SOUTH WEST LONDON LAW CENTRES
Legal Advice, Assistance and Representation.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity generated a small surplus of £2,446 for the year ended 31 March 2025, with total income of £1,761,577 and expenditure of £1,759,131. The trustees report that unrestricted reserves stood at £514,823, which is above their stated policy target of approximately £427,507 (three months of expenditure). However, the trustees note that the charity faces ongoing challenges from stagnant legal aid rates and is preparing for a budgeted deficit in the coming year, with actions including moving to cheaper premises and freezing roles.
What the accounts disclose
“The Trustees have adopted a target for unrestricted reserves of three months expenditure which is approximately £427,507 at 31 March 2025”
“The charity received donations of £951 (2024: NIL) from it's Trustees in the year.” — page 16
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Patrick Marples — CEO
- Nichola Warrender KC — Chair of Trustees
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Trustees
- David Jackson
- James Waugh
- Melanie Dorothea Felten
- Nimmisha Aslam
- Sarmad Mehmood Qureshi
- Simon Tinkler
- Susan Rennie Field
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £1.8m | £1.8m |
| 31/03/2024 | £1.8m | £1.7m |
| 31/03/2023 | £1.6m | £1.5m |
| 31/03/2022 | £1.5m | £1.6m |
| 31/03/2021 | £1.7m | £1.5m |
Common questions
Is SOUTH WEST LONDON LAW CENTRES financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity generated a small surplus of £2,446 for the year ended 31 March 2025, with total income of £1,761,577 and expenditure of £1,759,131. The trustees report that unrestricted reserves stood at £514,823, which is above their stated policy target of approximately £427,507 (three months of expenditure). However, the trustees note that the charity faces ongoing challenges from stagnant legal aid rates and is preparing for a budgeted deficit in the coming year, with actions including moving to cheaper premises and freezing roles. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Berringers LLP.
Who funds SOUTH WEST LONDON LAW CENTRES?
Funders whose own accounts filings name SOUTH WEST LONDON LAW CENTRES as a grant recipient include TRUST FOR LONDON, THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION, LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST, THE LEGAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AQUILA FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| A B Charitable Trust | 23/04/2026 | £10k | A grant to South West London Law Centres |
| City Bridge Foundation | 19/06/2025 | £144k | Grant to South West London Law Centres |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 09/01/2025 | £20k | Equal Voice London |
| UK government | 01/04/2024 | £16k | Transition to eVisa Fund |
| A B Charitable Trust | 20/04/2023 | £22k | A grant to South West London Law Centres |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 01/08/2022 | £494k | SWLLC Wraparound |
| Crowdfunder | 05/05/2022 | £3k | Local Action Fund |
| A B Charitable Trust | 18/03/2022 | £20k | A grant to South West London Law Centres |
| City Bridge Foundation | 26/07/2021 | £104k | Grant to South West London Law Centres |
| A B Charitable Trust | 22/04/2021 | £20k | A grant to South West London Law Centres |
| A B Charitable Trust | 23/04/2020 | £20k | A grant to South West London Law Centres |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 11/10/2019 | £10k | New website |
| A B Charitable Trust | 15/10/2018 | £15k | A grant to South West London Law Centres |
| City Bridge Foundation | 24/11/2016 | £166k | Grant to South West London Law Centres |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 15/03/2016 | £418k | Stepping Stones to Stability: Collaboration across SW London |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 29/03/2012 | £10k | SWLLC Infrastructure Access Project |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 04/09/2008 | £311k | South West London Advice |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 09/08/2006 | £520k | Developing Volunteer Run Services |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 08/03/2005 | £180k | Improved Access to Legal Advice |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE THREE GUINEAS TRUST | 2 | £783k |
| PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION | 2 | £290k |
| THE SLAUGHTER AND MAY CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £176k |
| BRIDGE HOUSE ESTATES | 1 | £6.0m |
| THE JD FOUNDATION | 1 | £561k |
| CRIPPLEGATE FOUNDATION | 1 | £496k |
| CHARITY OF RICHARD CLOUDESLEY | 1 | £212k |
| THE CHRISTOPHER AND HENRY OLDFIELD TRUST | 1 | £161k |
Charities like this
- THE LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE(UNIVERSITY HOUSE)
- ISLINGTON LAW CENTRE
- LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST
- JUSTICE DEFENDERS
- ST LUKES ADVICE SERVICE
- SHEFFIELD CITIZENS ADVICE AND LAW CENTRE
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH WEST LONDON LAW CENTRES | £1.8m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE(UNIVERSITY HOUSE) | £1.1m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| ISLINGTON LAW CENTRE | £2.0m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST | £4.7m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| JUSTICE DEFENDERS | £2.1m | £170,001 - £180,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ST LUKES ADVICE SERVICE | £193k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |