Trustees. Annual Report for the period Peri(Kl start dale Period end dale From To Section A Reference and administration details Charlty name The Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers Other names charity is known by Registered charity number Ilf any) 1210939 Charity's princlpal address 11 Oakleigh Park North Whetstone London Postcode N20 9AN Names of Ihe charity trustees who manage the charity Dates actsd If not for whol• ear Trustee name Offic• (rf any) Nam of TSOn lor body) entltl•d toa olnt trust0• Ifan Membership Membership Adal Ibrar Chair Sharon Grennan Page Jonathan Fenton Bashir Alao Secretary Treasurer Membership Membership Alice Mary Bisset Riyaz Hazi 14.11.24- 16.12.25 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodlan trustees) Name Dates acted rf not for whole ear TAR March 2012
Narnes and addresses of advisers (Optional inforniation} e of adviser Name Address Name of chief executlve or names of senior staff members (Optional Inforniation) Section B Structure, overnance and mana ement Description of the charlty's trusts Adopted Constitution of CIO Type of goveming document How the ¢harity is Constituted Charitable Incorporaled Organisation Truste8 selection methods . Appointed by resolulion ofthe members at the AGM. Charity Trustee Board has power lo co opt to fill vacancies for remainder of year until next AGM Additional governance issues (Optional inforniation) In 02 24 the current Charity Trustees {Ihen of SOVIL in unincorporated fomil completed an extensive training session on the role and duties of charity Trustees of a CIO. This covered key areas related to the financial management of the Charity, charity accounts. fund raising, CIO Constitution. conflicts of interest and the trustee legal standard of care and conducl. You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about: policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; the charity's organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works., relationship with any related parties- trustees, consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. The Charity Trustees intend to put in place appropriate policies relating lo: internal financial controls- financial and risk management.. Iruslee expenses.. trustee confiicts of int8r8St serious incident reporting as soon as practicable during 2026. The Charity's beneficiaries are visually impaired and lo Ihat exlent may be regarded as adults at risk who have a need for specific additional care and support. The Trustees aim to design all our activities and programs with the needs of our wsually impaired members in mind. Again, we will be developing a more detailed safeguarding policy in Ihis regard during 2026. Section C Ob"ectives and activities TAR March 2012
Promotion of equality and diversity for public benefit by protecting and promoting the interests and welfare of visually impaired lawyers and others wishing lo enter the legal profession. Summary ol the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Since our AGM on 27 November 2024. the majority of activity by the Irustees has been in relation to setting up the SOVIL CIO structure and new SOVIL bank account, and in running events for SOVIL mernbers. The trustees anticipate Ihat the work involved in setting up the new CIO structure arbd bank account is almost complete. The trustees organised a variety of events for members this year with differing aims - to infomi members and to 8ncourage nelworking and peer support. Workshops and webinars SOVIL has run t0 online events with a panel of vision impaired lawyers who are senior practitioners in their fields to explain their own career path, challenges faced along the way and adjustments that have helped them succeed. SOVIL trustees chaired these events and were joined by four panellists for each event representing soli¢ilors working in-house and in private practi. barristers. academia and the judiciary. Wednesday. 9 April 2025 - Transactional law panel event Thursday. 12 June 2025- Advocacy and litigation panel evenl These events were well reiVed and over 50 members attended these two online events. On Sunday 6 July 2025, SOVIL Chair. Adal Ibrar gave a psentatIOn slreamed live from a conference by Ihe American Association of Wisually Impaired Attorneys. The seminar was on the uses of Artificial Intelligence in legal practice and the use of Artificial Intelligence by Msually impaired lawyers. A joining link was shared with SOVIL rnembers. And on Thursday, 30 September 2025. Jennifer MacKay of Jump Training led an in-person interactive workshop for SOVIL members on speaking and presentation skills. The event took place al the London office of Freshfields. This was a great opportunity for SOVIL members lo practice their speaking and presentation skills in a safe space with other visually impaired lawyers and to get feedback on Iheir presentation style, body language, and use of Iheir voice. After a couple of cancellations, 4 members attended the workshop. The low take-up for this workshop was disappointing but the feedback from those who attended was excellent. Summary of the main actlvities undertaken for Ihe public benefit in relation to these objects {include within Ihis section the statutory dèclaration that trustees have had regard lo the guidanco Issued by the Charity Commisslon on publi¢ benefit) Networking and peer support The Iruslees arranged a private group tour of the UK Supreme Court on j Friday 6 December 2024 for 10 SOVIL members and 12 sighted companions. This was an infomialive and educational experience for SOVIL lawyers who may act in a Supreme Court appeal during their I career but members met for lunch beforehand in Ihe café in the Supreme Court to make the most of the soaal interaclion and networking opportunity. And in response lo member requesls to build individual connections with other SOVIL members, we have continued the monthly online "coffee calch ups- There have been 10 rounds of this since the last AGM and 76 pairs have been matched in this initiative since then. This is a flexible way for members to speak informally at a time that is convenient for them i around oth8r commitmenls. And is a great way lo share experience and tips with peers. We encourage all members to participate. Just watch out for the emails and respond if you want to artici a18 thal month. March 2012 TAR
Additional detsils of objectives and activities (Optional Infomiation) Planned actiwty for the 2026 financial year includes.. 1. Relaunch SOVIL'S menloring scheme with a more slructured prOsS incorporating feedback from potential mentors. Recruit mentors at all career stages and open the sch8rn8 to all SOVIL members. rather than at the start of the career journey. 2. Organise 2 events in 2026 for members at an early stage in their career. A panel event covering a range of careers for lawyers and a 'speed interviewing. session for members applying for new roles. We will explore advertising andlor running these events in collaboration with Blind in Business to reach a wKler audien. You may choose lo include further statements, where relevant, about.. policy on grantmakin9', policy programm8 related investment.. 3. Develop a strategic plan of priority activities, projects and initiatives for SOVIL. These should be realistic and attainable having regard lo funding and other resources available to the Charity. In addition to the other points mentioned in this section, specific examples of the above discussed at th8 2025 AGM were as follows: ontribution made by volunteers. Provision of funding for legal mini pupillages or other short term intemships.. Advice and guidance to Universities and Law Colleges on reasonable adjustments to be made for Vl law students., Advice and guidance lo professional bodies within the legal profession as rega_rds practical roblems faced in the Court March 2012 TAR
system by Vl lawyers eg as regards Court signage, court forms and on other accessibility issues and as regards reasonable adjustments which could be made in that regard. The Board also intends to design and implement an aligned fund raising strategy in line with principles we have previously approved. 4. Grant making to individuals= The Charity Trustees have adopted a grant making policy in relation to potential grants to individuals under Constitution rule 5.2lal eg in cases of hardship to assist with the cost of training for the legal profession. 5. It is the intention of the Charity to seek grants from other grant making charities during financial year 25126 to enable the Charity to expand our activities and fulfil our objectives summafised above and indeed lo provide a firm financial base on which such individual grants by the Charity could be made. Section D Achievements and performance TAR March 2012
Section D Achievements and performance Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year As described in section C above, the trustees have completed the process for setting up the SOVIL CIO slruclure and the documenlalion required by Natwest for the new bank account. We await Nalwesl's confimiation of the new bank account details. During the 202412025 financial year. SOVIL has organised a range of online and in-person events for professional development and networking for SOVIL members. Feedback on the events has been excellent. The trustees are working to plan a calendar of events for the coming year. TAR March 2012
Section E Financial review The Board has adopted a cautious approach in relation lo expenditure on its activities and has been fortunate to benefrt from many Individuals vh are sympathetic to the aims of Ihe Charity donating their time to our activities. The Trustees are confhdent that the Charity should be able to meet its commitments for the coming financial year 2026 ie 1126 to 31 12 26 from cash reseNes hekl at Bank. Arrears of member subscriptiS of £1220 at 3112 25 are a matter of conc8m to the Charity Trustees and a program of engagement with mbers is in hand to Cover these so far as possible. Brfof stslemenl of the eharfty's pollcy on reserves Details of any funds matorlally In deflcit Further flnanclal revl•w delall$ Ioptlonal Infomiatlon) Please see attathed Report and financial statents from the Treasurer for the period 14 1124 to 31 12 25.. You may choose to indL additional infomiati(Jn. where levant about: the charity's principal sources of fvnds (including any fundraising)- how expendlture has 5UPPOrted the key objectives of the charity: investment policy and objeGtives including any ethical investment policy adopted. Section F Other optional information Section G Declaration The trustees decla that they hav• approved the tnistses, rnport above. Slgned on behalf of th• Cha3 trustees Signaturn{s) Full name(s) Posllion (eg Secretary, Chalr, Jonathan G Charity Trust arKI Treasurer 5 February 2028 TAR March 2012
Society of Visually lrnpaired Lawyers Registered with the Charity Commission a5 a CIO under number 1210939 Report and Financial statements from the Treasurer: Period 14 1124 to 3112 25 8ockground ond summory of currentposition and notes to the Report. Members will recall that the legal status of SOVIL was changed with member approval at the special meeting of members on 27 112024. SOVIL was established as a registered charity and as a charitable incorporated organisation I'CIO") on 14 112024. SOVIL as an unincorporated association I"Old SOVIL") w35 accordingly put into the process of dissolution. There were land are) no assets of Old SOVIL othef than cash at our current account with National Westminster Bank I'NWB") and amounts due from members by way of subscription. These amounts are detailed in the balance sheet below. The Members, Resolution of 27 112024 authorised the relevant Committee members of Old SOVIL to take such action as is necessary to give effect to the transfer of funds from our current account with NWB to a new bank account to be set up for SOVIL as a CIO. We need to have a new Bank Account because SOVIL CIO 15 a separate a new legal entity as a registered harity. As CharityTrustees ofSOVIL CIO we decided to set up a new Bank Accountwith NW8 because lil the Bank was familiar with SOVIL as we have held an account with the Bank for many years and (li) charity and community accounts with the Bank in credit don't incur charges. All the extensive and exacting formalities required by NWB for the Charity Trustees to open new bank account with the Bank for the CIO have been completed. We are waiting for the new Account details at the time of this report. Once that Account is open, we will then be able to transfer funds from our existin8 account to our new Account and complete the dissolution of Old SOVIL. Meantime the funds in the existing account previously owned by old SOVIL have been held on trust for SOVIL CIO. The existing account has remained open pending the opening of the new account in the name of SOVIL CIO eg to allow the collection of subscription income. Arrears of Subscription amounts due.. Under rule 9.4 of the new constitution of the CIO. members can be required by the Charity Trustees to pay reasonable membershipfees to the CIO. Annual membership fees had been kept at a nominal level for many years in Old SOVIL (£10 for members in employment and £5 for those in training). In view also of its plans to expand the range of 3ctivities1see Trustee Report for 241251. the Board felt that it was justified to increase annual membership fees to a standard rate of £30 for those in full time practice. whether employed or self employed, with a reduced rate of £10 for those not in paid employment. Regrettably there remain substantial arrears of unpaid Subscriptions totalling £1220 at 31 12 25. We are engaging with members to try and collect these arrears. At present we have shown these arrears at
their full recovery value of £1220 but this figure may need to be discounted depending on the success of the recovery exercise now underway. Statement of Income and expenditurefor the period 14 1124 to 3112 25.... Income received Subscription income including voluntary ones... .795 Adjustment credit re Boat trip 28 9 24.......................................30 Adjustment credit from Secretary S. Grennan.....-..-.-.............. 18 Adjustment credits re Supreme Ct trip -.21 .Total............864 Expenditure Re imbursement of travel ticket for SOVIL member for event attendance Under Constitution rule 5.2lal.....-.-.......-.......................................55 Net income received during the period.........................................809 Balance sheet at 3112 25.. Cash at Bank held by Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers I"Old SOVIL") on trust for SOVIL CIO ..£3245.92... Arrears of unpaid subscriptions from SOVIL CIO members as detailed above shown at full recovery value . - £1220 Total.................................................................................................................................£4465.92 Note5.' An earlier version of this statement (5 12 24 to 311025) wos presented to the SOVIL CIOAGM on 16 12 25. I confirm that this Report is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief based on the bank Statements, records ond infomiotion reloting to Old Sovil and to SOVIL CIO ovoiloble to me ot 3112 25 Jonathan Fenton SOVIL CIO Treasurer S February 2026