THE PUBLIC LAW PROJECT

Registered charity 1003342 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The poor and disadvantaged are those most affected by public bodies: access to health care, asylum, benefits and affordable housing depend on decisions of public bodies. Such decisions should be made in accordance with public law. The Public Law Project challenges public bodies and improves decision-making through advice and litigation, research and policy work and training other advisers.

Causes: Education/training · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Other Charitable Purposes · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£2.0m

Latest spending

£2.0m

Registered

1991

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £11,432 for the year, resulting in a decrease in total funds. However, the trustees report that the financial position remains resilient, supported by healthy cash reserves of £1,615,479 and a diverse funding base. The charity maintains unrestricted reserves of £1,030,688, which exceeds its stated policy target of three to five months of running costs.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £80,001 - £90,000 — above the median for charities its size (£70k)

“One employee earned between £80,000 and £90,000 during the year (2024: 1)” — page 37

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Employees paid over £60,000: 1

“One employee earned between £80,000 and £90,000 during the year (2024: 1)” — page 37

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Largest income source: Grants and donations (67% of income)

“Grants and donations represent 66% of our income in this reporting period (grants and donations: £1,318,035, total income: £1,968,209).” — page 15

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: three to five months of running costs (held: £1.0m)

“PLP’s reserves policy during the year ending 31 March 2025 is to retain between three and five months of running costs (3: £537,067, 5: £895,111).” — page 19

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Trustee reimbursement

“One charity trustee received £114.40 as payment or reimbursement of travel costs paid in the year (2024: £0 ).” — page 37

“Four trustees received gifts totalling £334.50 thanking them at the end of their service. These totalled £448.90” — page 38

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Trustee gifts

“One charity trustee received £114.40 as payment or reimbursement of travel costs paid in the year (2024: £0 ).” — page 37

“Four trustees received gifts totalling £334.50 thanking them at the end of their service. These totalled £448.90” — page 38

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Trustee-related pro-bono

“One charity trustee received £114.40 as payment or reimbursement of travel costs paid in the year (2024: £0 ).” — page 37

“Four trustees received gifts totalling £334.50 thanking them at the end of their service. These totalled £448.90” — page 38

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Sayer Vincent LLP. Discloses 6 of 6 completeness components.

Corporate structure

Registered company of the charity Companies House 02368562

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Public Law Project (matched by registered charity number).

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

AB Charitable Trust — “Our special thanks to the following funders for their continued support: AB Charitable Trust” (source page)

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

SMITH, Rachel Ella — director, appointed 13/10/2025on trustee list
HAFESJI, Khatija — director, appointed 06/06/2025on trustee list
WHITING, James Warwick — director, appointed 06/06/2025on trustee list
TOMLINSON, Joseph Peter, Professor — director, appointed 06/06/2025on trustee list
ALEXANDER, Flora Susannah Mary — director, appointed 06/06/2025on trustee list
DEMETRIADES, Lorynn — director, appointed 12/03/2025on trustee list
CHAHAL, Saimo — director, appointed 12/03/2025not on trustee list
MEHTA, Ravi Samir — director, appointed 13/12/2023on trustee list
FLETCHER, Simon James — director, appointed 13/12/2023on trustee list
RAI, Carien — director, appointed 13/12/2023on trustee list
SENKER, Jonathan — director, appointed 01/11/2023on trustee list
NOTT, Bryan Duncan — director, appointed 09/03/2016on trustee list
IGOE, Christopher Martin — secretary, appointed 04/06/2025

Official officers record.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income

£2.0m

Total spending

£2.0m

Cost of raising funds

£160k

Reserves (reported)

£1.0m

Employees

27

Reported reserves equal ~6.2 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (67% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 8.1% of total income — above the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Jonathan Senkerchair
Bryan Nott
Carien Rai
Flora Alexander
Hon Saimo Chahal KC · trustee of 1 other charity
James Whiting
Khatija Hafesji
Lorynn Demetriades
Melanie Carter
Professor Joseph Tomlinson
Rachel Smith · trustee of 1 other charity
Ravi Samir Mehta
Simon James Fletcher

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£2.0m	£2.0m
31/03/2024	£2.1m	£2.2m
31/03/2023	£1.9m	£2.1m
31/03/2022	£2.0m	£2.0m
31/03/2021	£1.9m	£1.4m

Common questions

Is THE PUBLIC LAW PROJECT financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £11,432 for the year, resulting in a decrease in total funds. However, the trustees report that the financial position remains resilient, supported by healthy cash reserves of £1,615,479 and a diverse funding base. The charity maintains unrestricted reserves of £1,030,688, which exceeds its stated policy target of three to five months of running costs. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.

What does the highest-paid employee of THE PUBLIC LAW PROJECT earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £80,001 - £90,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.

Who funds THE PUBLIC LAW PROJECT?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE PUBLIC LAW PROJECT as a grant recipient include JUSTICE COLLABORATIONS, THE LEGAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION, TRUST FOR LONDON, THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION, THE SAM AND BELLA SEBBA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
JUSTICE COLLABORATIONS	FY2025	£440k	Advice and Representation
THE LEGAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION	FY2024	£300k	Supporting PLP's core area of work towards fairness, legality, and accountability in public law, focussing on enhanced constitutional accountability, increased
JUSTICE COLLABORATIONS	FY2025	£275k	Influencing
JUSTICE COLLABORATIONS	FY2023	£263k	Related Party
JUSTICE COLLABORATIONS	FY2022	£250k	Advice and Representation
TRUST FOR LONDON	FY2022	£230k	Decent living standards
THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION	FY2024	£123k	Grants
THE SAM AND BELLA SEBBA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2024	£100k	Project
DISRUPT FOUNDATION	FY2024	£88k	Access to Justice / Infrastructural support
THE NUFFIELD FOUNDATION	FY2025	£80k	Building resilience: The feasibility of adapting a child-focused intervention for parental separation
THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£70k
THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£64k	Human Rights (particularly access to justice)
THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£63k
THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION	FY2021	£53k
THE SAM AND BELLA SEBBA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2025	£50k	Core funding
THE LANKELLYCHASE FOUNDATION	FY2024	£50k	Core funding
DISRUPT FOUNDATION	FY2022	£50k
DISRUPT FOUNDATION	FY2023	£42k
THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION	FY2025	£25k
THE LANKELLYCHASE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£22k	Networks
THE BROMLEY TRUST	FY2024	£20k	Human Rights
THE SAM AND BELLA SEBBA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£16k	Campaigns project
LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST	FY2023	£15k
THE BROMLEY TRUST	FY2023	£15k	Human Rights
THE BROMLEY TRUST	FY2025	£15k
THE BROMLEY TRUST	FY2022	£15k	Human Rights
THE BROMLEY TRUST	FY2023	£15k	Prison Reform
THE SAM AND BELLA SEBBA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2021	£14k	Policy and Influencing position
THE SAM AND BELLA SEBBA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2022	£13k	Policy and Influencing position and cost of living crisis
LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST	FY2021	£10k
LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST	FY2024	£10k
THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION	FY2023	£8k
THE LANKELLYCHASE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£8k	Networks
THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION	FY2024	£5k
THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION	FY2022	£5k
CIVIC POWER FUND	FY2024	£1k

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
A B Charitable Trust	13/01/2026	£70k	A grant to Public Law Project
The National Lottery Community Fund	12/12/2025	£3.6m	Fair Systems Strong Communities
A B Charitable Trust	11/12/2024	£70k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	19/08/2024	£4k	A grant to Public Law Project
Unbound Philanthropy	10/07/2024	£100k	Grant to The Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	30/01/2024	£70k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	24/01/2023	£33k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	30/06/2022	£30k	A grant to Public Law Project
Unbound Philanthropy	02/02/2022	£120k	Grant to The Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	25/01/2022	£30k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	11/08/2021	£4k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	27/04/2021	£30k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	26/01/2021	£30k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	23/04/2020	£30k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	14/01/2020	£30k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	29/01/2019	£30k	A grant to Public Law Project
Unbound Philanthropy	14/11/2018	£290k	Grant to The Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	24/04/2018	£20k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	24/01/2017	£20k	A grant to Public Law Project
A B Charitable Trust	26/06/2015	£15k	Improve access to justice for marginalised groups
A B Charitable Trust	08/07/2014	£15k	Access to Justice for Disadvantaged Groups
A B Charitable Trust	06/03/2014	£1k	Judicial review project
A B Charitable Trust	22/01/2013	£10k	Access to justice for the disadvantaged
The National Lottery Community Fund	02/11/2005	£474k	Empowering the Voluntary Sector.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
GOWLING WLG (UK) CHARITABLE TRUST	2	£2k
THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£679k
THE FRESHFIELD FOUNDATION	1	£615k
PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION	1	£250k
MONEY ADVICE TRUST	1	£238k
JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION	1	£145k
THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£130k
CHK Foundation	1	£90k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTRE.

PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTRE income £2.6m
LAW CENTRES FEDERATION income £1.1m
CAMBRIDGE AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU income £1.4m
THE RCJ AND ISLINGTON CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX income £3.3m
CITIZENS ADVICE LIVERPOOL LIMITED income £4.3m
Centre for Public Impact Europe income £3.0m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE PUBLIC LAW PROJECT	£2.0m	£80,001 - £90,000	1	unclear	—	no doubt
PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTRE FY2025	£2.6m	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
LAW CENTRES FEDERATION FY2025	£1.1m	more than £60,000	1	unclear	—	no doubt
CAMBRIDGE AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU FY2025	£1.4m	—	0	above	—	no doubt
THE RCJ AND ISLINGTON CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX FY2025	£3.3m	£80,001 - £90,000	1	unclear	—	no doubt
CITIZENS ADVICE LIVERPOOL LIMITED FY2025	£4.3m	—	0	within	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.