PRISONERS' ADVICE SERVICE

Registered charity 1054495 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as PRISONERS ADVICE SERVICE PAS

THE PRISONERS' ADVICE SERVICE PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE AND INFORMATION TO PRISONERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES REGARDING THEIR RIGHTS, PARTICULARLY THE APPLICATION OF THE PRISON RULES AND THEIR CONDITIONS OF IMPRISONMENT.

Causes: Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£592k

Latest spending

£531k

Registered

1996

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a total surplus of £60,568 for the year ended 31 March 2025, with unrestricted income rising to £425,139. Free reserves were held at £440,701, which the trustees note represents nearly nine months of operating costs, exceeding their stated policy target of six to nine months. The charity maintains a strong liquidity position with unrestricted funds of £455,609 carried forward.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: six to nine months of reserves (held: £441k)

“As a guideline, the Management Committee aims to hold six to nine months of reserves”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Aggregate donations from related parties were £660

“Aggregate donations from related parties were £660 (2024: £360). There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.” — page 30

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Funders the charity credits

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

National Lottery Community Fund — “PAS is supported by the National Lottery Community Fund” (source page)

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook

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

Total income

£592k

Total spending

£531k

Cost of raising funds

£101k

Reserves (reported)

£456k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~10.3 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (78% 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: 17.1% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Dominique Webbchair
Andrea Barba
Cheuk Yee Julie Chiu
Farah Abdullatif Yaqoob I Alblooshi
Gift Shala Nyoni
Joy Helen Lewis
Katie Le-Billon
MARTINE LIGNON
Mohammed Kassim Gaffar · trustee of 1 other charity
Peter Chanel Coll

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	£592k	£531k
31/03/2024	£498k	£488k
31/03/2023	£567k	£485k
31/03/2022	£489k	£434k
31/03/2021	£550k	£488k

Common questions

Is PRISONERS' ADVICE SERVICE financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a total surplus of £60,568 for the year ended 31 March 2025, with unrestricted income rising to £425,139. Free reserves were held at £440,701, which the trustees note represents nearly nine months of operating costs, exceeding their stated policy target of six to nine months. The charity maintains a strong liquidity position with unrestricted funds of £455,609 carried forward. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds PRISONERS' ADVICE SERVICE?

Funders whose own accounts filings name PRISONERS' ADVICE SERVICE as a grant recipient include THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION, THE CHRISTOPHER AND HENRY OLDFIELD TRUST, THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST, THE DAVID ISAACS FUND, The Goldsmiths' Foundation.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION	FY2021	£50k
THE CHRISTOPHER AND HENRY OLDFIELD TRUST	FY2022	£25k
THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£25k
THE DAVID ISAACS FUND	FY2023	£25k	Charities
THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£22k
The Goldsmiths' Foundation	FY2022	£21k	Prisoner Resettlement
THE DAVID ISAACS FUND	FY2024	£21k	Charities
THE BROMLEY TRUST	FY2025	£20k
THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£20k	The Justice System and penal reform
THE BROMLEY TRUST	FY2024	£20k	Prison Reform
THE BROMLEY TRUST	FY2023	£20k	Prison Reform
WILLIAM ADLINGTON CADBURY CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£17k	Penal Affairs
THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION	FY2022	£15k
LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST	FY2024	£10k
LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST	FY2021	£10k
LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST	FY2023	£10k
THE BROMLEY TRUST	FY2022	£10k	Prison Reform
THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION	FY2023	£10k
THE EVAN CORNISH FOUNDATION	FY2025	£10k	UK Round July 2024
THE EVAN CORNISH FOUNDATION	FY2023	£10k
THE ALICE ELLEN COOPER-DEAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2024	£8k
THE CHRISTOPHER AND HENRY OLDFIELD TRUST	FY2024	£8k
THE SIMMONS AND SIMMONS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£8k	Access to justice and the rule of law
DIDYMUS	FY2023	£5k
SUSANNA PEAKE CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£5k
THE JOHN COATES CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£5k
THE LAW SOCIETY CHARITY	FY2024	£5k
THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION	FY2024	£5k
THE LAWSON TRUST CIO	FY2024	£5k	Other grants
THE JOHN COATES CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£5k
THE ROBERT GAVRON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£5k
THE PETER STEBBINGS MEMORIAL CHARITY	FY2023	£5k
THE WILLIAM ALLEN YOUNG CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£5k
THE ALICE ELLEN COOPER-DEAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2025	£5k
THE LAWSON TRUST CIO	FY2022	£5k
THE FORRESTER FAMILY TRUST	FY2022	£5k	SMALLER GRANTS
THE DAVID FAMILY FOUNDATION	FY2024	£5k
THE WILLIAM ALLEN YOUNG CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£5k
THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY	FY2022	£5k	Education
THE LAWSON TRUST CIO	FY2023	£5k
THE VAN NESTE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£5k
THE HARRISON-FRANK FAMILY FOUNDATION (UK) LIMITED	FY2021	£4k
THE WALTER GUINNESS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£4k	General donation
THE WALTER GUINNESS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£4k	General donation
THE SIMMONS AND SIMMONS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2025	£4k	Staff selections
THE SIMMONS AND SIMMONS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2024	£4k	Staff selections
THE WILLIAM ALLEN YOUNG CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£3k
THE LAWSON TRUST CIO	FY2025	£3k
C B AND H H TAYLOR 1984 TRUST	FY2022	£3k
THE CHRISTOPHER AND HENRY OLDFIELD TRUST	FY2023	£2k

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	01/12/2025	£25k	A grant to Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS)
Community Foundation North East	22/05/2025	£3k	Grant to Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS)
A B Charitable Trust	23/01/2025	£25k	A grant to Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS)
The National Lottery Community Fund	29/08/2024	£200k	PAS Telephone Advice Line
A B Charitable Trust	25/01/2024	£25k	A grant to Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS)
A B Charitable Trust	06/10/2022	£22k	A grant to Prisoners' Advice Service
City Bridge Foundation	21/09/2021	£45k	Grant to Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS)
A B Charitable Trust	09/09/2021	£20k	A grant to Prisoners' Advice Service
A B Charitable Trust	08/10/2020	£20k	A grant to Prisoners' Advice Service
A B Charitable Trust	27/06/2019	£20k	A grant to Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS)
The National Lottery Community Fund	11/01/2019	£165k	Prisoners' Advice Service Telephone Advice Line
UK government	03/12/2018	£10k	Tampon Tax Community Fund
A B Charitable Trust	24/04/2018	£20k	A grant to Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS)
A B Charitable Trust	27/04/2017	£20k	A grant to Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS)
A B Charitable Trust	20/10/2015	£20k	Advice on Human Rights for Prisoners
A B Charitable Trust	21/10/2014	£20k	Providing free legal advice to Prisoners
A B Charitable Trust	09/07/2013	£15k	Legal advice and representation for prisoners
The National Lottery Community Fund	18/04/2012	£139k	Telephone advice line for prisoners
City Bridge Foundation	25/11/2008	£60k	Grant to Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS)

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
THE BLUSTON CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT	1	—
THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	1	£175k
TRUST FOR LONDON	1	£102k
London Homelessness Foundation	1	£82k
THE TOLKIEN TRUST	1	£75k
SIR HALLEY STEWART TRUST	1	£60k
THE SLAUGHTER AND MAY CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£47k
DRAPERS CHARITABLE FUND	1	£40k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with PRISONERS ABROAD.

PRISONERS ABROAD income £2.0m
CARDIFF AND VALE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU income £4.9m
CAMDEN CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX SERVICE LIMITED income £1.6m
HOUNSLOW CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX SERVICE income £1.3m
OUT THERE SUPPORTING FAMILIES OF PRISONERS LIMITED income £256k
THE LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE(UNIVERSITY HOUSE) income £1.1m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
PRISONERS' ADVICE SERVICE	£592k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
PRISONERS ABROAD FY2025	£2.0m	—	—	within	—	no doubt
CARDIFF AND VALE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU FY2025	£4.9m	—	—	above	—	no doubt
CAMDEN CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX SERVICE LIMITED FY2025	£1.6m	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
HOUNSLOW CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX SERVICE FY2025	£1.3m	more than £60,000	1	unclear	—	no doubt
OUT THERE SUPPORTING FAMILIES OF PRISONERS LIMITED FY2025	£256k	—	0	below	—	no doubt

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