Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1176229
Suffolk Law Centre Unaudited independently examined accounts
31 March 2025
Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Financial statements
Year ended 31 March 2025
| Pages | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' annual report | 1 to 6 |
| Independent examiner's report to the trustees | 7 to 8 |
| Statement of financial activities | 9 |
| Balance sheet | 10 |
| Statement of cash flows | 11 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 12 to 22 |
Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Trustees' annual report
Year ended 31 March 2025
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 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 published in October 2019.
Reference and administrative details
Registered charity name Suffolk Law Centre Charity registration number 1176229 Principal office 46A St. Matthews Street Ipswich Suffolk IP1 3EP United Kingdom
The trustees
The trustees who served during the year and at the date of approval were as follows:
Professor G Thomas (Chair) C Parry-Jones LLB Hons (Vice Chair) A Donnelly (Appointed 10/12/2024) S Gallagher J Jones M Kurnatowska Dr J Sandbach S Stratton P Burton (Resigned 13/08/2024) J Chimes (Resigned 15/05/2024) Senior Management A Ludwig (Director of Legal Services, Resigned 25/10/2024) S Steward (Practice Director) S Wardell (Director of Operations and Development) Charity Secretary S Steward
Independent examiner A Robinson FCA Lovewell Blake LLP Chartered accountants First Floor Suite 2 Hillside Business Park Bury St Edmunds IP32 7EA
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Trustees' annual report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Objectives and activities
Suffolk Law Centre strives for a just and equal society where everyone's rights are valued and protected. We do this by providing legal support, services, information and education to the diverse communities of Suffolk and across East Anglia (and beyond).
As a registered charity it is our purpose to alleviate poverty and to improve access to services. Our goal is to empower the people of Suffolk to understand and assert their legal rights. Equality runs as a core through everything we do.
Our Activities:
We aim to provide legal services to help the diverse communities of Suffolk and to a lesser extent across East Anglia (and beyond):
-
To gain equal access to justice
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Challenge disadvantage and inequality, and
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To understand their legal rights, obligations and protections
Our Charitable Objects:
The relief of poverty, suffering and distress and the advancement of education among people living or working in Suffolk and East Anglia generally and such other places as the Trustees shall determine (including within her Majesty's Prisons), by the provision of Legal Advice and Assistance, Representation and Information which they could not otherwise afford through lack of means.
Public Benefit
In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit when setting the objectives for the year.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Trustees' annual report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Achievements and performance
Our Workstreams
1. Discrimination (Legal Aid):
The team offer legal advice to people who have experienced discrimination at work or accessing goods/services.
The team provided expert legal advice and casework to 35 new clients in 2024-25.
Of these, 12 were under our Discrimination Legal Aid contract (funded by the Legal Aid Agency - LAA).
Discrimination (Projects/Pro Bono):
Our grant-funded projects enable us to extend and develop services in partnership with other services, and to but are not in scope or eligible for Legal Aid. This included, the following in 24-25:
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Baring Foundation/Law Centres Network (Years 2/3 of a 3-year grant from Feb. '23). Continuing our partnership project to develop a Hub to enable Neurodivergent young people to Join, Stay and Thrive in employment. Outputs included working with community partner Disability Advice and Welfare Network (DAWN) to co-produce the Education Leavers Passport,
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Bell Foundation (Years 1/2 of 3-year grant from Dec. '23): Continuing this grant-funded partnership with our founding charity ISCRE, our Suffolk Access to Justice project identifies ways to make social welfare legal advice more accessible to marginalised EAL communities, particularly Roma. Working with community partner Ipswich Romanian Community (IRC), 12 clients were assisted with legal advice and casework.
2. Police Complaints Work:
Our Discrimination Caseworker specialises in complaints against the police.
In 2024-25, she dealt with 16 cases relating to complaints against the police, of which 7 were new cases . Of the total number of cases, 13 went to the Independent Office for Police Complaints (IOPC) ; of these 9 were upheld during 2024-25.
3. Family Legal Advice and Casework (FLAC) team:
The team provide expert legal advice to people making an application to the Family Court in Private Children matters.
Over the range of services offered in 2024-25 :
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Family Support Clinic : offer weekly appointments with the generous support of legal volunteers advised 141 clients during the year.
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Our Family casework service was able to provide on-going advice and casework support to 86 clients dealing with complex legal matters, 20 of whom were new clients.
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Family Helpdesk at Ipswich Magistrates Court, delivered by legal volunteers and staff, gave information and guidance to 110 litigants in person.
The work of the Family team is funded by Suffolk County Council under its Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (Year 3 of 3-year grant) and the Legal Education Foundation (Year 1/2 of a 3-year grant from February 2024).
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Trustees' annual report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
4. Housing:
The team provide a Housing legal advice and casework service to help prevent people from losing their home.
The team provided Housing legal advice and casework to 59 new clients in 2024-25.
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42 clients were assisted via a Housing Court Duty service at Bury St. Edmunds Court; of these, 37 were funded under Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS) which Suffolk Law Centre delivered as a local agent of Wiltshire Law Centre under their contract.
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We have run a telephone housing legal advice clinic for clients of Lighthouse Women's Aid, advising 16 clients.
In February 2024, we were successful in securing new grant funding from TLEF for a further 3-years to help rebuild our Housing legal advice and casework capacity. We continued to be supported by our locum Housing Supervisor on a consultancy basis for the Legal Aid clients retained under our previous Housing Legal Aid contract.
5. Legal Advice Clinics (LAC):
With the generous assistance of over 25 legal volunteers from local and national law firms, we provided free initial legal advice through 8 specialist law clinics - Discrimination, Employment, Family (divorce), Housing (property), Immigration, Personal injury, Wills & probate, as well as a General law clinic. To ensure good reach across the whole of Suffolk, we have continued to offer clinics by phone, or email, with interpreters where required.
Our legal volunteers advised 320 clients.
6. Reception and Triage:
Our Reception and Triage service was very busy over 2024-25, responding to 2031 initial enquiries . Where enquiries cannot be directly assisted by one of our advice & casework teams, we try to signpost and offer information to help resolve issues.
7. Legal Triage:
As part of our triage of enquiries, clients identified as having clustered or complex legal advice issues are supported by a 'wraparound' service to enable them to find the right advice and to better understand and benefit from that advice. 183 clients were supported through Legal Triage in 2024-25. This service has been funded by Ipswich Borough Council.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Trustees' annual report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Financial review
The charity continues to be dependent on grant funding to achieve its objectives. In the year under review the trustees are grateful to all those funders. The support from these organisations has ensured that Suffolk Law Centre continues to exist and to deliver services to the most vulnerable people of Suffolk. Additionally, we are very thankful to those individuals and organisations that have generously supported our work through donations.
Further information about our income and expenditure is set out in the Statement of Financial Activities and supporting notes.
Any cash resources not immediately required are held in bank and building society deposits under powers contained in the memorandum and articles of association and as at the year end date, cash balances amounted to £370,294 (2024: £422,983).
Income has decreased in the year to £328,274 (2024: £532,049), with expenditure increasing slightly to £413,241 (2024: £407,871) resulting in a net deficit of £84,967 (2024: net income of £124,178) for the year.
Reserves policy
The trustees actively review the reserves available on a regular basis and given the general uncertainty surrounding funding and project income aim to maintain reserves equivalent to approximately £130,000 (2024: £130,000). This figure is based on a 3 month (formerly 6 month) expected level of expenditure moving forward. This level of reserves takes into account existing and future commitments and has increased compared to the year ended 31 March 2024, where a reserves policy of £130,000 would equate to 3-4 months of cost.
At the 31 March 2025, the free reserves held for general purposes amounted to £62,046 (2024: £110,907). The trustees will look to increase excess funds to the reserve target over the coming year.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Trustees' annual report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Structure, governance and management
Suffolk Law Centre is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and a charity registered in effect from 12 December 2017. The charity is constituted and governed by trustees under the terms of its memorandum and articles of association.
The current board of trustees and the changes which have occurred since the previous annual report are as stated in the reference and administrative details of these accounts.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
New trustees are invited to attend a meeting with the Chairman and the trustees to familiarise themselves with the charity and the context within which it operates.
Our policy for appointing new trustees is to search out people who have skills and characteristics that will be beneficial to the charity. On appointment the trustees receive a copy of the governing documents and Charity Commission trustee documents. New trustees are briefed on the background and work of the charity and future aims.
Risk management
The trustees have identified the major risks facing the charity and have assessed their potential impact. Appropriate systems have been established to monitor and manage these risks.
The Board of Trustees follows the Charity Commissions guidance 'Charities and risk management in identifying and weighting risks.
True and fair override
The financial statements have been prepared to give a true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide atrue and fair view'. This departure has involved following the 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 issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
Independent examiner reappointment
A resolution to appoint A Robinson FCA of Lovewell Blake LLP as independent examiner will be proposed at the next Annual General Meeting.
26/11/2025 The trustees' annual report was approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
Professor G Thomas (Chair) Trustee
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Suffolk Law Centre
Year ended 31 March 2025
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and the related notes.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Suffolk Law Centre (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Your attention is drawn to the fact that the Charity has prepared the accounts (financial statements) 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 (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has since been withdrawn.
I understand that this has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.
A Robinson FCA Independent Examiner
Lovewell Blake LLP Chartered accountants First Floor Suite 2 Hillside Business Park Bury St Edmunds IP32 7EA 27/11/2025
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Statement of financial activities
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | ||||
| funds | funds | Total funds | Total funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | |||||
| Donations, grants and legacies | 4 | 37,695 | 260,344 | 298,039 | 483,369 |
| Charitable activities | 5 | 30,235 | – | 30,235 | 48,680 |
|
|
|
|
||
| Total income | 67,930 | 260,344 | 328,274 | 532,049 | |
|
|
|
|
||
| Expenditure | |||||
| Charitable activities | 6 | 108,603 | 304,638 | 413,241 | 407,871 |
|
|
|
|
||
| Total expenditure | 108,603 | 304,638 | 413,241 | 407,871 | |
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|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
| Net (expenditure)/income and net | |||||
| movement in funds | (40,673) | (44,294) | (84,967) | 124,178 | |
|
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|
|
||
| Reconciliation of funds | |||||
| Total funds brought forward | 146,427 | 246,502 | 392,929 | 268,751 | |
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|
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| Total funds carried forward | 105,754 | 202,208 | 307,962 | 392,929 | |
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|
|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 12 to 22 form part of these financial statements.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Balance sheet
31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Tangible fixed assets | 10 | 737 | 1,705 | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Debtors | 11 | 6,023 | 25,566 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 370,294 | 422,983 | |||
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|
||||
| 376,317 | 448,549 | ||||
| Creditors: Amounts falling due within | |||||
| one year | 12 | (69,092) | (57,325) | ||
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||||
| Net current assets | 307,225 | 391,224 | |||
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| Total assets less current liabilities | 307,962 | 392,929 | |||
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| Net assets | 307,962 | 392,929 | |||
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| Funds of the charity | |||||
| Restricted funds | 202,208 | 246,502 | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 105,754 | 146,427 | |||
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||||
| Total charity funds | 13 | 307,962 | 392,929 | ||
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These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 26/11/2025 ........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by:
Professor G Thomas (Chair) Trustee
The notes on pages 12 to 22 form part of these financial statements.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Statement of cash flows
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||
| Net (expenditure)/income | (84,967) | 124,178 |
| Adjustments for: | ||
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets | 968 | 4,157 |
| Changes in: | ||
| Trade and other debtors | 19,543 | (11,237) |
| Trade and other creditors | 11,767 | (10,255) |
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|
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| Cash generated from operations | (52,689) | 106,843 |
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| Net cash (used in)/from operating activities | (52,689) | 106,843 |
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| Cash flows from investing activities | ||
| Purchase of tangible assets | – | (1,367) |
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| Net cash used in investing activities | – | (1,367) |
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|
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| Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents | (52,689) | 105,476 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 422,983 | 317,507 |
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| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | 370,294 |
422,983 |
The notes on pages 12 to 22 form part of these financial statements.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements
Year ended 31 March 2025
1. General information
The charity is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation in England and Wales. The address of the principal and operating office is 46A St. Matthews Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3EP, United Kingdom.
2. Statement of compliance
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements 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 issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair view'. This departure has involved following the 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 issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
3. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
Going concern
The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
Income tax
As a registered charity, the activities are exempt from United Kingdom Income and Corporation taxation, provided that the income is applied to charitable purposes.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Income
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
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Income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.
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Income from grants and contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.
Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:
- expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
Operating leases
The lease payments are for rent and recognised as an expense over the lease term on a straight-line basis. The aggregate benefit of lease incentives is recognised as a reduction to expense over the lease term, on a straight-line basis.
Tangible assets
Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.
Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
Computer equipment - 33% straight line
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Financial instruments
Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where it is recognised at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.
4. Donations, grants and legacies
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | |||
| Donations | 15,505 | – | 15,505 |
| Grants | |||
| Grants | 22,190 | 260,344 | 282,534 |
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| 37,695 | 260,344 | 298,039 | |
|
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|
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| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | |||
| Donations | 23,126 | 1,100 | 24,226 |
| Grants | |||
| Grants | 24,700 | 434,443 | 459,143 |
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|
|
47,826 |
435,543 |
483,369 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
4. Donations, grants and legacies (continued)
Analysis of grant income
| Analysis of grant income | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total 2025 | Total 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Restricted | ||
| Access to Justice Foundation | 84,100 | 109,350 |
| The National Lottery Foundation | – | 68,970 |
| The Legal Education Foundation | 58,000 | 128,486 |
| The Bell Foundation | 43,009 | 12,900 |
| The Baring Foundation | 42,525 | 41,865 |
| Tudor Trust | – | 33,750 |
| Suffolk County Council | 13,500 | 16,500 |
| Ipswich Borough Council | 12,900 | 16,142 |
| Other grants received | 6,310 | 6,480 |
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|
|
| 260,344 | 434,443 | |
| Unrestricted | ||
| AB Charitable Trust | 22,000 | 22,000 |
| Other unrestricted grants | 190 | 2,700 |
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| 22,190 | 24,700 | |
|
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| 5. | Charitable activities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Legal aid | 30,235 |
30,235 |
48,680 |
48,680 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
6. Expenditure on charitable activities
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Staff costs | 36,125 | 295,835 | 331,960 | |
| Support costs | 72,478 | 8,803 | 81,281 | |
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|
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| 108,603 | 304,638 | 413,241 | ||
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||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | ||
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Staff costs | 50,376 | 270,405 | 320,781 | |
| Support costs | 62,897 | 24,193 | 87,090 | |
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| 113,273 | 294,598 | 407,871 | ||
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| Analysis of support costs | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | |||
| Project costs | 23,452 | 27,315 | ||
| Office costs | 30,629 | 29,051 | ||
| Rent | 2,013 | 9,615 | ||
| Insurance | 3,068 | 2,461 | ||
| Travel costs | 592 | 843 | ||
| Depreciation | 968 | 4,157 | ||
| Legal and professional costs | 17,049 | 11,338 | ||
| Independent examination fees | 3,510 | 2,310 | ||
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| 81,281 | 87,090 | |||
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| 7. | Net (expenditure)/income | |||
| Net (expenditure)/income is stated after | charging/(crediting): | |||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets | 968 | 4,157 | ||
|
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Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
8. Staff costs
The total staff costs and employee benefit for the reporting period are analysed as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 303,858 | 301,573 |
| Social security costs | 22,526 | 18,390 |
| Pension costs | 5,576 | 819 |
|
|
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| 331,960 | 320,782 | |
|
|
Wages and salaries include all social security costs, pension costs and training expenses.
The average head count of employees during the year was 14 (2024: 14).
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: Nil).
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and senior management team as listed on the reference and administration details page of these accounts. The total value of remuneration and benefits received by Key Management Personnel was £85,354 (2024: £85,003).
9. Trustee remuneration and expenses
No trustees received any remuneration or reimbursed expenses during this or the prior year.
10. Tangible fixed assets
| Computer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| equipment | |||
| £ | |||
| Cost | |||
| At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 | 18,068 | ||
|
|||
| Depreciation | |||
| At 1 April 2024 | 16,363 | ||
| Charge for the year | 968 | ||
|
|||
| At 31 March 2025 | 17,331 | ||
|
|||
| Carrying amount | |||
| At 31 March 2025 | 737 | ||
|
|||
| At 31 March 2024 | 1,705 | ||
|
|||
| 11. | Debtors | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Trade debtors | 272 | 12,695 | |
| Prepayments and accrued income | 5,751 | 12,871 | |
|
|
||
| 6,023 | 25,566 | ||
|
|
- 17 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
12. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Trade creditors | 65,792 | 55,015 |
| Accruals and deferred income | 3,300 | 2,310 |
|
|
|
| 69,092 | 57,325 | |
|
|
13. Analysis of charitable funds
Year ended 31 March 2025
Restricted funds
| At 31 Mar | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 1 Apr 2024 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Awards for all | 3,196 | – | (3,196) | – | – |
| LCN/Barings Foundation Hub | |||||
| Project | 21,731 | 42,525 | (41,245) | – | 23,011 |
| Tudor Trust Legal Advice Clinic | 19,782 | – | (19,782) | – | – |
| The Bell Foundation | 8,768 | 43,009 | (25,440) | – | 26,337 |
| SCC Violence Against Women | |||||
| & Girls | 18,591 | 13,500 | (15,045) | – | 17,046 |
| IBC Community Grant | 2,208 | 12,900 | (14,662) | – | 446 |
| SCF Breakthrough Fund | 4,578 | – | (1,934) | – | 2,644 |
| ATJF - Improving Lives | |||||
| Through Advice | 84,100 | 84,100 | (82,240) | – | 85,960 |
| TLEF LTS | 83,548 | 58,000 | (96,896) | – | 44,652 |
| Supporting Social Justice | |||||
| Solicitors Fund | – | 4,000 | (1,888) | – | 2,112 |
| Hardship Spring 2025 | – | 2,310 | (2,310) | – | – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 246,502 | 260,344 | (304,638) | – | 202,208 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Designated funds | |||||
| AB Charitable Trust | 5,648 | 22,000 | (20,589) | – | 7,059 |
| Legal Aid - Discrimination | 11,417 | 8,472 | (4,375) | – | 15,514 |
| Legal Aid - Housing | 17,380 | 20,763 | (17,008) | – | 21,135 |
| Tudor Trust Staff Welfare | 1,075 | – | (1,075) | – | – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 35,520 | 51,235 | (43,047) | – | 43,708 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| General Fund | 110,907 |
16,695 |
(65,556) |
– |
62,046 |
- 18 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Year ended 31 March 2024
Restricted funds
| At 31 Mar | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 1 Apr 2023 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Allen & Overy | 1,041 | – | (1,041) | – | – |
| Awards for all | 7,737 | – | (4,541) | – | 3,196 |
| Essex Community Foundation | 3,797 | – | (3,797) | – | – |
| EU Settlement Scheme | (244) | 2,445 | (2,201) | – | – |
| Grow Your Own (Stronger | |||||
| Sector) | 46,398 | 13,750 | (60,148) | – | – |
| Help Accessing Legal Support | |||||
| (HALS) | 10,025 | 25,250 | (35,275) | – | – |
| Justice First Fellowship 2022- | |||||
| 24 | (368) | 26,736 | (26,368) | – | – |
| LCN/Barings Foundation Hub | |||||
| Project | 10,000 | 40,400 | (28,669) | – | 21,731 |
| Tudor Trust Legal Advice Clinic | 6,688 | 33,750 | (20,656) | – | 19,782 |
| Legal Support for Litigants in | |||||
| Person (LSLiP) | 322 | – | (322) | – | – |
| Suffolk Hardship Fund | – | 500 | (500) | – | – |
| Talking Discrimination in the | |||||
| East | 161 | – | (161) | – | – |
| The Bell Foundation | – | 16,142 | (7,374) | – | 8,768 |
| SCC Violence against Women | |||||
| & Girls | 20,000 | 16,500 | (17,909) | – | 18,591 |
| IBC Community Grant | – | 12,900 | (10,692) | – | 2,208 |
| SCF Breakthrough Fund | – | 5,500 | (922) | – | 4,578 |
| National Lottery CoL 2023-24 | |||||
| (NL CoL1) | – | 34,132 | (34,132) | – | – |
| National Lottery CoL 2023-24 | |||||
| (NL CoL2) | – | 34,838 | (34,838) | – | – |
| ATJF ILTA | – | 84,100 | – | – | 84,100 |
| TLEF LTS | – | 88,000 | (4,452) | – | 83,548 |
| 500 Suffolk Reasons | – | 600 | (600) | – | – |
| Donations | 5,073 | – | – | (5,073) | – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 110,630 | 435,543 | (294,598) | (5,073) | 246,502 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Designated funds | |||||
| AB Charitable Trust | 4,253 | 22,000 | (20,605) | – | 5,648 |
| Rope Trust Client | – | 380 | (380) | – | – |
| Legal Aid - Discrimination | – | 18,720 | (7,303) | – | 11,417 |
| Legal Aid - Housing | – | 29,960 | (12,580) | – | 17,380 |
| Tudor Trust Staff Welfare | – | 2,000 | (925) | – | 1,075 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4,253 | 73,060 | (41,793) | – | 35,520 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| General Fund | 153,868 | 23,446 | (71,480) | 5,073 | 110,907 |
|
|
|
|
|
- 19 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Restricted fund purposes:
-
LCN/Baring (Disability Hub Project): Funding received to develop a HUB approach to support neuro-divergent young people to Join, Stay and Flourish in work.
-
The Bell Foundation: Funding to support a partnership project with ISCRE to make our legal advice and casework services more accessible to Roma communities.
-
SCC (Violence Against Women & Girls): Funding received to support the work of our Family Legal Advice and Casework team in their work with domestic abuse survivors.
-
IBC Community Grant: Funding towards the Legal Triage service to support clients with clustered legal issues to resolve them.
-
SCF Breakthrough Fund: Funding received to enable our caseworkers to help clients in poverty facing financial barriers to taking the next steps or benefitting from our advice.
-
ATJF Improving Lives Through Advice: Core funding provided by The Access for Justice Foundation in association the National Lottery Community Foundation to support our specialist legal advice and casework to marginalised communities.
-
TLEF LTS: Funding to help us to redevelop our Housing Law service and continue to build our Family Law service to be in a position to take up future Legal Aid contracts in both.
-
Supporting Social Justice Solicitors Fund: Funding from The Access for Justice Foundation towards the training costs for aspiring social welfare solicitors.
The following restricted projects have been completed in the current year:
-
Awards for all: Funding received for our Discrimination Team to support disabled people experiencing discrimination at work.
-
Tudor Trust (Enquiries and Legal Advice Clinics): Funding to support us to deal effectively with all enquiries for legal advice and administer the volunteer led Legal Advice Clinics.
-
Hardship Spring 2025: Funding from the Suffolk Community Foundation to support clients experiencing food and fuel poverty.
The following restricted projects have been completed in the prior year:
-
Allen & Overy: Funding received to support the salary of our Discrimination Solicitor.
-
Essex Community Foundation: Funding to support our Housing pro bono outreach work in North Essex.
-
EU Settlement Scheme: Funded by the Home Office, a partnership with Norfolk Community Law Service, to fund and continue to provide advice and Level 1 EUSS support to EU/EEA citizens applying for settled status.
-
The Legal Education Foundation (TLEF) - (Grow Your Own (Stronger Sector)): Flexible development grant enabling us to build capacity and develop in-house expertise to meet need and address legal advice deserts.
-
Access To Justice Foundation (Help Accessing Legal Support (HALS)): Funding towards our work to support people facing clustered legal issues as litigants in person, including those in need of Family legal advice and casework.
- 20 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
-
The Legal Education Foundation (TLEF) (Justice First Fellowship 2022-24): Funding to pay for the post of Trainee Solicitor and supervision costs.
-
Access to Justice Foundation and the Ministry of Justice (Legal Support for Litigants in Person (LSLiP)): Funding to provide early legal advice and casework support to litigants in person.
-
Suffolk Community Foundation (Suffolk Hardship Fund): Funding to support clients experiencing food and fuel poverty.
-
National Lottery Community Fund (Tackling Discrimination in the East): Funding to offer legal advice and casework in discrimination, including The 3 C's (Complain + Challenge = Change). A co-production project with community partners Ace Anglia and Autism Anglia to raise awareness of discrimination amongst people with learning disabilities and autism.
-
National Lottery CoL 2023-24 (NL CoL1): Funding to support our core costs.
-
National Lottery CoL 2023-24 (NL CoL2): Funding to support our core costs.
-
500 Suffolk Reasons: Funding received to support a Family client.
-
Donations: Funding received to support the furtherance of the specific purposes set out by the fund provider.
Designated fund purposes:
-
AB Charitable Trust: A fund that has been reviewed as unrestricted but designated towards the salary of the Practice Manager to support the ongoing development and running of Suffolk Law Centre.
-
Legal Aid - Discrimination: A fund that has been reviewed as unrestricted but designated towards legal aid discrimination casework.
-
Legal Aid - Housing: A fund that has been reviewed as unrestricted but designated towards legal aid housing casework.
-
Tudor Trust Staff Welfare: A fund that has been reviewed as unrestricted but designated towards supporting staff welfare.
The following designated projects have been completed in the prior year:
- Rope Trust Client: A fund that has been reviewed as unrestricted but designated towards support for a client in need.
- 21 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Suffolk Law Centre
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
14. Analysis of net assets between funds
| 31 March 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Restricted | Total | ||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Tangible fixed assets | 434 | – | 303 | 737 | |
| Current assets | 61,612 | 43,708 | 201,905 | 679,480 | |
|
|
|
|
||
| Net Assets | 62,046 | 43,708 | 202,208 | 680,217 | |
|
|
|
|
||
| 31 March 2024 | |||||
| General | Designated | Restricted | Total | ||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Tangible fixed assets | 1,100 | – | 605 | 1,705 | |
| Current assets | 109,807 | 35,520 | 245,897 | 391,224 | |
|
|
|
|
||
| Net Assets | 110,907 | 35,520 | 246,502 | 392,929 | |
|
|
|
|
||
| 15. | Analysis of changes in net debt | ||||
| At | |||||
| At 1 Apr 2024 | Cash flows | 31 Mar 2025 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 422,983 | (52,689) | 370,294 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| 16. | Operating lease commitments | ||||
| The total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows: | |||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Not later than 1 year | 1,200 |
1,200 |
17. Related parties
There were no related party transactions in this or the prior year.
- 22 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Lovewell Blake LLP First Floor Suite 2 Hillside Business Park Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP32 7EA
Dear Sirs
Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
The following representations are made on the basis of enquires with those individuals, including management and staff, with relevant knowledge and experience such as we consider necessary in connection with your independent examination of the charity’s financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. These enquiries have included inspection of supporting documentation where appropriate and are sufficient to satisfy ourselves that we can make each of the following representations. All representations are made to the best of our knowledge and belief.
General
We acknowledge that the work performed by you is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) and that you do not express an audit opinion.
We confirm that the charity was entitled to exemption under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011, being that gross income for the year does not exceed £1m or £250,000 if gross assets exceed £3.26m, from the requirement to have its financial statements for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 audited.
We confirm we have declared all income, including legacies, of which we are aware at the year end, whether received during the year or following the year end.
We have fulfilled our responsibilities as trustees, as set out in the terms of our engagement letter dated 18 October 2023 under the Charities Act 2011, for preparing financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view and for making accurate representations to you.
All the transactions undertaken by the charity have been properly reflected and recorded in the accounting records.
All the accounting records have been made available to you for the purpose of your independent examination. We have provided you with unrestricted access to all appropriate persons within the charity, and with all other records and related information requested, including minutes of all management and trustees’ meetings and correspondence with The Charity Commission.
The financial statements are free of material misstatements, including omissions.
Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Internal control and fraud
We acknowledge our responsibility for the design, implementation and maintenance of internal control systems to prevent and detect fraud and error, and we believe that we have appropriately fulfilled these responsibilities. We have disclosed to you the results of our risk assessment that the financial statements may be misstated as a result of fraud.
We have disclosed to you all instances of known or suspected fraud affecting the entity involving those individuals, including management and employees, who have a significant role in internal control or others that have a material effect on the financial statements.
We have also disclosed to you all information in relation to allegations of fraud or suspected fraud affecting the entity’s financial statements communicated by current or former employees, analysts, regulators or others.
Assets and liabilities
The charity has satisfactory title to all assets and there are no liens or encumbrances on the charity’s assets, except for those that are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.
All actual liabilities, contingent liabilities and guarantees given to third parties have been recorded or disclosed as appropriate.
We have no plans or intentions that may materially alter the carrying value and, where relevant, the fair value measurements or classification of assets and liabilities reflected in the financial statements.
Accounting estimates
The methods, data and significant assumptions used by us in making accounting estimates, and their related disclosures, are appropriate to achieve recognition, measurement and disclosure that is reasonable in the context of the applicable financial reporting framework.
Bank accounts
We have disclosed to you all bank accounts operated by the charity.
Legal claims
We have disclosed to you all claims in connection with litigation that have been, or are expected to be, received and such matters, as appropriate, have been properly accounted for and disclosed in the financial statements.
Laws and regulations
We have disclosed to you all known instances of non-compliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations whose effects should be considered when preparing the financial statements.
Related parties
Related party relationships and transactions have been appropriately accounted for and disclosed in the financial statements. We have disclosed to you all relevant information concerning such relationships and transactions and are not aware of any other matters which require disclosure in order to comply with legislative and accounting standards requirements.
Serious incidents
We confirm that no serious incident reports have been submitted to the Charity Commission, nor any events considered for submission, during the year or in the period to the date of signing of the balance sheet.
Docusign Envelope ID: 72F21B84-B878-44B0-A96E-749F0B402ABA
Subsequent events
All events subsequent to the date of the financial statements which require adjustment or disclosure have been properly accounted for and disclosed.
Going concern
We believe that the charity’s financial statements should be prepared on a going concern basis, on the grounds that current and future sources of funding or support will be more than adequate for the charity’s needs. We also confirm our plans for future action(s) required to enable the charity to continue as a going concern are feasible. We have considered a period of twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements. We believe that no further disclosures relating to the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern need to be made in the financial statements.
Grants and donations
All grants, donations and other income, the receipt of which is subject to specific terms or conditions, have been notified to you. There have been no breaches of terms or conditions in the application of such income.
Each trustee has taken all steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that you are aware of that information.
Yours faithfully
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Signed on behalf of the board of trustees of Suffolk Law Centre
Date:………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
26/11/2025