Charity Accounts Intelreading the accounts so you don’t have to

FREE REPRESENTATION UNIT

Registered charity 1183592 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The FRU trains volunteers to represent clients in legal hearings. We aim to prevent poverty by enabling clients to obtain their legal rights. Legal aid is not available and our clients cannot afford to pay for representation. We operate in Greater London, the home counties and the east midlands. Our volunteers are aspiring lawyers or qualified lawyers who give their time for free.

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

Latest income
£553k
Latest spending
£541k
Registered
2019
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £73,207 for the year, resulting in total reserves of £89,680. The trustees note that these free reserves of £46,439 are below their stated policy target of approximately £130,000. Despite this, the trustees and auditors confirm the charity has sufficient resources to continue as a going concern.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £60,001 - £70,000 — above the median for charities its size (£60k)
“One employee earned £60,000 or more (including benefits) during the year” — page 39
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Employees paid over £60,000: 1
“One employee earned £60,000 or more (including benefits) during the year” — page 39
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £46k; policy: three months of unrestricted expenditure)
“The reserves at year-end are therefore below the trustee’s reserves policy.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations from Bar Council
“£73,400 (2023 – £67,400) of total donations were received from the Bar Council in the year. The chair of the Bar Council is responsible for appointing at least one of the Charity’s Trustees.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Buzzacott Audit LLP. Discloses 6 of 6 completeness components.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)

Total income
£553k
Total spending
£541k
Cost of raising funds
£23k
Reserves (reported)
£59k
Employees
11

Reported reserves equal ~1.3 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2025£553k£541k
31/12/2024£460k£533k
31/12/2023£497k£505k
31/12/2022£206k£205k
31/12/2021£0£0

Common questions

Is FREE REPRESENTATION UNIT financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £73,207 for the year, resulting in total reserves of £89,680. The trustees note that these free reserves of £46,439 are below their stated policy target of approximately £130,000. Despite this, the trustees and auditors confirm the charity has sufficient resources to continue as a going concern. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Buzzacott Audit LLP.

What does the highest-paid employee of FREE REPRESENTATION UNIT earn?

Per its FY2024 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £60,001 - £70,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.