BRISTOL LAW CENTRE (A company Ilmited by guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Bristol Law Ir GJcent,. Registered charity number- 1059022 Company number- 1982371 REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 CONTENTS Pa Trustees, report 2-14 Reference and administrative details 15 Independent Auditors, report 16-19 Statement of financial activities 20 Balance sheet 21-22 Cash flow statement 23 Notes to the financial statements 24-36 Detailed income and expenditure account 37 BRISTOL LAW CENTRE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2024 Introduction from the Chair of Trustees The challenges for people who cannot afford to pay for legal advice and representation to uphold their rights have increased again this year, due to continuing external pressures and the limited capacity in the specialist advice sector to meet increased need. In 2023-24, Bristol Law Centre provided legal advice, casework and representation to 1,042 people. The difference advice makes goes beyond legal resolution, as one recent Law Centre client said we "change my life, help my stress be better, my confidence" You can read some client stories on pages 8-10. The Law Centre's culture, shared by all trustees and staff, is of learning and improvement. This was embedded in our 2023-28 strategic plan launched at the start of the financial year. The strategy steers the Law Centre to continue to secure justice through legal advice and representation, increase its public policy reach, maintain quality, and enable communities to better exercise their rights. One focus in the year has been ongoing development of our Assessment and Support team including closer relationships with other organisations, given the vital role of effective signposting for people in need of advice. The team have also started attending housing court on possession days to ensure people get all the help they need to avoid homelessness. We are the lead partner in the South West Immlgratlon Alliance, a three-year project started in 2023 to improve access to specialist immigration legal services. This links the law centre directly with the refugee and asylum sector and other advice providers. The Southwest region is the worst legal aid desert for immigration law, and a focus for the project is increasing skilled advice capacity while also working on ecosystems and influencing- for example around the Review of Civil Legal Aid. During the last year, the Law Centre increased its local, regional and national influence by participating in events such as the Black Southwest Network's first conference on access to justice. In June 2024, our local advice partnership delivered the major Future of Advice in Bristol event and detailed report; and we spoke about priorities for the public and the justice system to a national audience at the Ombudsman Association conference. Our CEO became the vice-chair of ACFA in 2023, a network of advice charities in the West of England region combatting poverty and social injustice, now working with the local NHS Integrated Care Board toward5 funding for advice to help prevent and address health needs and inequalities. A huge thank you to all our funders, supporters and partners, both longstanding and new, for their commitment to our work. A full list is on page 28 of this report, and in 2023 we were pleased to become charity of the year of the insurer ARAG, an ongoing relationship that goes beyond donations to include additional legal support adding to our existing pro-bono services. We employ a talentedp passionate and dedicated team who regularly go above and beyond. We are proud 100% of our staff said in an anonymised survey they would recommend Bristol Law Centre as a good place to work. Our workforce strategy has focused on retention, development and recruitment, and we have embedded a Head of Seniices role to lead on these with a focus on wellbeing. In April 2024, we welcomed our fourth Justice First Fellow trainee solicitor, developing vital new talent in the social welfare advice sector. Showcasing our team, one of our housing Docusign Envelope ID.. E674E27￿894A4Ffj1-9B7A-06CEBA7933C4 BRISTOL LAW CENTRE solicitors was shortlisted in the 2023 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards, and our Finance Manager shortlisted for the Bristol Law Society awards in the same year. The Law Centre is a special place. It is often the last hope for people facing homelessness, discrimination, denial of benefits, and insecure immigration status. l extend my thanks to all the staff and volunteers who work so hard to enable to help people achieve justice, and to fellow trustees past and present for their energy and insights. 2410912024 Oliver Lewis (Chair of Trustees) Date BRISTOL LAW CENTRE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2024 continued Our purpose Our vision is a society where everyone has access to justice. Our mission is to improve the lives of disadvantaged people in Bristol and across the South West through providing access to justice. Our values: Independence Quality Access to Justice Law Centre Partnership Respect Influence Our vision, mission and objectives reflect the purposes of the charity set out in the objects contained in its memorandum of association as follows: The relief of financial hardship and other forms of distress in the designated area through the provision of legal and advisory representation and information services to people who could not otherwise obtain them through lack of means. The advancement of education among people resident or working in the designated area in respect of the law and administration of justice, having regard especially to those areas of law of particular concern to people experiencing fi'nancial hardship or other forms of distress The advancement of such other charitable purposes as are beneficial to the community for persons resident or working in the designated area. Our objectives (reworded in 2023 to ensure they are 'active'); l. Securing justice through legal advice and representation 2. Influencing public policy 3. Empowering local communities to better exerclse their rights 4. Being a centre of excellence Our Activlties The Law Centre provides free legal advice and representation to people who otherwise would not be able to afford acce5S to justice to challenge decisions affecting them {objective l). We focus on social welfare law issue5 such as housing, discrimination, welfare benefits, immigration & asylum, employment and mental health/court of protection. The Law Centre is unique in its diversity of funding (including legal aid), areas of law, and specialist level of work. It offers a unique and important service to the citizens of Bristol and neighbouring counties and also has a regional reach. BRISTOL LAW CENTRE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2024 continued Dealing with complex and overlapping legal issues transforms the live5 of the people, alleviating poverty and tackling Social exclusion, marginalisation and disadvantage. Public Benefit The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity's Aims and Objectives. All our charitable activities focus on the provision of legal advice and representation, helping people understand and exercise their legal rights, and are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit. Our services are open to the public and free to our clients; people who could not otherwise afford to pay for a legal professional. We provide legal advice and representation across a wide range of legal areas that impact on people's everyday lives in significant ways. This work is not only of benefit to our individual clients but also to the wider community given the economic and social impact of our work. To achieve greater public benefit, the Law Centre is committed to working in a collaborative and sustainable way with our partners acr05S the voluntary, public, and private sectors. Our artners referrers and networks include: Nationally: Law Centres, Network ILCN}, AdviceUK, NFJ (Network for Justice), Junior Lawyers Network (JLN), Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL), LAPG (Legal Aid Practitioners Group), Law Works, practitioner groups ILPA, HLPA & MHPA {Immigration, Housing and Mental Health Law respectively). Regionally: ACFA Advice Network {including ACFA seat on ICB'S VCSE Alliance) - West of England area. South West Immigration Alliance {we are the lead partner, with 7 others} West of England Pro Bono Group Bristol: Bristol Advice Partnership16 others are Citizens Advice, North Bristol Advice, South Bristol Advice, St Paul's Advice, Talking Money and WECILI, BHCDS (Bristol Hate Crime & Discrimination Services-with SARI, Bristol Mind, OTR, Brandon Trust, Resolve West), Bristol Pro Bono Network, Housing Roundtable, Bristol Refugee Rights. Housing Matters, Shelter Bristol, WRAMAS (Money and Rights advice service within Bristol City Council), One City groups, strategic development and meetings with Bristol City Council. BRISTOL LAW CENTRE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2024 continued We work with volunteer solicitors to deliver pro bono advice clinics, from the following firms: Avon and Somerset Family Law, Bevan Brittan, Osborne Clarke, Powells Law, Temple Bright, TLT, Unity Street Chambers, VWV, Wards, Watkins Solicitors. Achievements & Performance 2023-24 37 people Ivere advised aiicl i-epi-eseiited i-egai-diiig tlieii- Iiosi)Itcil deteiition o COIiiIiiLiliity treatiiieiit under the Meiital Health Act, enal)liiig patieiit participation arid viekvs arouiid tlieir care to be coiisidered Provided Legal support for immigration and asylum issues for 136 new cases: 760/0 of asylum/inimigration applications resulted in grant of leave to reiiiain at Stage IILH with a further 120/0 continuing as ongoing cases. 90 % SLiccess rate at appeal, in contrast to roughly 43% national average for overtLirning refusals. Helped 36 people/fainiLies with their settlement application to achieve indefinite leave to reniain. Provided specialist iiiiiiiigration advice and assisted to regLilarise the status of 27 people who are rough sleeping in Bristol, to help bring theni out of homeLessness through access to public funds and eiititlemeiit to local autliority SLipport. Worked with 22 children and yOLing people to achieve stable iniinigration status througli asyluim and citizenship applications. Provided Legal representation and casework on 75 hoLising cases. These have predoininaiitLy been possession proceedings or homelessness cases. Advi4eed 59 iiuml)er of people on their riglitr in chalLengii)g dieJcrimiiiation or uiifair treatmeiit at iiiork. 87 Qh underrtoocl tlieir rights better.Iiid 77 okn felt more coiificleiit to challenge future incidei)teJ if to occur SecLirecl £33.000 ii) financial ertLemente oute ide of court/tribunal in 4 caraee Provided 168 people facing possession of their honie with on- the-day representation as part of the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service. 93Qh of PIP tribunal appeals ivere ucceer fill Secured £l,010:982 for appellants in tribunal av2ards and continlied beiiefit entitlenient aiid IOO¥o said they felt an iniprovenient in tlieir: stress, coiif icleiice. healtli, hoiNd they feel about theiiiselves. Supported 359 people to prepare for their appoiiitiiieiits iiiitli oiie of our 55 voluiiteer lakvyers, regardi ng a faiiiily Lak'sf, eniployiiient laiAi or civiL litigation ISSLIe. BRISTOL LAW CENTRE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2024 continued Working together as a connected, stronger voice of influence Bristol. North Somerset and South Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance is committed to enhancing the role of the VCSE sector as a key strategic partner in the transformation and delivery of local health services as part of the Integrated Care System. This collaboration aims for effective healthcare and advice provision to improve the wellbeing of local people, ensurin8 focus on the wider determinants of health such as housing, financial security and family relationships. South West Immigration Alliance is a partnership of 8 organisations to improve access to immigration advice in Bristol and across the South West region. We are on our way to strengthening each organisation's local response and collectively providing a more robust regional network. We have made progress in improving referral systems, training provision, recruitment of a dedicated senior caseworker and infrastructure development to attract further funding. We are committed to helping migrants and asylum seekers regularise their immigration status to enable greater inclusion in society through employment, access to public funds and housing rights. Bristol CAN {Court Advisory Network) is a collaboration of four organisations providing a weekly presence at possession hearings at the local Court. They offer referral/signposting support, and debt and welfare advice, alongside legal representation from the Duty Solicitor for the hearing. This holistic way of supporting Defendants seeks to address both the housing issue and underlying advice needs. This project sits within and is a result of regular 'Housing Roundtable, discussions held with the intention to combine expertise of local housing advice organisations and senior staff at Bristol City Council to consider homelessness trends, housing needs, capacity building and develop practical solutions. West of England Pro Bono Group is a newly developed wider network of the former Bristol Pro Bono Group. It is an excellent collaboration between law firms, universities, advice centres and Law Centres. The aim is to provide capacity to pro bono advice initiatives and think creatively about how to deliver against legal advice needs acros5 the region. The network is connected to other regional partnerships and the National Pro Bono Centre, coming together to share challenges and best practice for stronger and more coordinated pro bono responses and projects. BRISTOL LAW CENTRE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2024 continued Securing justice through legal advice and representation Our dedicated team provide specialist legal support to hundreds of people each year on a range of social welfare law issues. With increasing numbers of people locked out of accessing the free legal advice that they need, we continue to strive to strengthen provision both for our locality where demand is highest and for areas considered 'advice deserts,. Our work disrupts cycles of inequality by using the law to improve people's lives; keeping them in their homes and employment, providing access to benefits, and able to access opportunities that help them thrive. We strongly advocate for access to justice for all and support those who experience disadvantage, often multiple and intersecting, such as housing insecurity, financial hardship and destitution, discrimination and irregular immigration status. We take pride in representing community members to overcome overwhelming and seemingly insurmountable legal problems so they can move beyond them with dignity and confidence about their future. Empowering local communities to better exercise their rights We supported Auriol who has been registered blind since 1982, in her claim against Sainsbury's. Her case was that the supermarket's withdrawal of their assisted shopping service during the pandemic, and for a total of 19 months, constituted a failure to make a reasonable adjustment and was therefore an act of disability discrimination. The judge agreed and awarded her the compensation she had asked for but Auriol was clear throughout the case that it wasn't about the money" As the judge quoted in his judgment: "The Claimant's evidence has been, as is her Impact Statement: impassioned, determined and eloquent. She told me in her closing submissions that this wasn't a service which was trivial in nature. This concerned, at the time of the pandemic, an individual's ability to gain access to food, which is one of the most basic human needs." We are delighted with this outcome following Auriol's tenacious challenge. highlighting the need for services to do better by disabled people. "The support of Bristol Law Centre was vital to me, in the bringing of this case. It would not have been possible without the law centre's support." Hassan contacted the Law Centre for advice having been dismissed after 10 years of employment. He felt targeted, bullied and unfairly treated. He made a claim to the Employment Tribunal, and a final hearing was listed just short of two years after the claim was submitted. Hassan was a litigant in person and could not afford a solicitor and so sought help from our Pro Bono Advice Clinic. His first appointment was a few months after the dismissal to gain advice on his options on challenging his employer. Most recently he was required to complywith tribunal directions requestingfor a schedule of loss and witness statement, but was unable to complete these a5 he suffered a brain injury and BRISTOL LAW CENTRE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2024 continued was hospitalised for several weeks. Once out of hospltal, he was unsure how to proceed, including what response he should provide for the settlement offer that was made by the Respondent. In his latest advice session, Hassan spoke with an experienced barrister who volunteers as part of our Clinic. The volunteer was able to discuss the chronology of events, Hassan's claim and the legal arguments and evidence he would need to provide to satisfy the Tribunal that his dismissal was indeed unfair. The volunteer went through relevant calculations that would applyto the Schedule of Loss and discussed the Respondent's settlement offer and a more appropriate counter offer. To assist further, the volunteer drafted a Schedule of Loss that could be sent through to the Tribunal. He was able to accept a settlement offer with confidence and put an end to stressful legal proceedings. Havin8 received the advice on the phone and the accompanying written note, Hassan said the following in regard to his experience with a volunteer lawyer: "A million of thanks for always helping me and I will never forget you. Thank you so much" Challenging injustice for fairer outcomes Sophie became at risk of losing her home of 30 years when her housing association initiated possession proceedings due to alleged anti-social behaviour. This came after considerably hostile interactions with a neighbouring couple where Sophie was left feeling victimised by their behaviour and by her landlord's inaction having failed to investigate any of her concerns. These incidents led to Sophie's mental health deteriorating and her GP referring her to the Adult Safeguarding Team. We supported Sophie to defend and contest these allegations. During this process, her husband also experienced life threatening health challenges and underwent an operation. It became uncertain how he would cope at trial and questioning. In light of the potential toll of continued litigation on both Sophie and her husband, we were able to instead negotiate a Suspended Possession Order and change of Housing Officer for ongoing communications. This has given them space to focus on family life, without the overwhelm of going to trial. Possession proceedings against Sophie were suspended, they now have new neighbours and feel happy and safe in their home again. Sophie felt immense relief when the case settled. Commenting on the difference our support made to her, Sophie said: "[It] changed my world and my mental Stability" Alleviating poverty and improving wellbeing One of the people we supported to appeal a PIP benefit decision at tribunal in the last year was Denise. BRISTOL LAW CENTRE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2024 continued She has a long-term physical disability due to suffering from heart failure. She also suffers from anxiety, depression and social phobia. She experiences fatigue, dizziness, memory difficulties, severe discomfort and cannot undertake strenuous movement without experiencing heart arrhythmia. Her initial application for PIP was refused at which point she sought our help. Our representations clarified the extent to which Denise's conditions affected her mobility and daily living and challenged the health assessor's reliance on the mention of 'good days, which failed to explore that this is relative to days where she is completely bedbound and unable to engage at all with daily needs such as cooking and social interaction, in essence meaning that even 'good days, involved considerable discomfort and inability to carry out key daily activities. We see how disabled people are regularly failed by health assessments that are superficial and punitive to appellants who may be unableto communicate how much theystruggle and are therefore denied critical financial support they need to support themselves. Having access to a legal representative who can fight their corner makes all the difference. "Thanks so much for your amazing help with my PIP tribunal. It's truly lift-changingfor me, ond you were both so wonderful- I couldn't have done it without your Gdvice, patience and reassurance." Denise's appeal was won, resulting in over £IO.000 award and entitlement to ongoing PIP benefit. Enabling people to access the asylum system for a safe life in the UK We 5UPPOrted an asylum seeker who instructed us whilst in immigration detention, upon receiving a notice of intent from the Home Office. The client was at risk of having his asylum claim declared inadmissible in the UK and of being removed to Rwanda within a week. We made urgent and immediate representations to submit why this would not be lawful. We assisted him with an application for bail not long after and continued with complex litigation involving fourjudicial Review applications to take away the threat of removal to Rwanda and for the Home Office to agree to consider his asylum claim in the UK. Eventually the Home Office agreed to recognise him as a refugee and provided him with immigration status. Abdul, a victim of trafficking and forced labour, has faced an extraordinarily stressful two years waiting for a decision, in limbo, with the threat of deportation looming and not being able to have his asylum claim considered in the UK. The emotional toll has been immense and all involved are happy with the outcome of this legal challenge and the onward prospects for Abdul to legally settle in the UK. Plans for the Future We will continue our focus on workforce, partnerships, Sustainable and core funding and extending our reach and our influence. We will develop our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion commitment to include anti-racism work with partners locally, regionally and nationally. Securing health funding will better connect health and advice systems for the benefit of the people we help; and growing our 10 BRISTOL LAW CENTRE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2024 continued capacity in specialist areas of advice including immigration, housing and discrimination will help better meet people's needs. 2023- 2028 Strategic Plan Our vision is a societywhere everyone has access to justice Our nission is improvir@ the lives of disadvantaged people in Bristol and across the South West through providing access to justice Organisation Objectives Securing judice through legal admce and representation Empowering local communlties to better exercise their rrghts Influencing public policy Being a centre of excellence Alms We hav* avoice on 1¥sU￿ 4ffEcting our ¢¢mmunille¥ by using ow expertise, dataand experienc• to slèer decision makers aThl We provlde high quality. $pe¢ialisl advlc• •nd repre$entstion and have a repiilation I offeriry high standard• of service deliveréd ty a ¢c*nmStttd te*m off*1 accessi14e and inclusiv• servi¢es tt* meet the legal advl¢e eeds ofthe ¢ommunlty We preventwornenirwJ disadvantage faced It *ff*ctrd povety Inèquallty by supporting thtm b> challenge de¢i$io Pdivities (Thr ftlly rgdwa•Jts ￿me￿I•￿ OAitymaks Mart￿r￿ pxcth hap8eEkss Fth5&tiir ¢Jl*ts ai ttktwe*ukwlth Wtyk ￿￿L#l￿￿￿j￿p 8*ws1n8p mi