BAR PRO BONO UNIT
The Bar Pro Bono Unit is a charity which helps to find pro bono (free) legal assistance from volunteer barristers throughout England and Wales.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity remains in good financial health with slow and steady income growth. Free unrestricted reserves of £638,871 are held, which the trustees confirm are within the agreed policy target of maintaining reserves equal to at least 25% of forecast annual expenditure plus a 20% contingency. The independent auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified.
What the accounts disclose
“The Bar Pro Bono Unit funds Bar In the Community, a related charity, via The Bar Council. This funding is £2,500 per quarter (2024: £2,500/quarter). Other than the donations from trustees disclosed in note 3, there are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business, and no restricted donations from related parties.” — page 28
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/06/2025)
Trustees
- Sharif Asim Shivjichair
- Conall Patton QC
- Eleanor Holland
- Judith Elizabeth Ogden
- Lisa Debora Watts
- Malvika Jaganmohan
- Natasha Jane Bellinger
- Paul Joseph Wilson
- Rajinder Singh Gataora
- Richard George Wheeler
- Richard Hazim Khaldi
- Sarah Katherine Abram-Lloyd
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/06/2025 | £1.2m | £1.1m |
| 30/06/2024 | £1.1m | £1.0m |
| 30/06/2023 | £1000k | £981k |
| 30/06/2022 | £963k | £914k |
| 31/03/2021 | £865k | £562k |
Common questions
Is BAR PRO BONO UNIT financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity remains in good financial health with slow and steady income growth. Free unrestricted reserves of £638,871 are held, which the trustees confirm are within the agreed policy target of maintaining reserves equal to at least 25% of forecast annual expenditure plus a 20% contingency. The independent auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
Who funds BAR PRO BONO UNIT?
Funders whose own accounts filings name BAR PRO BONO UNIT as a grant recipient include LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST, THE REED FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST | FY2023 | £32k | |
| LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST | FY2021 | £18k | |
| LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST | FY2024 | £5k | |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | FY2021 | £2k |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| GOWLING WLG (UK) CHARITABLE TRUST | 4 | £6k |
| THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION | 3 | £45k |
| THE INDIGO TRUST | 2 | £230k |
| SCHRODER CHARITY TRUST | 2 | £8k |
| The Dentons UK and Middle East LLP Charitable Trust | 2 | £8k |
| MILLS AND REEVE CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £6k |
| BRIDGE HOUSE ESTATES | 1 | £6.0m |
| THE STEWARTS LAW FOUNDATION | 1 | £701k |
Charities like this
- SOLICITORS PRO BONO GROUP
- FREE REPRESENTATION UNIT
- INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS PROJECT
- THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION
- LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST
- BRIDGING THE BAR
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAR PRO BONO UNIT | £1.2m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SOLICITORS PRO BONO GROUP | £1.0m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| FREE REPRESENTATION UNIT | £553k | £60,000 or more | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS PROJECT | £508k | £80,001 - £90,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |
| THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION | £13.3m | — | — | within | — | no doubt |
| LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST | £4.7m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |