eQcanolfan Gyfraith Speakeasy Law Centre South Wales Law Centre Ltd t/a "Speakeasy Law Centre" Annual Report and Accounts For the Year to 31 March 2025 Contents Charity Infomiaiion Report of the Trustees Report of the Independent Examiner Statemeni of Financial Activities Balance Sheet 10 Notes to the Accounts South Wales Law Centre- Annual Report for the Year to 31 March 2025 Charity Information Charity Name.. South Wales Law C¢nire Ltd Working Names.. Speake&qy Law Centre Regislered NuTnbers'. Company Number: Charity Number: 7550894 1140949 Registered Office.. 166 Richmond Road Cardiff CF24 3BX Website address.. www.speakeasy.cyrnru Trustees: Nornian Adams John Loosemore Nkini Pulei Stcve Williams David Horton Rebecca Jane Matyus Christina Kio-BeT]nett Madeline Rees Joseph Kelly (R¢signed 13th Septsmber 2024) (Resigned 5th March 2025) (Appointed 2nd May 2025} Centre Dire¢tor-. Warren Palmer Independeftt Examiner: St¢v¢ Ellum Steve Ellum & Associates L Chartered Accountants Adulum House Glan Yr Afo Llanelli SA15 3QB Bankers.. The Co-operative Bank pl¢ PO Box 250 Delf House South Way Skelmersdale WN8 6WT Metro Bank One Souihamplon Row London WCIB5HA South Wales Law Centre- Annual Report for the Year to 31 March 2025 Report of the Trustees (incorporating the directors, report) For the Year to 31 March 2025 The trustees present tlieii report and the independently examined financial statements of the cliariiy for the year ended 31 March 2025, whieli are also prepared to meet the reguirements for a directors, report and accounts for Companie5 Act purposes. The truste￿ have adopted ihe provisions of the Stateineni of Recommended Praciice ISORP}"Accounting and Reporting by Charities" Objectives and activities As laid irt lis governing docufftertt the chariiy exisisfor The promotion of any charilable purpose for the benefit of rhe communiry of South Wales by the advancement of edii¢ation, the protection of health and tlie relief of poverty, si¢kness and disiress. The Speakeasy Law C¢ntre has provided free legal advice for more than 30 years to some of the most viilnerable people within the Communily. We are currently the only Law Cenire in Wales. We aTe unique in Wales in being the only not-for-profil agency that employs solicitors for each of Debt. Housing. Welfare Benefits and Employment problein5. We are also the only not-for-profit organisation in Wales that regularly provides Iraining contTact5 for solicitors. Our Inain aLliviliLS IIILlude'. Delivei'ing freL, high qLiality. legal advice and reprcs¢ntation.' Acting on behalf of clients and dealing witli their creditor5, hclping tlietn to manage tlieir tinances better and releasing them from debt: Advising on benefit entitlement and cliallenging decisions of the DWP where these appear inc0￿eCt or unfair, often taking complex cases to Tribunal- Assisting clients faced with homelessness, disrepair or other housing problems. Advising on employment rights and drafting d(Kuments for Employment Tribunal claims. South Wales Law Centr¢- A1￿U81 Re￿rt for the Year to 31 March 2025 Achievements and Performance Helping those in financial need Our goal is to provide early, easily acccssible advi¢e within our looal communities. Clients can contact us at our main office in Roath, which is highly visibl¢ and on the main routes in the e&st of the city and in outreach clinics ai community venues. We also work closely with Glenwix)d Food Panlry, providing a drop-in ¢lini¢ each Friday at Gl¢nwo(xl Church and Wellbeing Cemre when the Pantry is optn. Clients therefore ¢onla¢t us by phone. email. through our website, by attending our oifice or thn)ugh support workers. We work closely with Citizens Advice, Cardiff and Vale. both under the Welsh Government's Single Advice Fund and Cardiff Council funding. We also work closely with the Publi¢ Law Proj¢¢t's Wal¢s Lawyer and th¢ LGBTQ+ Law Clinic, while 5UPPOrt workers from Salvation Arniy, Pobl, Cardiff Council and other organisations r¢gul2rly refer their clients to us. This means that clients are able to access a holistic service across different agencies. Some statis¢ic5 Ov¢r the course of the year, we helped clients with 1.112 cases and enquiTies.' 289 with debt problems. 241 for housing issues, 336 with welfare benefit enquiries or appeals, 169 dealing with employment problems, with another 72 people seen who needed a food voucher and 5 for stat￿Ory Declarations. More than £417,OUO of debt was written off for clients as a result of our work this year, while we helFd clients manage a further £548,300 through advice and renegotiation. We also helped our clients gain an extra £635,081 of welfar¢ b¢nefstb this year. Cases Housing remkins a ¢riti¢al issu¢ in Wales. with far more need for secure and affordable housing than is available. We advise and help many people each year who are faC￿j with homelessness and need io apply to the local authority for help. With such pressure on resource& at times vulnerable people and families are refi]sed help or offered inappropriate accornrnodation. In such cases, we help them ask the Council to review the offer of accommodation so that their particular n¢eds are c(KJsid¢red. (hher times. there are ongoing problems with disrepair and sub-standard housing. both in the social and private sectors. Again. we con idvise the client, help them involve environmental health and negotiate with the landlord or agents. One notsble outcome from our employment law advice was negotiating a financial settlement for a client with autism, who had been dismissed after severdl years. Our b¢nefilS team r¢presented several clients at Tribunals this year, appealing succe￿fullY large benefit overpayment d¢¢isions and achieving large arrears payments for clients. We Continue to run a very popular pro bono clinic with local solicitors &TKI law students. We connect solicitors from lo¢a] firnis to people across South Wa]es in need of etnploytnent law advi¢¢, with law students gait]in8 experience by helping set up the meetings and observing ihe solicitors give advice. South Wales Law Centre- Annu21 Report for tlie Year to 31 Marcli 2025 Achievements and Performance (continued) Employing ind Tr*ining a new generation of social welfare laivyers The Speakeasy Law Centr¢ has a unique rol¢ in Iraining social wclfarc lawyers in Wales. The only third sector Organisation in Wales to provide solicitor training contracts, we have provided training for 20 trainee solicitors i all since we opened in 1992 and 12 since 2013. We are grateful to the Legal EdLication Foundation for providing grants for the training of several of th¢5e solicitors. Of tl)ose we have trained over the years, many continue to work at the Speakeasy Law Centre or with other third sector organisations. while others go on to public service roles such as the Wclsh Governinenl Legal Service. HM Courts and Tribunals Service. the NHS Legal team and S4C. The SpealLeasy Law Centre's role in WAles and South-East Woles This year, the Cenire Director ¢ontinucd to bc involved in the National Advice Network. This is a group selected by ilie Welsh Govemmeni Minister, Jane Hutt, to advise the Welsh Government on its strategy for the promotion and sUPPOrt of free legal advice in Wales. He is also one of two Third Sector representativ￿ for the Legal Wales Committee, tl)at includes Judges, Barristers, Senior Soliciiors and legal academics. He also Continued as a part of a steering groiip to set lip a new law centre in nortli Wales, acting as consliltant and Iiiakiiig Iiis L.KpLI'ienLL uf IliL iidwiiL SLLtvi' iii Wncems and have come across no orher matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order lo ¢nable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Steve Ellum Steve Ellum & ￿sOCiateS Chartered Accountants Independent exatniner Adul8m House Glan Yr Afon Llanelli SA15 3QB Date.. 10th October 202S Soutl) Wales Law CentTe- Annual Repon for tlie Year to 31 March 2025 Statement of Financial Activities (including income and expenditure account) for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Unrestricted Fund5 General Designated 2025 2025 Restrieted Funds 2025 Total 202S Total 2024 Notes Income from: DonatlQDS and legacies 21.733 21,733 19,411 Charitable activitles 32,800 239,353 272,153 269,841 Investments 3.165 3,165 672 Other 1,868 1,868 3,835 Total Income 59,566 239,353 298,919 293,759 Expenditure on: Raising Funds 19,697 19,697 14.108 Charitable activittes 74.411 239.353 3 13.764 302,392 T(Trtal Expenditurv 94,lQ8 239,353 33i,461 3161,500 Net incomel(expcnditure} YLt n)i)VL'fflent fund.s (34,5421 li4,i421 122.7411 Reconciliation of Funds Total tunds brought fO￿ard 462,063 462,063 484.804 Total lunds carried forward 427.521 427,521 462.063 Tlic notes on pages I I to 20 form part of these financial statements. South Wales Law Centre- Annual Rewrt for the Year to 31 March 2025 Balance Sheet at 31 March 2025 2025 21124 Notes Flxed ￿ets Tangible &ssets li 305.861 308,788 Totsl fixed 4&8¢ts 305,861 308,788 Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 12 4.929 140,178 165,568 145,107 165,681 Creditors.. Amounts falling due within one year 13 (23.447) (12.406) Net eurrent a&qets 121,660 153,275 Total assets less ¢urrent Ilabfilltles 427,521 462,063 Net assets 427.521 462,063 Represented by: Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 14 15 427,521 462.063 427.521 462.063 For the 12 months ending 31 March 2024, the company w&8 entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the yeox in qu￿1]0￿ in accordance with section 476. The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the prepardtion of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicabl¢ to companies subject lo the small companies, regime. These financial ￿atements were approved and authoris¢d for issue by the trustees on 3rd (kto￿r 2025 and signed on their ￿half by-. John t￿03eM0re Chair of Trustees Steve Williams Treasurer Company Number: 7550894 10 South Wales Law Cenire - Annual Report for the Year to 31 Mar¢h 2025 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Company information SoLiih Wales Law Centre is a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wale5, registration number 7550894, and a registered charity number 1140949. The registered office is 166 Ri¢hmond Road, Cardiff, CF24 3BX. Basis of preparation of financial statements Tlie finan¢ial stateinents have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Stal¢tnent of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard appli¢able in tlie UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS102) (effective January 20191- {Cliarities SORP {FRS1021), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ir¢land {FRS1021 and the Companies Act 2006. The charity has applied UEMJate Bulletin l as published on 2 February 2016 and does not in¢lude a ¢ash flow statement on the groiinds that it is applying FRS 102 Section IA. sO￿h Wales Law Centre meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transa¢tion value unless Otherwise staled in the relevant a¢counting policy note. The trustees continue lo piir5Lie strntegies to increase tlie niiinber of grants and donations needed to flind *lie woi"k, and lience these aecoiinls liave been prepared on A Goiiig Concern basis. Tlie fiiiic ncial Sl¢ilcinenls alE PILP£iied iii SlLrliiiL ILI. Iinil I'uiiiidLd lo il)L IiL£lresl pouiid. Income All incoiTte is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when tlie charity li￿ entitlement to the funds. it is probable tliat the income will be received and the amount can be reliably measured. Donations, legacies and similar incotning resources are reported gross and tlie related fundraising cosis are reported in costs of generating funds. Income from governmenl and other grants, whetlier'capilal" or'revenue" grants, is rccognised when the cliarity lias entiilemeni to tlic funds. any perforniance corjditions attached to tl)e grants have been met, it is probable that the income will b¢ r￿e1Ved and tlie amount Can be reliably measured and is not deferred. Gi'ants fi.oin tli¢ gyoverninent and oilier agencies have been incllided in incomingy resolirces froin cliaritable ilclivities where tliese ainoiint lo a contrcl¢t for seivices, bLII as donations wSTrere tlic Inoncy is given in response lo an ¢lppeal or witli greaier freedotn of use. for exainple governinent block gTants. Interest on fiinds lield on deposit is incliidcd wlien IEceivable and tl)e ainount can be measured reliably by tlie cliarity; tliis is norinally Llpoli nolification of Ilie interest paid or payablo. South Wales Law Centre- Annual Report for the Year lo 31 Mar¢h 2025 Notog to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Expenditure All expenditure is included on an accruals basis and is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay. Expenditure includes any VAT which caTrnot b¢ fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relales.. Rui.fing Funds represents expenditwe incurred in motivating the individual supporters, trusis and oiher organisations to contribute to the Work of the charity- Costs associated with the running of the charity shop and investment management costs. Chariiable activiiies represents those costs iThCUfTed by th¢ charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both ¢osls that ¢an be allocated directly to such activities and those of an indirect nature nece￿ary to support them. Governance represents those costs associaied with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the ¢harity and include the audit fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity. All costs including 5UPPOrt costs are allocated between the cxpenditure categories of the SOFA on a basis design¢d lo reflect the use of the resour¢e. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly.. 01he￿ are apwprtioned on the besis of gn estimate of the proportion of time spent by staff on the activity. Supporl costs are those costs which do not in Ih¢ms¢lv¢s constitute an activity. instead they enable output creating activities to be undertaken. This cost category includes the cenrral or regional office functions such as general managemenL human resources and payroll administration, budgeting and accounting, and information terhnology. Fund accouDting The charity maintains various types of funds as follows.. General unrestrictedfup7ds represent income which can be used in accordance with ihe charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees. Designaledfunds represent in¢ome sel aside by the tr￿SteeS out of general unrestricled funds for Specific future pur]x)ses or proj¢cts. Restrictedfunds Tepresem in¢ome io be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which has b¢en raised by the charity for particular Purposes. Fixed ￿set5 and depreciatlOD The threshold for capitslisation of &ssets is Set at £500 per item. tkpreciation is calculated so fts to writ¢ off the cost of an asseL less its estimated residual value. over th¢ useful economic life of that asset Is follows.. Freehold Land and Buildings Fixtures fittings and equipment Straight Line over 50 years 200/0 Straight line Provision is tnade for depreciation on the freehold property but not the related land. The freehold building cost £346.393. The trUSt￿S consider that £200,IM)O of these costs relates io the land and £146,393 relates to the costs of the building and therefore this amount has b¢en depreciated accordingly. 12 South Wales Law Centre - Annual Report for tlie Year to 31 March 2025 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Debtors and ¢redltor$ receivable I payable within one year Debiors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded al transaction price. Any losses arising from impairnient are recognised in the statement of finaneial activities. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet compri5¢ cash at bank and in hand. Net income l (expenditure} 2025 2024 The net income / (expenditure) for the year is stAl¢d after cliarging-. Depreciation and other amounts written off tsngible fixed assets.. Owned assets 2.927 2,927 Inde[￿ndent F.xaminers Fee 1.512 Donations an(1 Legacies Unrestricted Unrestrictcd General Designated Funds Funds 2025 2025 Total Funds 2025 Totxl Funds 2024 Regiilar Donations Ad-Hoc Donations Tax Recl&iimed 12,176 6.590 2.967 12,176 6,590 2,967 10,764 5,837 2.810 21.733 21.733 19,411 All donations rcceived in 2023-24 were unrestri¢ted general fund donations. Total income Tutal 2025 Total 2024 Donations and legacies Grants from local autliorilies and trusts Investinents Otlier incoine 21,733 272.153 3,165 1,868 269.841 672 3,835 298.919 293.759 13 South Wales Law C¢ntr¢- Annual R¢port for the Year to 31 March 2025 Note5 to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Income from charitable activities Unrestricted General funds Restricted funds Tot#1 2025 Total 2024 Access to Justice Foundation AB Charitable Trust Allen & Ov¢ry Sh¢amian Foundation The Mary Homfray Charitable Trust Garfield Weston Foundation WCVA Lo¢al A￿hOrity Grants (Cardiff County Council) Legal Educational Foundation Welsh Gov¢rnment Single Advice Fund Tlie Henry Smith Charity Independent Age 1910Trust The National Lottery Community Fund Civic Power Fund 4,000 22,0(Kl 5,0(K) 30,968 22,000 7,500 5.000 20,000 1,000 22,000 5,000 52,500 23,785 72,072 40.IXJO 31,556 52,500 23,785 72,072 40,000 31,556 800 19,440 1,000 60,000 31,551 72,072 19,750 800 19.440 1,000 32.800 239.353 272,153 269,841 Other Income Unrestrict Genergl Funds 2025 Total Funds 2025 TotAI Funds 2024 R¢nts r¢ceived Seconthnent Fees Oth¢r 1,800 1,800 1.800 1,925 iio 68 68 1,868 1,868 3,835 Costs of rgisiDg fllnds Unrestrleted Unrestri¢ted Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 Fundraising 19,697 14,108 Costs of raising funds includes employment Costs of £17,395 {2024: £12,079)- 14 Soutl) Wales Law Centre- Annual Report for ihe Year to 31 March 2025 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 Mar¢h 2025 Cost of charitable activities- by fund type Unrestricttd Unrestricted General Designated furtds funds 2025 2025 Restricted fullds 2025 Total funds 2025 Total funds 2a24 Provision of legal advice 74,411 239.353 313,764 302,392 Cost ofcharltable activities- by aclivity Activities undertaken 2025 Support costs 2025 Total funds 2025 Total funds 2024 Provi5i0n of legal advice 277,129 36.635 313,764 302,392 Activitils iindcrliikcii directl! iiicliide employinciit costs ol. £?68,806120?4.. £?5?.781 }. Siipport CO515 con%isi of office cosis. tTavel costs aiid depreciation and incliide governanLe costs ()f £4,30012024.. £4.100}. South Wales Law Centre- Annual Report for the Year to 31 March 2025 Notes to the Accounts for the y￿r ended 31 March 2025 io Stsff numbers and cost Employment cosis 2025 2024 Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension costs 262,278 17,712 6,362 243,470 14,957 6,433 286,352 264,860 Number of employees The average monthly numixr of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of average monthly head count, wa5 as follows.. 2025 2024 Charitable Activities Administration 10 12 No ￿aff member was paid more than £60,000 in the financial year. No tr￿stee received any rernuneration or payment of expenses during ihe year (2024.. none). The tota] employment benefits, including employer pension contributio[& of the key management personnel of the charity were £53,863 (2024.. £51,671). 16 South Wales Law Cenire- Annual Report for tlie Year to 31 March 2025 Notes to the Ac¢ounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Flxed asse¢s- Tangible Fixtures Fittings & Equipment Freehold Property Total A55ets Cost At l April 2024 Additions Disposals 346,393 22,179 368.572 At 31 March 2025 346.393 22.179 368.572 Depreciation At l April 2024 Cl)arge for the year Disposals 37.605 2,927 22,179 59.784 2,927 At 31 Marcli 2025 40.532 22.179 62,711 Net Book Value At 31 Marcli 2025 305.861 305.861 At 31 Marcli 2024 3QQ.788 308.788 12 Debtors 2025 2024 Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income Other debtors 300 4.508 121 4,929 13 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 2025 2024 Trade creditors Otlier taxes and social security Accruals ¢ind deferred income Other Creditois 569 5,089 16,352 1,437 4.804 4,854 1,236 23,447 12.406 IiiclLided in Accriials is deferred incom¢ of £15.20012024.. £nil) which relates to activities taking place after the year eT)d. 17 South Wales Law Centre- Annual Report for the Y¢ar to 31 March 2025 Not&s to the Accounts for the year ended 31 Marcb 2025 14 Unrestricted funds Balance at l Apr 2024 Balance at Tron$fers 31 Mar 2025 Income ExpendIt￿re General fund5 Designated Funds 462,063 59,566 (94,108) 427.521 462,063 59.566 {94.108) 427.521 Certain fun(Ls for specific advice provision have been designated in previous yea￿, thereby assuring continuity of service provision. In 2023-24, with more longer-terni funding becoming available, it was decided to no longer designate funds 15 Restricted funds Balance #t l Apr 2024 Balance #t Tr*n$f¢rs 31 M*r 2025 Income Expe￿dituT¢ Legal Educationa] Foundation The Henry Smiih Charity Welsh Govemmeni Single Advice Fund Cardiff County Coun¢il Independent Age The NatioJHI Lottery Community Fund 23,785 40,000 (23,785) (40.000) 72,072 52,500 31,556 19,440 (72,072) (52,500) (31,556) (19.440) 239,353 (239,353) The Legal Education Foundation grant was to pr()vide a Iraining contrdct to a Trainee Solicitor under the Justice First Fellowship scheme. The Henry Smith Charity Erant was to fund a social welfare legal adviser for 3 years. The Welsh Government Single Advice Fund grant was to provide housing and employment law advice. The Loc41 Authority Grants (Cardiff Collnty Council) was to provide free debt and welfare benefits advice. The Independent Age funding is to provide spe¢ialist legal advice to older people in Cardiff. The National Lottery Community Fund grant is for specialist debr and benefits advic¢ lo the people of Cardiff. 18 South Wales Law Centre- Annual RewTrrt for the Year to 31 March 2025 Notes to th¢ Accoun15 for the year ended 31 March 2025 16 Analysis of net assets between funds Total Funds 2025 Total Funds 2024 Unrestricted Funds Restricted funds Tangible assets Cash at bank and in liand Oth¢T net current asset&l (liabilities) 305,861 140.178 (18.518} 305.861 140.178 {18,518) 308,788 165,568 (12,293) 427.521 427,521 462.063 17 Taxation As a charity, South Wales Law Centre is exempl from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of ihe Taxes Act 1988 or section 256 of the T2xation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applicd to its chariiablc objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity. 18 Reljted parties Glcnwood Chijrcli is related party & Norinan Adams served as Irustee of the gnuth Wales Laiv Cenire during tlie fin