Law Centres Federation
Analysis
Law Centres Federation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 2001, 25 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, disability and the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under disability. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02433492). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Law Centres Federation reported income of £1.1m and spending of £1.1m, spending 96% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £4.6m to £1.1m (-75%), an average of -30% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income dropped by 77%. Over the whole period it spent 101% of the income it received.
Among 12,871 England and Wales charities whose main cause is disability and that reported income, Law Centres Federation sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Lorica Trust Limited (£1.1m), Aster Foundation (£1.1m) and Sutton Mencap Charity Company (£1.1m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 84% and donations and legacies 14%. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 3.5%. Grants to other organisations totalled £324k. Reserves of £362k would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 12 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 14%
- Charitable activities 84%
- Investments 0.0%
- Other 2.4%
In the charity's own words
To relieve charitable need and financial hardship, provide assistance to Law Centres and encourage the formation of Law Centres in the United Kingdom. To advance the education of the public by assisting Law Centres in improving knowledge and practice of the law, and administration of justice in areas of the law which are of particular concern to poor people and directed to the relief of poverty.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Lorica Trust Limited | Pulborough | £1.1m |
| Aster Foundation | Wiltshire | £1.1m |
| Sutton Mencap Charity Company | Wallington | £1.1m |
| Swansea Carers' Centre | West Glamorgan | £1.1m |