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Charity of the Year – 2026

Salma Maqsood, President of Bristol Law Society is delighted to announce that SARI will be her chosen Charity of the Year 2026

Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI) is a local charity offering support to people who have been targeted by hate crime and hate incidents across Avon and Somerset. We are delighted to have been chosen as Bristol Law Society’s Charity of the Year, a partnership which will make a huge difference to our charity and the work we do standing against hate.

We provide a free casework service, working with people in the aftermath of hate to ensure that they feel safe in their communities, that their experiences are heard and validated by the agencies and organisations responsible for responding, and that they feel supported as they seek justice.

Alongside our casework service, SARI also delivers training and education sessions to schools, businesses, and organisations around hate and the impact that it has on a person and their community. These sessions also develop understanding around how to recognise and respond to hate, meaning that people feel more empowered if they experience or witness hate crimes and hate incidents.

We are truly grateful to Bristol Law Society for selecting SARI as their Charity of the Year. Support like this is especially important in these current times, with hate crime rising across our communities. The partnership will help us to raise our profile, letting people know that SARI is there if they need support, whilst also raising vital funds for our small but powerful charity. The funds raised will go directly towards our work standing against hate, helping us to be there when people need us most.

No one deserves to be targeted by hate for being who they are. That is why SARI works tirelessly to both support people who have been victims of hate whilst also building the foundations of understanding to prevent it happening in the first place.

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS