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2025-04-30-accounts

Charity number: 1188257

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Unaudited report and financial statements For the year ended 30 April 2025

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Contents

For the year ended 30 April 2025

Reference and administrative information ........................................................................................................................... 1 Trustees’ annual report ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Independent examiner’s report .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) ................................................. 7 Balance sheet ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Statement of cash flows ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 Notes to the financial statements ......................................................................................................................................... 10

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Reference and administrative information

For the year ended 30 April 2025

Charity number 1188257
Country of registration
England & Wales
Registered office 5 Fleet Place
and operational London
address EC4M 7RD
Trustees Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:
Larissa Joy
Katy Crothall
Christopher Page (Retired February 2025)
Bartholomew Peerless
Andrew Cameron (Retired February 2025)
Rose Carey
Andrew Collins (Chair, appointed August 2024)
Tamasin Perkins (Appointed August 2024)
Olakemi Olafare (Appointed September 2024)
Naomi Neiland (Appointed September 2024)
Bankers CAF Bank
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
ME19 4TA
Independent
Jonathan Coyle
Examiner Sayer Vincent LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor
110 Golden Lane
LONDON
EC1Y 0TG

1

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 30 April 2025

The Trustees present their unaudited report and the financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2025.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Charity's trust deed and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

Objectives and activities

Purposes and aims

The objects of the Charity are the advancement of such charitable objects under the law of England and Wales as the Trustees see fit. The Charity has furthered its charitable objects during the year by making grants to a number of other registered charities in accordance with its grant-making policy. To provide focus and a strategic approach to achieving its charitable objects, the trustees make grants in several ways.:

The charitable objects that are to be furthered can be grouped under the general heading of Justice.

More significant projects and partnerships are identified by Trustees across a range of themes including promoting the sound administration of justice; improving educational opportunities for the disadvantaged; promoting human rights; promoting social inclusion.

Trustees also make smaller grants to support a range of charitable organisations across the width of community need. To facilitate these the Charity has made grants to the Gloucestershire Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Surrey. These Community Foundations liaise with committees established by the Trustees and made up of individuals who are partners or employees in the Cheltenham office or the Guildford office of Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, as the case may be.

The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

Achievements and performance

The Trustees made grants totalling £508,657 during the year in furtherance of the Charity’s charitable objects. Details are set out in note 4 to the accounts.

2

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 30 April 2025

During the financial year, the Charity has continued its core partnerships with Khulisa, SafeLives, Z2K, Emmaus and Buglife, it discontinued its partnership with Home-Start UK. For each of the core grantee charities at least one Trustee has led the relationship , to identify how grants are being spent and opportunities for further in-kind support, principally from the staff and partners of Charles Russell Speechlys LLP.

The Foundation also made grants totalling £30,000 to UNICEF for appeals for Syria and Gaza, and to the General Emergency Fund.

During the financial year, the Trustees also made three other grants to new organisations, The Central England Law Centre, The South West London Law Centre and the Family Justice Project.

Financial review

The Charity held unrestricted funds of £460,412 at the end of the financial year.

The primary funding source for the Charity is donations from Charles Russell Speechlys LLP totalling £631,952 (2024-£533,264). The Charity also receives funds from fundraising undertaken by staff of Charles Russell Speechlys LLP. The Trustees are considering the development of other funding sources for the future.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The Trustees keep under review the major operational and strategic risks the Charity faces and are satisfied that systems have been established to minimise the possible effects of such risks on the Charity. The risks identified are –

Conflicts of Interest – There is a conflict of interest policy in place, a register of interests is maintained.

Inadequate Financial Controls – Two authorisations are required for payments; there are strong online arrangements in place regarding access to the CAF account.

Data Protection – The Charity is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Fraud – Due diligence checks are carried out on grant recipients, including a verbal check of bank account details. Loss of Funding from CRS – There are regular discussions regarding funding commitment to facilitate planning. Implementation of reserves policy.

Damage to Reputation – The Charity has a safeguarding policy. Communications are handled by a professional Social Impact Team.

3

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 30 April 2025

Reserves policy and going concern

The Trustees intend to keep sufficient liquid funds in reserve to enable the Charity to meet its ongoing grant commitments and to respond quickly to any applications for grants that they consider it to be appropriate to support, as well as to meet ongoing expenses connected with the administration of the Charity.

The Charity receives its funds on an annual basis and aims to maintain reserves in unrestricted and uncommitted funds at a level which equates to approximately six months known charitable expenditure. This should provide sufficient funds for grants committed in any one financial year and to cover six months committed spend for support and governance costs, amounting to £279,000. At the end of the financial year the Foundation held reserves of £460,412.

Plans for the future

The Charity intends to continue to make grants in the manner described above in furtherance of its charitable purposes.

Structure, governance and management

The Charity is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered as a charity on 28 February 2020 in England and Wales.

The Charity is governed by a Constitution dated 28 February 2020.

The Constitution provides that there shall be (a) not less than two and not more than five trustees appointed by the trustees and (b) not less than two and not more than five trustees nominated by Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, one of whom shall be the senior partner for the time being of Charles Russell Speechlys LLP.

When a new trustee is appointed, they are provided with a copy of the key documents and an introduction to the work of the Charity. They are provided with the information they need to fulfil their role as a trustee.

Apart from the first trustees, whose terms of office are set out in the Constitution, trustees are appointed for a term of three years. The only exception is the senior partner of Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, who will hold office as a trustee until they cease to be senior partner.

The Trustees are responsible for the overall management of the Charity, holding trustees’ meetings on at least a quarterly basis. The Charity’s Constitution allows the Trustees to meet and conduct meetings virtually, which the Trustees have done this year.

4

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 30 April 2025

All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the Charity.Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the Charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the Trustees should follow best practice and:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

The Trustees’ annual report has been approved by the Trustees on 16[th] September 2025 and signed on their behalf by

Andrew Collins

Chair

5

Independent examiner’s report

To the members of

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation for the year ended 30 April 2025.

This report is made solely to the Trustees as a body, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. My examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Trustees as a body, for my examination, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Charity Trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 2011 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 Accounts in England and Wales, 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:

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.

Signed:

Name: Jonathan Coyle

Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): FCA DchA Address: Sayer Vincent LLP,110 Golden Lane, London, EC1Y 0TG Date: 07 October 2025

6

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 30 April 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2,024
Total Total
Note £ £
Income from:
Donations 2 633,553 533,746
Fundraising 4,869 13,272
Investments 977 869
Total income 639,399 547,887
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 3 558,051 493,457
Total expenditure 558,051 493,457
Net movement in funds 81,348 54,430
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 379,064 324,634
Total funds carried forward 460,412 379,064
----- End of picture text -----

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above.

All income and expenditure is unrestricted.

7

Charity No 1188257

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Balance sheet

As At 30 April 2025

Note
£
Current assets:
470,574
470,574
Liabilities:
8
(10,162)
460,412
Total unrestricted funds
The funds of the charity:
Cash at bank and in hand
Net current assets
Total net assets
Unrestricted income funds:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Total charity funds
General funds		 2025
£
460,412
460,412
460,412
460,412		 2024
£
400,803
400,803
(21,739)
379,064
379,064
379,064
379,064
379,064

Approved by the trustees on 16th September 2025 and signed on their behalf by

Andrew Collins Trustee

Tamasin Perkins Trustee

8

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Charity No 1188257

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 30th April 2025

Cash flows from operating activities
Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Cash at bank and in hand
Total cash and cash equivalents
Net cash provided by / (used in)
operating activities
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
and of net debt		 £
£
81,348
-
(11,577)
69,771
At 1st May
2024
Cash flows
£
£
400,803
81,348
400,803
81,348
2025		 £
£
54,430
80
8,933
63,443
Other non-
cash
changes
At 31st
April 2025
£
£
(11,577)
470,574
(11,577)
470,574
2024

9

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 30 April 2025

1 Accounting policies

a) Statutory information

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

The registered office address is 5 Fleet Place, London, EC4M 7RD.

b) Basis of preparation

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 (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

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 Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.

In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below.

c) Public benefit entity

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

d) Going concern

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

10

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 30 April 2025

1 Accounting policies (continued)

e) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

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

f) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes.

All funds received and held by the Charity are unrestricted.

g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

11

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 30 April 2025

h) Grants payable

Grants payable are made to third parties in furtherance of the charity's objects. Single or multi-year grants are accounted for when either the recipient has a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant and the trustees have agreed to pay the grant without condition, or the recipient has a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant and that any condition attaching to the grant is outside of the control of the charity.

Provisions for grants are made when the intention to make a grant has been communicated to the recipient but there is uncertainty about either the timing of the grant or the amount of grant payable.

Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. Overhead costs of the central function are allocated against the charitable activities of the Foundation.

Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity. These costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements and include any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities.

j) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Short term deposits includes cash balances that are invested in accounts with a maturity date of between 3 and 12 months.

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

m) Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

12

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 30 April 2025

2
Corporate Donations from Charles Russell Speechlys
Other Gifts
All income is unrestricted.
Income from donations		 2025
£
631,952
1,601
633,553		 2024
£
533,264
481
533,746
Charitable
Activities
£
Grant making (note 4)
508,657
-
Operating Expenditure
-
508,657
Support costs
44,894
Governance costs
4,500
Total expenditure 2025
558,051
Total expenditure 2024
493,457
Charitable
Activities
£
Grant making (note 4)
452,462
-
Operating Expenditure
-
452,462
Support costs
36,795
Governance costs
4,200
Total expenditure 2024
493,457
Independent examination fees
Analysis of expenditure (prior year)
Independent examination fees		 Governance
costs
£
-
4,500
-
4,500
-
(4,500)
-
-
Governance
costs
£
-
4,200
-
4,200
-
(4,200)
-		 Support costs
£
-
-
44,894
44,894
(44,894)
-
-
-
Support costs
£
-
-
36,795
36,795
(36,795)
-
-		 2025 Total
£
508,657
4,500
44,894
558,051
-
-
558,051
2024
£
452,462
4,200
36,795
493,457
-
-
493,457		 2024
Total
£
452,462
4,200
36,795
493,457
-
-
493,457

The independent examination fees in both periods are due within 1 year and include VAT.

13

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 30 April 2025

4
Core Charity Partners
SafeLives
Z2k
Emmaus UK
Khulisa
Buglife
Home Start UK
Total Grants to Core Charity Partners
Food Bank Aid
Family Justice Project
Gloucestershire Community Foundation
Surrey Community Foundation
UNICEF
Plymouth Citizens Advice
European Lawyers in Lesvos
South West London Law Centre
City Solicitors Education Fund
Central England Law Centre / KIND
University House Legal Advice Centre
Fat Macy's
Z2K Disability Appeals
Social Mobility Business Partnership
Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit
Solicitors Benevolent Fund
London Legal Support Trust
Blackfriars Settlement
Home Start UK
The Churn
British Red Cross Morocco Earthquake
British Red Cross Libya Floods
Grants to Institutions
Grant making
Total		 2025
£
40,771
39,750
39,521
39,521
39,521
-
199,084
39,797
33,885
32,500
32,500
30,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
12,500
12,000
10,000
10,000
8,000
6,500
6,369
5,000
4,000
3,500
2,021
1,000
-
-
508,657		 2024
£
40,500
40,500
40,770
40,500
28,000
40,880
231,150
21,643
-
32,500
32,500
20,000
20,000
20,000
-
11,800
-
10,000
10,000
8,000
5,000
6,369
5,000
4,000
3,500
-
1,000
5,000
5,000
452,462

5 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel

There are no employees of the Foundation.

The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £nil.

The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the current year or the prior year. No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity in the current year or prior year.

Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £nil (2024 £nil).

14

The Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 30 April 2025

During the year, there were no payments to related parties (2024 nil) Aggregate donations from related parties were £nil (2024 £nil)

7 Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

8
Other creditors
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year		 2025
£
10,162
10,162		 2024
£
21,739
21,739

15