325
189,270
54,000
52,792
123,407
11,503
2,000
3,380
12,007
1,757
20,964
32,259
851,753
478,735
478,735
1,330,488		 in resources
Expenditure
£
(320,901)
(201,714)
(283,815)
(81,689)
(79,884)
(185,400)
(18,188)
(2,988)
(5,051)
(18,941)
(2,625)
(32,326)
(49,204)
(1,282,726)
(11,717)
(11,717)
(1,294,443)		 Transfers
£
106,812
67,389
94,545
27,689
27,092
61,993
6,685
988
1,671
6,934
868
11,362
16,945
430,973
(430,973)
(430,973)
-		 Balance
31 July
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
118,222
118,222
118,222

Where income has been received specifically for services provided by the Centre it is shown as restricted income. Expenditure has been fully allocated to those services provided by the Centre based on operational headcount. Unrestricted income and/or reserves are shown as transfers to t allocated expenditure exceeds the sources of restricted income for each service.

Name of Fund Description, nature and purpose of fund

General Fund

Legal Aid Agency

Money and Advice Service Debt Free Advice

London Borough of Camden

Funds that can be used for any purpose consistent with the achievement of the

Funding for housing advice and representation (where applicable) for people eligible for legal aid.

Funding to provide debt advice.

Funding to provide specialist advice in the areas of debt, housing and welfare benefits, to people who live in Camden.

The Trust for London

Funding for a specialist welfare benefits caseworker.

Legal Education Foundation

Funding for a trainee solicitor as part of the LEF's Justice First Fellowship.

London Legal Support Trust

Funding under their Centres of Excellence scheme.

Page 25

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

19. ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE FUNDS (continued)

Name of Fund

Description, nature and purpose of fund

Community Links

Funding to provide housing advice to users of Community Links.

Advice UK

Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme

Funding towards help with Debt Relief Orders (DRO) for people eligible for a DRO.

Funding to provide housing advice at court to people facing possession.

St Giles & St Georges

Funding to provide generalist advice to people living in their area of benefit.

St Andrew Holborn

Funding to provide generalist advice to people living in their area of benefit.

GLA AiCS GLA Advice in Community Settings -Funding to provide advice to food bank users in Newham

Linklaters LLP

Funding to support the employment and training of a trainee solicitor.

Restricted funds:
Legal Aid Agency
Money
and
Pensions
Service
Debt
Free
London
London
Borough
of
Camden
Legal Education
Foundation
Trust for London
London Legal Support
Trust
Community Links
Citizens Advice Enfield
GLA AiCS
Linklaters LLP
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
General fund
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 Balance
1 August
2022
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
125,975
125,975
125,975		 Movement in resources
Income
Expenditure
£
£
169,029
(241,549)
153,835
(219,837)
170,573
(243,756)
38,825
(55,483)
52,625
(75,203)
93,324
(133,363)
42,200
(60,305)
23,884
(34,131)
13,668
(19,532)
18,333
(26,199)
776,296
(1,109,358)
300,774
(11,510)
300,774
(11,510)
1,077,070
(1,120,868)		 Transfers
£
72,520
66,002
73,183
16,658
22,578
40,039
18,105
10,247
5,864
7,866
333,062
(333,062)
(333,062)
-		 Balance
31 July
2023
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
82,177
82,177
82,177

Page 26

MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

20. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS

There have been no events that will have a material impact on the Financial Statements.

21. RECONCILIATION OF NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS TO NET CASHFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

CTIVITIES
Net movement in funds
(Increase) in work in progress
Decrease/ (increase) in debtors
(Decrease) / increase in creditors
Net cash provided by operating activities		 2024
£
36,045
(15,000)
91,970
(8,719)
104,296		 2023
£
(43,798)
(53,217)
(9,755)
141,049
34,279

22. ANALYSIS OF NET DEBT

Total cash and cash equivalents:Cash at bank and in hand At 1
August
2023
£
78,709		 Cash
flows
£
104,296		 At 31
July 2024
£
183,005

23. CLIENT MONIES

At 31[st] July 2024 the Centre held money on behalf of clients in "Client" bank accounts of £154,252 (2023: £171,454).

Page 27