South Wales Law Centre
The South Wales Law Centre, t/a The Speakeasy Law Centre, aims to relieve poverty and distress in S Wales. The Speakeasy Law Centre provides free legal advice regarding debts and problems with welfare benefits, housing and employment.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity incurred a net expenditure of £34,542 for the year, resulting in a decrease in unrestricted funds from £462,063 to £427,521. Free reserves at the year-end were £121,660, which falls below the stated reserves policy target of four to six months’ expenditure (approximately £111k to £167k). The trustees have prepared the accounts on a going concern basis, noting the need to increase grants and donations to fund future work.
What the accounts disclose
“The Speakeasy Law Centre aims to hold reserves equivalent to four to six months’ expenditure (approx.£1 11k to £167k).” — page 7
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (25/01/2012)
Trustees
- CHRISTINA JOY KIO-BENNETT
- DAVID HORTON
- DAVID WILLIAM RONALD ARNOLD
- JOHN HARRINGTON LOOSEMORE
- MADELINE ROSE REES
- Nkini Pulei
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £299k | £333k |
| 31/03/2024 | £294k | £317k |
| 31/03/2023 | £347k | £358k |
| 31/03/2022 | £371k | £339k |
| 31/03/2021 | £441k | £373k |
Common questions
Is South Wales Law Centre financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity incurred a net expenditure of £34,542 for the year, resulting in a decrease in unrestricted funds from £462,063 to £427,521. Free reserves at the year-end were £121,660, which falls below the stated reserves policy target of four to six months’ expenditure (approximately £111k to £167k). The trustees have prepared the accounts on a going concern basis, noting the need to increase grants and donations to fund future work. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds South Wales Law Centre?
Funders whose own accounts filings name South Wales Law Centre as a grant recipient include THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION, THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION, THE MARY HOMFRAY CHARITABLE TRUST, MISS E F RATHBONE CHARITABLE TRUST, THE OAKDALE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £46k | Grants & Donations |
| THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £23k | Grants |
| THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £15k | |
| THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £5k | |
| THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £5k | |
| THE MARY HOMFRAY CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £5k | |
| MISS E F RATHBONE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £3k | NATIONAL APPEAL |
| MISS E F RATHBONE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £3k | National |
| THE OAKDALE TRUST | FY2023 | £2k | |
| CIVIC POWER FUND | FY2024 | £1k | |
| THE MARY HOMFRAY CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £0 |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| A B Charitable Trust | 16/10/2025 | £25k | A grant to The Speakeasy Law Centre (legally known as the South Wales Law Centre) |
| Postcode Lottery | 08/10/2025 | £45k | Unrestricted Funding |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 27/06/2024 | £19k | WALES COL - Debt and benefits adviser |
| A B Charitable Trust | 05/06/2024 | £22k | A grant to South Wales Law Centre - t/a Speakeasy Law Centre |
| A B Charitable Trust | 28/06/2023 | £22k | A grant to South Wales Law Centre - t/a Speakeasy Law Centre |
| A B Charitable Trust | 30/06/2022 | £20k | A grant to South Wales Law Centre - t/a Speakeasy Law Centre |
| A B Charitable Trust | 02/07/2020 | £15k | A grant to South Wales Law Centre - t/a The Speakeasy |
| A B Charitable Trust | 25/04/2019 | £20k | A grant to Action in the Community Trust - t/a The Speakeasy |
| A B Charitable Trust | 31/10/2017 | £10k | A grant to Action in the Community Trust - t/a The Speakeasy |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 24/09/2014 | £122k | East Cardiff Financial Inclusion |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 29/08/2014 | £2k | Speakeasy Digital Inclusion Project |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 11/03/2010 | £50k | RECESSION - Debt, Benefit and Housing Advice |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 16/06/2008 | £5k | Speakeasy Advice Centre |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 23/05/2001 | £1.5m | "The Gate" |