TOWER HAMLETS LAW CENTRE IComp8ny No.= 017205181 (Charity No.: 2872821 REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 KINGSTON BURROWES AUD￿ LTD Statuto Audilors )8 Ewell Road Surbiion SuFrey KT6 7AL TOWER HAMLETS LAW CENTRE (Company No.= 017205181 (Charity No.= 2872821 CONTENTS Page No. Trustees. Annual Report 2-10 Independent Examln8Vs Repyjrt 11 Statement of Financial Acllvibes 12 Balanc8 Sh8at 13 Cash Flow Statement 14 Notes to tho Financi81 Statements 15-24 TOWER HAMLEfs LAW CENTRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 R•ferènce and Administrative Detsils Trust••$ James Blythe Ito 31 January 20251 Philippa Sa18wicz, Chalr Mark Kalderon. TreasuT8r Rosalind Shaw, Secretary Manuhar Ali Derek Mauricg Cox C8therine Tuill Maria-Gra2ki Donvito Yvonne Kramo Phllip Bartlett Ilo 08 August 202SI Zeno Capucci Ito 01 October 2025) Sabrina Jamil. Vice-chair Sleph8nie Leung (to 11 August 2025) Steven Pallell Syed Uddin Ito 26 Sèptember 20251 D8bashls D?8 -Karim Makhani S¢nlor Managers artin South Bolaji Bish Company R•gl$tered Numb•r 1720518 Charlty R•9l$tortd Numb•r 287282 Regl$tered and Prlnclpal Offl Unil 1, St Anne Street Off 789 Commercial Road London E14 7HG Independent Examiner Kevin Fisher BA FCA CTA Kingston Burrowes Audrt Ltd 308 Ewell Road Surbf£on Surrey KT6 7AL Bankgrs HSBC plc 1-3 Bishopsgate London EC2N 3AQ TOWER HAAILEfs LAW CEimiE TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 The Tnjstees, who are akn the direclors of the CoMp￿Y for the purposes of the Companies Ac( submit their annual report and the financial slat8mènts of Tower Hamlets Law Centre (the Law Cènlrel for the year ended 31 March 2025. TrLLStees confirm Ihat Ihe annual report 8nd financial statements of Ihe L8w Centre cxjmply with the ¢Uffent slatuw requirements. the requiremenls of the Law Centre's governing docurnent an¢J the provisions of the Ststemeni of Reeornmended Practice ISORPI"Accounllng and Reporb'ng by Charities" issued in 2005. The tW5tees have had regard to the advi￿ of the Chariltes SORP Committge'lmpllcali(￿S of COVID- 19 control measurgs and charity financial reporting., issued in March 2020. ObJ*¢tiv•s and Aetlvlti•¥ The Law Centre's main purFX)ses are to Telievè Foverty and advance educafjon by: developing ind8perKlenl Law Centre swvices for the F4ople of Tower Hamlets and East London. prowding access to juslKe and fa¢ilrfaling awarrns of legal roghts, parb'culady targets￿ the disadvantsged members of th8 community. The main a￿l￿tieS for Ihe year ¢¢￿tInUed to focus on the following; Delivery of specialist legal advice for thos6 most disadvantaged in tha I¢x81 o)rnmunity.' Provision of second tier 5UPPOrt adv￿￿ for other generalist advlce agancitrs in Tower Haml815.' Delivery of ￿￿￿m￿nty aducation to rai58 awareness of1ggo1 rights an￿9$1 local p8opl8.' and Active develo￿lent ofsorvKes thrO￿h pthwship wrth other advIce*￿ing cwgonisab"ons. The law contre's work has a p)sitive and long-Lgstlng impact on our dtents, wellbgin9, dignity and human rights. For example.. Wa help people fleeing pers8(JJtion oversea5 to be grant8d asylum in this ¢ounlry, induding an tncreasing nurnber of unacxompanied mlnor asylum seekers,. help lo ￿unite families separated by inlematlonal borders: 2￿j help wornen to escape from violence al home. We fight to pr¥vent people from being evicted and beo)mirg horn8less.' help those already homeless lo secure accomrnodaiw)n when rt has been denied to Ihom,. and help people living in unsafe and unhealthy homes ￿ make Ihgir landlords repair them. We rnake surè that peO￿e get the welfare b&nofits they are èntitled to. Sncludlng some of the most vulnerable rnembers ol so¢iety who are learful and desperate in the face of decisions lo thdraw Personal Independence Payments and Educaiion and Support Alowanc&. We help people with all kinds of problems at ndudlng pay and w¢)rkiTrJ condluons. unfair dismiss81 and redundancy. A¢hlev•ments and perfonnonce 2025 marks the law centre'$ 50th anniversary. Irs achievemenis in [￿vIdIng access to justiee for our East End community were celebraled at a 5pectal event In September 2025 attended by supporters. and present and past stsff, trustees and vc4unteers. The main otiectives set by the trustees related to maint8ining the charity's acliviiies, and these were successfully met. In particular. TOWER HAMLEfs LAW CENTRE TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Ic￿ld... al We delivered specAalisl ￿eWOrk in housing. immigralion. Welfa￿ beneffts, and empk)ymont law throughout the year. Our services were deliver8(J principally frorn our office in St Anne Street, near Westferry DLR. with advice lo individuals provKYbd through facekn1￿faCe appointments wilh specialtst seworkers and solicrtors. Our pro-bory) evening advice dinKs. run in partnership ￿th major Crty of London law fimis and érawiThJ on ge￿rOUS supporl Irom and their staff, cont¥lU8d as lelephone Services througk)ut the yow. We were able to re-estsblish our speeialist empk)yThent law seNi¢e from January 2024. thanks to fijnding frLwm the Access to Justu Foundalion's IOTLS grant During the year 2Q24-25 we workeil on 1402 cases. This number is more than 25% higher than the lotsl for 202>2411114). The incr&asg is largely due to more sta￿8 staffing during the year, and a full range of advico clinics. including a n&w immigration advrce dinic in partnership with KPMG. $tart8d in May 2024. artnershl Workin Provlslon of S and Comm t•)n In August 2024, we bst our Vace on the duty solicitor rota for h￿SIr￿j cèses at Stratford Hearfn9 Centre as agents for Edwards Dulhie Shamash when thelr bid for 8 new contract was unsu¢¢essful. In January 2025. we secured a role In January as agents for RGJ Advice. whirj) holds the HLPAS ¢ontr¥ct for Central Lcmdon c￿jnty CourL We continued lo provide second lier supFrf to olher advice agencies in iha borough. including advice by telephone and sup•rvision support. We partlcipated In the Tower Hamlets Community Advice Nelwork. Acjvke Tower Hamlets and Tower Hamlets C￿neCt parln8rshlps, which etrordinale adwce 8ervicos and offer mutual surwt across Ihe borough. We also continued lo work in p8rtneT5hF with Praxis and RAMFEL on the Sireel Legal East prot￿1, part of 8 pan-LontYon project that aims to assist vulnerable adults eXper￿nc￿n9 or ihw8toned with homelessnèss by addrosslNJ their immigration $talus so that thay c8n have recourse to public fvnds. Fundin Eamlngs from lagal akj oJntinued to Inc￿aSe frcrfn their icw polnt durirrfj and l￿￿ned1atety following th8 Covid-19 pandemic, but at roughly £140.OW ar8 8ts.ll far from adequate to SUst￿"n mè¥ningfvl 8th"vty. We were Imm8ns8ly gralefvl for the o)ntinuing Supp￿ of ftjnders like the Legal Education Foundation, the London Legal SupF)Ort Trust and the A.B. Charitablo Tntst as well 88 our corpor818 supporters. including Freshfi8lds Bruckhaus Deringer and HFW. Flnanclal Rovigw The funding envwonmont for adv￿ Servi(￿ has now been incTrasiNJly ¢h8ltenging for well over te yeais. and desptfe achieving surpluses or broadly brèaking even since 2017118, the law centre's sustainabilily remains Ltncertain an(J. al the lime of writing, under Ihreat. We have repeatedly predicted and experienced increasing and eXcepti￿al pressure on publiG sector fundèrs, with lo¢al authorities continuing to wam of tK)tential 'bankruptcies' on a￿oUnt of PTessLires including the cost of adult KLial &?￿. We face a growing (*allenge in seojring funding for the tTr)st complex problems, ￿qUirir￿ specialist legal support with money increasngly directed towards services delivering g￿ter numbe￿ of relatively straighiforward cases. TOWER HAMLETS LAW CENTRE TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Icontd... The scopg of J8g81 aid s far too namjw lo alhjw 8ccess to justic* for many people. and the rales of payment for work done. wh￿h have not in(xe8sed Sin￿ 1996, have now Wome grossty inadequ8te. This continues to lead to many pr8diboners abandoning practice. In response to the 2024 report of the Revlew of Civil Legal {RoCLAI, at devÈl(¥)ing proposals to ensure the long-term Sustainabilty of the uvil 18gal aid supplier base. Govemmgnt promised increased remuneralmin rates for housing and Immigratty)n 18gal awj cases. Nearty a year after the promise, however, the increases have nol been made and r•) date for thetr Implementati(￿ has been announced. The difficulty of eaming money through ￿gaI aid has bean magnffied by a larg￿scale data br8ach by e Legal Aid Agency. In respM)nse to this. the LAA shut down access to its systems for claiming and paylng legal aid and legal help lses. Cumbersome wnts"ngency arrangemerbts were put in place whi18 the LAA attempted to create more secure SyStsm5. which has led to ￿dItIOnal work and delayed cashflow. Funding from trusts and foundations continuos lo be hardor lo $eoJre, as r8rN)rted last year. In particuLar. lunders are directing their sjjpport in¢reasingty towards organisations working t¢)wards policy and system change. and away from those cnnGentrab"ng on caswork for individualg. In 2024-25, the campaign ol errorgency fundrntsing led ty the tru51ees in respcffise to a forecast deficit was successful and has reduced the defiul to a m¢ylest one. ck*se to b￿8k even for the year. We have also take the opportunity lo put in pkce a new bus￿$$ pLqn and business model, which wlll improve our sustainability In future years. The Trustees havè assess*l the rnajor risks to whith the Law Centre is exposed. and, In parueular, those related lo its operations and finances. A risk register has been èsta￿lShed and Is updated at least annualty. Where appropriate. systems or procedur8s have been established lo mitigatg th8 risks the charity fac8s. The Law Cgntre's Strategic Plan seeks to mitsoale the risks asscmialed wrfti particular sour¢e8 of funding and ensure the conlinued vi8bility ol the charity. Internal control risks aro minimised by the implement81KJn of procedu￿5 for authorisati￿ of all transactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure the heaKh and safely of staff. v(Aunleers, clignts and visitors to thg contre. The maintenance ¢1 the Lex¢el Quality Standard and compliance wilh Solicilors, Practice Rules ensure a consistent quality of delwery for all operab'onal acltvilt'es of Ihg charty. These prcKoduras are periodi￿lty revigwod to ensure ￿Y continue to mget th8 nèeds of the charity. R8 The Tnjsteas have examined tho charity's requiraments for reserves in the light of Ihe main risks to the organisation. The cosl-of-IwiryJ crisls. particular, has increased both demand for our seNlee5 and the cost of delwering them. For the rF￿rnant. our reserves targèt of £200,DtX) is un¢haroed. so that we (an dir8Ct our in¢ome towards delNering services and bdstering th& salaries of our staff. The trustees ara kegping our reserves under close suutiny, fNMever, and are ￿tiSfied that their ￿Tren1 lovel is adequats. The arT)ount of unrestrlcted reserves hdd by Ihe charty at 31 Marth 2025 was £268.589. The Trustees anticipate that il wll b8 necessary to draw uwn these resetves over the coursè of the next few yoars in order to mitigate the effects of inflaiion, recessi(x) and the cosl-of-living crisis in the UK. These will Increase the cost of running the law centre at the same time as inereasing demand for our Sorvices. At the samè time, the historkal uThJerfvnding of legal aid is likely to ¢ontinue. and publ 8ector funders, in parbcular. wll be pla(*d under increasing tKKlgetsry pressLtre. TOWER HAMLEfs LAW CENTRE TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Iconid... Plans for the Future The Truslees have agreed the Law Centre's Strategtc Plan 202&2028. Our I(￿$ for the next three years will be on 'fvtureproofing'. In rnany respects, this means that our Straiegic priorit￿ will not change slgnificanly from those in eart￿[ plans." the key issue remain5 Ihat of ¢Jlminishing income v&rsus increasing d8mand for OLK services. Priority One." A HIgh-PerforMH￿ Oryanisation Lead Comrnittee= Finance We will drive high perf(ymance at all levels of the ￿ganiSat￿. For the organlsatk)n as a whd8. we will: Establish a Cultu￿ in which high perfom)anca is tK*th eXP￿d and c8lebTaled, Includlng Prompt and efficient billing of casthvork. thAake each of our spÈcSalisl teams responsitAe for Ihe perfomianee and InCom￿eneratIon necessary lo sustain its8lf and contrJ"but8 to organisalional overheads. For Indlvidual staff members. we will.. Improve appraisal superviS￿n pmcesses to help people suoxed, with clear. mgasurable objeclives, and limoly. meaningful reviews. Refine our measuremeni and monitorirwj of the hours rewijed by caseworkers lo ensu￿ thal targFJts are challengin9 but aCh￿able. and Ihat all work ¢arFied out is propèrly ¢redited. Sel eaTnings tarpts for caseworkers aknngside targets for casewth hours. OIFty Two.. A Sustsinabty Funded Organi$8ffon Lead Comrnitt08.' 0•￿￿p￿nI We will continue to grow and dIV￿ ow sources of IncAYne. We will increa$e the propKrftion of fuThJkng from corporale supporters. We wlll earn as rnuch as FK)ssible from legal aid. maxlmi5ing billing by our caswi¢rk stsff. We will identfy and secure new SOLtrces of fundlng from trusts and foundation5. We will ine￿a$? the number of our followefs ffi social media ￿8￿0MS- PartI￿10￿Y Linkedln as part of our approach to in¢Jividual glviThJ. We wlll use the opportrjnty of our Solh anniversary y88r in 2025 to ralse our profile and connect with potenti81 supporters. Prlortty Three.. A Modem. Inclusive EmploYerofCho￿8 Lead Committ68". Pgrsonnel We will bè an organisation that people want to work for, enjoy working for. stay and progress in We will reguLArty review pay. tsM￿ 8nt1 corKJitK)ns to ensu￿ th8t Ihey are ¢ompeUtive and fil for purpose. W8 will review the coMp0th￿ of our team anu Board of T￿St00S to ensure that Ihoy are dNerse and IndusNè. We ￿11 plan for succes&on to key roles wthin the staff tgam and Board of Trusteès. We will continue to develop a hybrid working m(KlÈl wilh and for staff. We will identrfy opportunrtios for training. devekfypment and Pr￿reSs￿n for all staff. We will provide a good working environmènt and equipment We will continue to implement an annual staff survey. TOWER HAMLETS LAW CENTRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 l¢ontd... PrA'oiity Four.. Engaging More Effectively with the Easl End Communrty Lead". Full 808rd of Trustees We will understand our ¢ornmunity better. broaden OLtr practice and tKJikl links so thal our wcxk reflects the needs and priorities of the people we serve. We will work in partnership with bcal peoFle aThl 0￿jan￿atIOnS to train new community adv￿leS. We will idenlfy new ways of ¢(￿ne¢t1r4j the cornmunity. indudirvJ cffllin&. We will work to ensure our emploYn￿t law praclice is sustainable In thè long temi. range of secur6 sources of funding and hpJh qualty oulcomos for dignts. We will become the ccffimunills ffirsl port of can. for infomialion and advice 8tM)ul legal problems, ¢knloping Ihe resources on our wgbsito and (*Jns*dering incr6asing the number and range of (xjr wo bono advice dinics. Structure. Gov•mance •nql Manag•m¢nt ovemin Document The Law Contre is reglstered 83 a chabitable company Ilmlted by guarantèè and was set up by Memorandum of Association on 14 March 1983. The Memorandum of Assoctation establlsh8d the objects Bnd powers of the charitable company arxl il is g)vamgd under rts At*cls$ of Association. In Ihe ev8nt of thè eompany being w(xJnd up, members are required to contribute an amount not OXC8eding £1. The Law Centre's purposes, as sel oui in its governlng ￿￿Ument. are.. The relbef of povaty amongst persons resid8nt or working in Greater London and in partkular the Lorjdon b¢yough ol Tower Hamlets 1.the bonefit arèa") by providing such persons with legal services which they coul¢J not othe￿1$e obtain or which it would not be ￿asOnablY practicable orappropriale to obtsin elsewhere,. The advancgmenl of educatk)n amoNJsl persons rgsldenl cf WOTklng In the b8ngfll area., Tha advancement of such other charitable purposes as are beneficral to the communlty for persons resident orworking in tha b8n•frt area. In Decambgr 2016, rewsed Arlides of AssocAatK)n were adopted. but they made no substanliva changes to the Law Centre's pufposes. which were simply moved from the Mem¢yandum lo the Arb'cles. Recruitm The dwectDrs ol the company are also charty Irustees for the purposes of charity law and under the rx)fflpany's Artides ar8 known as Trustses. The managemetrt of the Law C8ntre is the respon5ibilty of the Trustees. who are appointed and oTropted under the temis of the Articles of AssooialN)n. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and ArtÈcles of Association Ime third lor Ihe number nearest one thirdl of the Trustees must reth.re al each Annual General MeetirKJ. ai which timè they m8y be reap￿nted if eligible. Thè Trustees may o>opt #ny indNKlual. pn)Vkled th8 total number of Tru51ees dogs not 8XCged the number allowed by the Art￿les. C¢>opted Trustee5 hold office onty until Ihe next Annual Gengral Meeting. at which tlme they may be reapwinled rf 8lvJib￿. When mor8 Trustees are needed, the Tnjslees alvertise vacancies widely in order to draw in appropriately qualffied indNiJuals to 5UPtK)rt the development of the Law Centre. Appropriate qualifications may ind￿Je sperAfic sknlLs. eXperi￿ce and contacts as well as kr￿l￿ge of the local community. TOWER HAMLEfs LAW CENTRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDEO 31 MARCH 2025 Icontd... Mindful of the advice in the Charity Gov8m3nce C(hYe. the TQF$t￿s inlend lo intr(KJu¢o a nin9-year term limil on trusteeship at this year's Annual General Meeting. They are also conscious, however. th8t this will re5uII in the enforced retirement of many highly experienced irknstees, who provide the Board with invaluable knowledge and understanding of the IIKXI Gomrnunity. The Trustees have alrea¢Jy embarked on a su¢ce5sion planning process. I￿lUdI￿ the recruitment of new trusteès Ihrough the East London Business ￿l￿r￿￿'S Bo8rdPAalch Scheme. Trustee Induction and Trainin New Trustees are given the opportunity to vtsrt the Law Centre during a working day and meet stsff members and volunt8èrs, as well as existing Trustees. AJI new Trustees receive an inducb'on pack Ihat includes general infomatlon atx)ut the Law Centre a5 well as recent COPl85 of minutes. management aceounts and senlor management reports and a copy of the Memorandum ar¥J Articfes of Assod8tlon. Trustees are invited to allend an individual meeting wilh the Chigf Executive lo familiarise Ih8mselves with the charity and the context within which il operates. ThK8 meeling covers.. The roles and reswknslbllRles of Tnjstees An Overv￿ of th8 goveming document and key irKluding oqual opportunitias and financial manag8m8nt The currenl financial p05rt￿n of Ihg ryganis8tion. indLKling an introduction to key funders and their requirgments An overview of th8 Businèss Plan. focusing on future pkns and objectiv•s An overview of the current Risk Assessm8nt Partles At a natlonal level, provts1￿ and pro¢uremer)t of quality legal Ss ensured principally through the Legal Aid Agency and the Law Society. Thg charty engages with these bodies through the rnaintenanee of Ihé Lexcel Quality Stsndard and through compliance with Solicilor5' Practice Rules. The charity also maintains membership of tho Law Centres Network, which provides IM￿rtant links to wider policy issuos and support for lh8 organisation in management practic¢ and straleglc development. Locally, the charity is represented on the Tower Hamlets Cornmjjnity Advice Ne￿ork. a group of advice agenci&s w¢yking in the borrxjgh. blic In plannlng 8nd revlewlng Ihe fc41owing actwitie5. the TrLths have glven e8r•fiJl eonsidèratlon to tha Charity Commission guidance on public benefTt. We are satisfied that in the management of resour￿5 to deliver legal advicè sarvi¢es we can dwnonstrate that our work benefits not only wr clients bul also the widgr communty. anisali¢)nal structu￿ a￿1 DeC￿lon Makin The Law Centre's members elert rb Trustees, who are resF*)n5￿e for the slrateglc dlreclon of the law centre and oversbJht of its work and finances. The Trustees delegate daY-t￿daY responsibility the prOvts1￿ of servTrs lo the Chief Exe¢utNo and the Senior Solicrtor. The Chief Executive is respons**le for ensuring the secure financial management and adminislration d Ihe charity and the Senior Soliotor is responsible for ensuring the quality of the servi¢es delNered. Effective management and suwvision of the staff team is ihe responsibilily ol bolh the Chief Exe¢vtive and the Senior Solirytor. TOWER HAMLEfs LAW CENTRE TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Romunerati f Ke Mana Mèn nnel The remuneration of the ch8Tity's key managemeftt Fewnnel. the Chief Execub"ve and the Senior Solicitor, is set by thè Board of Trustees, taking into account the charity's financial p0S￿On and the amount paid for oJmparablp roles in comparable cyganisations. Volunt¢¢rs The Law Centre is gratéful for support of rts vclunteers. In parb"cular, we havg been indebted to the trainee solicitors fr<)m Freshfiekls Bruckhaus Defingef, NIN￿n Rose Fulbr¥JhL and HFW. who offer pro borbo advics on housing. employment. welfarè benefts and immigrats"on. R¢spon8ibilitl•s of th• Trusts•¥ The Tru51ees (who ar8 also directors of th8 chantsblg compgny for the PLtrposes of o)mpany lawl are responsible for preparing the Directors. Report and the finan¢ial stslements in accordance with applicable18w and Tegusalions. Company law requires the dbrectors to propare finar￿￿1 stat•ments for ea¢h financial year In 8ccordance with United Kingdom Generally Accept81J Accounting Prdctic8 (United Klngdom Accounting Standards and applicablg lawl. Under compafty law the directors must not appr¢ve the financlal slaternents unlèss they are satisfied that they give a twe and fair view of the stale of affalrs of the ¢h8ritable company 8nd ol Ihe incoming resources and applicats'on of re￿UrCeS. in¢ludin9 thè Income and èxpenditure, of thè tharitsble company lor that period. In preparing these lin8nual statements. the directors arg wuired lo.. select suitable accountin9 ￿1cleS and then apply them consistenljy". observe the melhods and prinupl8s in the Charitie$ SORP 2019 IFRS 1021., make Judgments and ac¢(xJrrting 8stimat8s that are reasO￿ble and prudènt.. state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been I￿l￿e0, subject to any material dèpartures disdos&J and expLained in the finawal slalgm8nts.' prepare the ffnanrAal statements on the going c￿cern basis unlgss it is inappropriate to presurne that the charitsble company will coniinue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping èdequale accounting records that are sufficient to show and expLgin the charitable company's transactions and disclosg with reasonable accuracy at any tim8 the financial position of the tharitsble company and enatAe them to eftsU￿ that Ihe financial $181ements comply with the Companies Act 21X)6. They are also ￿SpOnsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence taking reasonable steps for the prw8ntI￿ and detection of fraud and other irregularities. TOWER HAMLETS LAW CENTRE TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Icontd... Auditors I Indèpèndent Examineys Kingston Burrowes Charteied Accounlants were appointed 85 OLtr audilors l independent examiners at the Annual General Meeting in Novelnber 2024. They have expressed their willingness to a¢¢ept appointment antl a resolution to apw'nt them for 2025126 will be proposed al the forthcomlng Annual General Mee￿.￿￿. Small Company Exempllons This rèport Is prepared in accordance wth the spe¢Lal F￿0￿s￿s of Part 1S of the Companles Acl 2￿6 relatlng to small ￿MpanIes. Thls report was approvèd by the Trustees on Mark Kaldero Treasurer 10 Indepond8nt Examinorfs Report lo tha Trustees of: TOWER HA￿L￿s LAW CENTRE I report to the charrty tswsteès my examination cl the acxxAJnts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2025 which arè set wt ￿ pages 12 to 24. Responsibilities and basis of report A8 the charty trustees of the company land also its directors for the purposes of o)mpany lawl you are responsibte for the preparatK)n of the accounts in a(rA)rdance with the reoulrements of the Companiès Act 2006 Ilhe 2006 Aci'}. HaviThJ satisfied myseifth8t the accounts of the (#)mpany are noi required lo be audited under Part 16 of th8 2006 Act and are eligible lor independent 8xarninalK>n. I report in Tespe¢l of rny examinalion of your company's accounts as carri*l rating Income aTrJ ExFendttUTe Account) FOR THEYEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Totsl 2025 Total 2024 Notes Funds FLtnds Incomè from: Donations Charitable actNities Investmènts 174.239 261.130 2,988 162.078 74.801 336.317 335.931 2.988 269.936 340.100 3,515 Total 438.357 236,879 675.236 613,551 Expendltuie on.. Charrtable acttvilies 443,559 236,879 680,438 615,649 Total 443.559 236.879 680,438 615,649 Ntrt Incomelloxp•ndltur•l {5.202) 15.2021 (2.0981 Transfer be￿een lunds 15 N¥t movom•nt In fund8 15,2021 15,202} 12.0981 Rtconelllatlon of funds Total funds brought forwar 15 273.791 273.791 275,889 T¢)tal funds Carr1￿ br*ord 15 £268.589 £Nil £268,589 £273,791 AJI inconw and expenditure derive from c1￿￿nu1n9 8cbvit*8. The Statement of Financkgl Activities indudes all reccgni8ed gains and l¢JSSèS. The notes form part of the finar￿1 stalements. 12 TOWER HAMLETS LAW CENTRE IA Cornpany limited by guarantee) BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 2(r25 2024 FIXED ASSETS Tangible fixed assets 11 1.935 2,987 CURRENT ASSErs Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 12 107.680 232.950 222.589 122.9S4 340.630 345.543 CREDITORS= Amounts lalllng due wlthln one year 13 71.062 74,739 NET CURRENT ASSETS 269,568 270.804 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 271.503 273,791 CREDITORS: Amounts lallirrfJ due after more thèn one year 14 2.914 NET ASSETS 16 £268.￿9 £273,791 FUNDS Restricted Unreslricled - Desi9naied UrYestricted- General 273,791 15 £268.589 £273,791 The charitabb cA)mpany entitled to exemption frc*n a￿￿tt under Sedon 477 of the Companles Act 2006 for the year ended 31 Maich 2024. The memb8rs have not required the charitablè company to oblaln an audlt of its financial ststements fcrf the year endgj 31 Mar(* 2024 in accordan￿ with Section 476 of the Ctynpanies Act 2006. The dlreclors acknowlédge Iheir resPor￿1b1ll1ieS lor: al ensuring that the ￿rnPany keeps accounling reoyd8 which comply Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and bl preparing financial slalemenls whith gNe a true and fair of the state of affait of the charitable ompany as al the end of each finan¢ial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financi01 year in accordance with Ihe requirèments of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwsè compty with the requirèmgnls of the Companies Act 2006 rBlating to finanaal statem8nts. so far as applicable to th8 charitable company. Those finanraal statements have been praparth1 in ac¢ordanc• wilh the spa(ièl Fytyisions of part 15 of Ihe Cornpanies Act 2006 rolakn.ng to small companies. The financial Slatements were approved by the Board of Trustees on tr/ IIL 2025 and signg¢J on Ippa Sa Trustee and C The notes fomi part of the fin8nci81 stslements. 13 TOWER HAMLETS LAW CENTRE (A Company limit8d by guarantaè) CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 2025 2024 Cash flows from operatln9 actlvities: Nel rnovemènt in lunds Adjustments for.. Interesl re¢8ivab Depreciation charges (note 111 Decreasollincr8as81 in debtors (Dgcreasellincrease creditors (5.2021 {2.098} 12.988) 1.052 114,909 1763) (3.5151 4.562 1113,3431 9,675 Net ¢a*h providéd by operawng a¢ti¥ities 107,008 1104,719) Cash flows from Investing a¢tlwiti•8: Intérest received (note 41 Purchase ol larrfJible fixed 8ssets Dispos810l t8ngiblg f￿e{j a888ts 2.988 3,515 13.5331 N•t e•$h used In Inv05tlng actlvlll•s (18) Chang• In Cash and cash •qulval•nts In th• ￿ar 109, {104,737) Cash and cash aqu￿alentS bfoughl forward 122.954 227.691 Cash and ea$h ¢qulval•nts ￿rrI￿ fonmard £232.950 £122,954 Analysls of ¢ash and cash •qulYal•nts 2025 2024 Cash at bank ond In h8nd £232,950 £122,954 The notes forni part of the finan(aal staternents. 14 TOWER HAm￿s LAW CENTRE IA conyany Ilmltgd by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 ACCOUNMNG POLICIES Basls of ac¢ounting The charity constitutes a public ￿nerrt entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accor¢Jance wrth Accounting and R8porting by Charfties.. Statsmenl of Re¢ommended Prathcè applicable lo chants'es prep8riru their accounts in accordanc8 With thè Financial Reportiro Standard applicable in the UK aThJ Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 issued in Odober 2019, Charitie5 SORP {FRS 1021. thè Financial Reporting Stsndard applicable in th8 United Kingdom and Republtc of Ireland IFRS 1021, th$ Chariti8s Act 2011. Ihg Companies Act 2006 and UK Generalty Accepted Accounting PraCts(￿. The financlal stat8m8nts are prepared on a gofjng concern basls and under the historic81 cost convention. The signfficant accounting policies appli8d in the preparation of these financial statements are sel out below. Th￿ hav8 b88n consistenty appliod lo all years p￿s&nted unless otherwise stated. Incom• ro¢ognltlon It8ms of Income are racognlsed In the ffinandal slat8fflents when all of the folk)w'ng (Tlerfa are rneL The tharity h8S 81rtit18ment to the thjnds.. any performance cOnd￿onS have bèèn mèt or are fiJlly within the control of the chadty; there is svfficienl certainty ihal receipt of the Ir￿Qme L8 considered probable,. and the amount ¢an be measured r•liabty. Exp•ndltur* rKognltlon Exp8ndrture is racognised once thgrg B a legal OT O)nstructive obligatK)n to maka paymgnl lo a third party, tt is probable that settjement will be requlréd and the amount C8n be measurèd r&li8bly. Expenditure on charitatAe activitEs comprK8es thè costs associated with delwering specialist la981 advice. Expendrture includes those costs of a dlrert nalure which can bè alk)¢aled to a sp8crflc acliwty. It also includes indired costs, includiThJ govem8nce costs that do not relate to a specific acbvity bul are necessary lo supwt those adivities. Support ¢))sts aro apportioned to oach actiwty on the basis of staff time. Fund accounting Un￿Stncted general fur*ds Ire freety av8ilable for use in furthgrance of the objects of the charfty and which h8v8 nor been 4asKJnatsd for partitxjlar purposos. Dèsignated fiJnd5 are UnreStri￿e￿ funds Set aside by the trustees for partiujlar purposes. Restricted funds are funds which can onty be Lrsed in $c￿rdance with specific rastrictions imposed by the donor or which havo bean raised for a part'cJJlar purp(xse. Tangible fixed assets and depreciatlon Tangible assets costing more than £SJ) a￿ ¢8pilaIi￿d. Deprg¢iab"M is provided so as to write off th& cost of 8ath a&8el over its ests"mat&d wful lil8 at the folkNATh3 annu81 rates.. Fixtures and fittirrfJs Computer equipment 20% straight lin& 25% straight line 15 TOWER HAMLEfs LAW CENTRE IA company limlted by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Icontd... ACCOUNTING POLICIES Iconvd) L•as•s 0parats.ng 18a88 rentals ar8 charged to the Slatoment of Finan￿81 ActNityas on 8 straight knn6 basis over ihe pertod of the lease. Penslons The charity opèrates a defined conlributKJn ￿nSiOn sc*eme. contributs.ons payable U￿er the scheme are charged th8 Statement of Flnanual ActiM#8s in the year to whlch they relate. The charlty aLso has ongoing hi8tuic cdigations under a Mu1￿8mplOYer (Jefin8d b8n8fit pensKsn scheme. 11 is nol possible lor th8 charity lo obtain sufficient information to enable il to a¢counl for the schen% as a defined benefil sth*me and il Iherefr¥o accounls for the scheme as defined contribubon scheme. Debtor8 and credltors r•c•lvablelpayable wlthln ono ￿ar Debtors and cr8dFtors ￿1￿ no stated interest ratè and r•eeivable or payable ￿thIn one year 8re recorded al Iransa¢tion price. Any losses arising from impaimients ar& recognised in expenditure. DONATIONS Unresthctsd Rgstr7(aed fuTh1s fvnds Total 2025 Total 2024 Gronts DonalK)ns 37,519 136.720 162.078 199,597 136.720 200.350 69,588 £174,239 £162,078 £336.317 £269.936 Of th8 £269.936 recognised in 2024. £69,586 was ￿n￿$trI￿d and £200,3￿ was restrictsd. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES UnrestriC￿j Restnctgd fuThls fund5 Total 2025 Total 2024 Gr•nts and contract$: Legal Aid Agency London Borough ofToww HamIetr￿a$1 End Citizens Advi￿ Bureau Housing POssess￿n Court Dity S(*eme Trust lor Lond Real DPO Limite(IIAge UK East Lcffldon Fees trom private dients 140.769 140.769 82,182 74.801 74.801 9.216 87,946 16,488 54,050 32,250 67.184 9.216 34.511 76.634 34.511 76,634 £261.130 £74,801 £335.931 £340,100 Of the £340.100 recognised in 2024. £198,104 was unreskncted funds and £141.996 was restricted fijnds. 16 TOWER HAMLETS LAW CENTRE {A company limltèd by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Icontd... INVESTMENT INCOME Unrestricted Restricted fijnds funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Bank int81eSt £Nil £3.515 All of the £3,515 recognised in 2024 was unrestrthd fvnds. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVlnES DlreL costs Support eosts Total 2025 Total 2024 Housln9 Employrnent Immigration Welfare 91.577 41,579 191,356 69,916 66.736 23,834 147,772 47.668 158.313 65,413 339.128 117.584 162,680 18.900 315,690 118,379 £394,428 £286.010 £680,438 e615.649 Of the £615.649 expeThYlture reeognlsed In 2024. £273,303 was ch8ryed lo unrg$tri¢ted furKIs and £342.346 was charged lo restrtled funds. ANALYSIS OF DIRECT COSTS Total 2025 Total 2024 staff eosts Other diwt co$18 382,651 11,777 323,554 8,043 £394.428 £331,597 ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS Total 2025 Total 2024 Stsff and freelance ¢osts Offi'ce costs Premlses costs Governance costs (see Note 81 208,272 48.724 25,364 3.6&) 207.913 46.326 26,288 3.525 £286,010 £284,052 GOVERNANCE COSTS 2025 2024 Independent examin8rfs fees - Examination SRA audrt Other fees 2,410 1.240 2,285 1.240 £3,650 £3.525 17 TOWER HAMLEfs LAW CENTRE IA company limited by guarantse) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Iconld... INCOMEIEXPE14DITURE FOR THE YEAR 2024 The net incomelexpenditurts for the year is stated after charglng.. Operating lease rentals Depreci 1994)) (47.500} 122.8WI 168.3651 47.500 22.890 68,365 342.346 {342,346) Unrestrlcted fund¥ General 275.889 271.205 {273.303} 273,791 275,889 271.205 (273.303) 273,791 Totsl Funds £275,889 £613.551 £(615,649) £Nil £273.791 16. ANALYSIS OF NET ASs￿s 8ETWEEN FUNDS Unrgslricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2025 Fix8iJ Assets Current assets Current liabilities Non-current Ik8bili¢ies 1,935 340.630 171,0621 12.9141 1,935 340,630 171,0621 12.9141 As at 31 March 2025 £266,589 £Nil £268.589 TOWER HAmL￿s LAW CENTRE IA ¢ompany limltod by guardntse) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR ThE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Icontd... 16. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSEfs BETWEEN FUNDS Icontd... Comparative infonnatk)n for the analysi% of nel assets between funds at th8 ond of the previous year is as follows.. Un￿￿riCted Restricted Funds Funds Total Funds 2024 Flxed Assets Current assets Current Iiabililies N<￿-Current liabilities 2.987 345.543 174,7391 2.987 345.543 174,7391 As al 31 March 2024 £273.791 £Nil £273.791 17. COMPANY STATUS Tower Hamlets Law Centre is a privete company Ilmited by guarantee with no share capital and 1$ regisiered in England and Wales. Each member is liable lo Contribu￿ 8 sum not exceeding £1 in the event of the company being wound up. registered office of the company Is given in the Referen￿ an¢J Adminrstrative Details of Tru51ees' Annual ReF*JI. TAXATION As a r￿l$lere(l chartty, Tower Hamlets Law Centr8 is exempl from taxation tsnder Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Acl 2010 and Section 256 of the Taxation of Charg8abk Gains Ad 1992, 19. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS Total future minimum lease payments vnder rKTrCancejlab￿ opeTrling lea58s are as follow5.. 2025 2024 Due within one year Due wY(hln one to fwe years 10,900 11,3 10,900 £10,9(KI £22,200 20. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES The Ponsion Tr￿t- Thg Growth Plan Th8 charty parts'cipates in the above Mult￿8MploYer pension scheme which provides b8neffts lo some 1.3(>O non-associated parb'cipating em￿0YerS. The scheme is a defined benefrt schemè in thg UK. 11 is not Possible for the charity lo obtain sufficient irrforn￿t￿)n to enable tt lo atxx)unl for the scheme as a defined benefrt schen*. Theref￿e it 8¢{￿Unts for the scheme as a (Jefined contribution scheme. The sthemÈ is subject lo funding legislation ouuined in Ihe Pen5irms Act 2004 which cam8 irrto force on 30 December 2005. This. tO9ethar with dc¢uments issued by th8 Pensions Regulator and Technical Actuarial Standards issued by the Financral Reporbng Gouncil, set out the framework for funding defined benefit oK￿lpat￿)naI pensH)n schemes in the UK. TOWER HAMLEfs LAW CENTRE IA company limit•d by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Icontd... 20. CONTINGENT LIABILITIESlcontd... The scheme is cl￿rt]ed as a 'la￿-Man stsnding arrang6menf. Therefore Ihe charfty L8 potentially liabl8 for other participating employ6rs' obligations rf those employets unable to m8et their share of the scheme deficit f￿k)WIng withdrawal frown lh& scheme. Participating employers are ￿alty required to meet Iheir share of the scheme deficit on an annulty pU￿hase basis on withdrawal frrNn the scheme. A full actuarial valuation for Ihe scheme was ￿rried ￿1 al 30 Seplember 2017. This actuarial valuation showtrd assets of £795rn, liabt'liti&s of £926m and a deficit of £131 m. To aliminat8 this funding S￿)rt[all, thè trtjslees and the participatirKJ employers h8ve agreed that addttsonal contributions wlll bo paid lo the 5cherne. The recovery plan controbutions are allocated to each parts'cipalirKJ employer in linè with Ihèir èsb"rnaled shar8 of Ihe Sen'es 1 an¢J S￿r￿ 2 scheme liabilities. The charty's share of the recovery pian ￿￿trIbUtionS amounts to £5.488 per annum, increasing by 3% each year unlil 31 January 2025. The totsl amount due under Ihe original recovery plan amounbng to £40,179 was recogrised as a liabilty in the balance sheet in the y8ar ended 31 March 2016. Tho liabllty h8s been di8ccAJnled to net present valu8 on th8 grrAJnds of Immat8riallty. As a resurt of changes io the recovery pLqn. effectfve fr(fft 1 ￿1￿1 2019, an addttl¢)nal Irablllty of £6,484 was recognise(l in the 31 Mar¢h 2019 accc*Jnts. The 8Stimat8d debt on wlth(Jrawal Irom tha scheme i8 £83,208 leffectfve date 30 September 20201 and It 6$ anliclpaled that thls VAII over Ilme as a result of the r8cov8ry plan contribsjtions and invèslmtrnt relums. 21. CONTINGENT ASSETS The charity has been awarded some multivyoar granis with S￿lfiel1 or implieLI timeframes which preclude recognition of the full amount. Tha lollowing wntingent assels are therefore disclosed as al 31 March 2025: East End CAB Law Centres Nthork Aecess lo Justice Foundation AB Charitable Trust £149,601 £29,194 £24.235 £50.1 {WeffaTe Advl¢o1 (Train and Qualrfy Sdicitor} (Wellare Advice) IWeWar& Advlcel CLIENT MONIES In addition to thè assets and liatxlTii8s induded in these financial statgmants th8 charity also holds client mney amounting to £44,579 as at 31 March 2025 IÉ154.853 as at 31 March 20241 in a separate client bank 9￿oUnt. 2& TRUSTEES During the year Tn￿lee5 received rn) remuneration {2ry24 . £Nil) or reimbursed expenses 12024 .. £Nill. Match fundir¥J of £9.619 was receNed from third paty roJards to lime conlribuied to the charity by one of Ihe trustee 24