Latest Pro Bono Asks (23/10/26) banner

Latest Pro Bono Asks (23/10/26)

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Summary of requests:

  1. Property – Review HoT’s and negotiate new lease on a community centre.
  2. Property – Provide advice to help a charity understand which party is responsible for some of the obligations in its property lease & SLA with their landlord.
  3. Property, contracts - Help a charity to draft a room hire agreement.
  4. Property – Review a sub lease for a charity and advise on any potential red flags or matters they should query before signing

To see if a pro bono request is still available, please check the live tracker here: P ro bono request AVAILABILITY TRACKER 18.09.26.xlsx    (Link expires Fri 27/11/26)

 

        1. Overview – South Lockleaze & Purdown Neighbourhood Group CIC (Company no: [10030391]1003039) – Is a small volunteer led CIC which has been running The Old Library community centre in Bristol since 2016. The centre provides a range of services and facilities for the local community.

The group’s original 10 year lease with Bristol City Council (BCC), the landlord, is due to end in April 2027. BCC has offered the group the opportunity to apply to take on the property through a Community Asset Transfer 35 year lease and the group has decided to apply. We understand that no other organisations are applying for the lease.

Pro bono request – Should the group be offered a lease by Bristol City Council, they are seeking an offer in principle from a volunteer, to provide pro bono legal support to review the draft HoT’s & agree the new lease on the property: The Old Library, Muller Road, Eastville, Bristol, England, BS5 6XP

Estimated timeline:

  • Early Nov 2026 – The group submits business plan, CAT lease application to BCC
  • Early Dec 2026- BCC decision on whether to offer the 35 year lease to the CIC
  • Jan-Feb 2027 – BCC issues draft HoT’s/ lease to the CIC
  • Apr-June – New lease hopefully signed

When – Estimated from Jan – May 2027, to be confirmed when/ if draft HoT’s are provided.

 

 

        1. Overview – Shirehampton Public Hall Community Association (Charity no: 1112459) is a small charity which runs Shirehampton Public Hall in Bristol. The Hall is a well used resource for the local community and hosts a wide range of activities and support services.

The charity has been managing the hall since the ‘1980’s’. In 2022 the charity signed a 35 year lease from Bristol City Council (BCC), which owns the property, with the intention that a Community Asset Transfer will take place in 2032, transferring full responsibility for the building to the charity from that date.

Since 2022 it has been the charity’s understanding, from the lease, that it has been responsible for internal repairs but that the Council would pay for the other items until the transfer in 2032 , allowing the charity time to increase the income to cover the costs as set out in Section 18 in the lease.  Since 2022, BCC has been carrying out and paying for the building’s safety checks. However, in April 2026, the charity was advised verbally by BCC that the charity should have been paying for all safety check since 2022.

The charity would appreciate assistance in reviewing the lease & service level agreement to help them determine which party is responsible for the costs of building safety checks.

In addition, the lease entitles a BCC library service to use part of the building. The library has been allowing other groups to use the space for free which is causing a conflict for the charity which needs to hire out the space to groups in order to generate an income to help run the hall. It is also raising security concerns as groups are given keys to access the property when there are not any library staff in the building.  The charity would like to clarify whether the library service is permitted within the terms of the lease & SLA to allow other groups to use the space.

 Pro bono request – The charity is seeking some advice to help clarify some of the obligations in its property lease & SLA with their landlord (Bristol City Council)

Specifically relating to (a) whether the charity (the tenant) or BCC (the landlord) is responsible for carrying out & paying for building safety checks & (b). whether the Council’s library service that uses part of the hall is permitted to allow other groups to use the space.

Property address: Shirehampton Public Hall, 32 Station Road, Bristol, BSII 9TU

Property lease available on request

When – Flexible, by end Nov-mid Dec 2026 if possible. The charity will work around the availability of a kind volunteer.

 

        1. ​xlsx iconNo photo description available.Overview - Hartcliffe Community Centre (Charity no: 301716)  in South Bristol is located in the 1% of areas with highest deprivation in the UK.  This one of only a small handful of local community resources in Hartcliffe & Bristol City Council’s community team, Quartet & Voscur have all been working together to support the trustees to make the organisation more resilient. We now need legal support to help them progress further.

The organisation which runs the centre is registered as two legal entities which are responsible for separate activities:

- ‘Hartcliffe Community Club Limited – (Reg. Society no:  24987R)  - This element is responsible for running the social club in the building

- ‘Hartcliffe Community House’ – (Charity no: 301716)

Pro bono request – The charity (Hartcliffe Community House) is seeking a volunteer to help draft a room hire agreement between the charity and Hartcliffe Community Club Limited (HCCL) for the hire of a room in the community centre.

When – Flexible. The charity will work around the availability of a kind volunteer

 

4.Overview -   Manor Farm Boys Club (Charity no: 1176423 is a small charity in Bristol which provides an activity based youth club your boys aged 8-14. The club is affiliated to the charity Young Bristol which runs youth provision across Bristol.

“We are currently in the process of renewing the lease for the club building with Bristol City Council. The Head Lease is between BCC and the charity Young Bristol (YB), and MFBC holds an Under Lease with YB.

Historically, YB has not put formal Under Leases in place with its Clubs. However, due to changes in charity governance and the need to protect both YB and MFBC trustees, YB is now introducing this structure as part of each lease renewal. YB trustees have agreed, in principle, to the wording of the Head Lease and are satisfied with the wording of the Under Lease.

YB has recommended that MFBC obtain independent legal advice, at their cost, to review the Under Lease prior to signing.

We would really appreciate some support to review the lease before we sign it, especially as several urgent building works can only begin once the lease is agreed and signed.” Adam Gill, Trustee, Manor Farm Boys Club.

Pro bono request – The charity is seeking a volunteer to review a sub-lease and identify any red flags if applicable or items that they should query before signing it

When – By end Nov 2026 if possible