Free Representation Unit
Analysis
Free Representation Unit is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 2019, 7 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 11732557). It says it provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Free Representation Unit reported income of £553k and spending of £541k, spending 98% of its income. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 141%. Over the whole period it spent 104% of the income it received.
Among 12,871 England and Wales charities whose main cause is disability and that reported income, Free Representation Unit sits at the 88th percentile: it is larger than about 88% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Twilight Kindness (£553k), Woodroyd Nursery and Childrens Centre (£554k) and North Wales Society for the Blind (£552k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 92% and charitable activities 8.2%. Charitable activities took 91% of spending and raising funds 4.0%. Reserves of £59k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 11 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 92%
- Charitable activities 8.2%
- Investments 0.0%
In the charity's own words
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.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Twilight Kindness | London | £553k |
| Woodroyd Nursery and Childrens Centre | Leeds | £554k |
| North Wales Society for the Blind | Bangor | £552k |
| Allsorts Gloucestershire | Stroud | £554k |