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
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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
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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 t￿0 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 re￿iVed and over 50 members attended these
two online events.
On Sunday 6 July 2025, SOVIL Chair. Adal Ibrar gave a p￿sentatIOn
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
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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
prO￿sS 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
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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.
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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 subscripti￿S 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 staten￿ts 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• Cha￿￿3 trustees
Signaturn{s)
Full name(s)
Posllion (eg Secretary, Chalr,
Jonathan G
Charity Trust
arKI Treasurer
5 February 2028
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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