Latest Pro Bono Asks
Requests 1 & 2
Overview – Life Cycle (Charity no: 1077575) is a Bristol based charity which offers support to individuals with disabilities, mental illness, offenders, isolated older people & disadvantaged young people through its range of Inclusive Cycling Projects. “One of our projects, Bike Back, is a bicycle recycling scheme, run in partnership with HM Prison Service. We take donations of unwanted bikes and teach prisoners the skills to strip down and rebuild them until they're running like new. Once fixed, the bikes are sold at affordable prices to help local people to get cycling”. See short film here - “Repairing Bikes, Rebuilding Lives”
Pro bono request 1 - (Contract law) Seeking a volunteer to review a draft contract with Serco, to identify any red flags/ potential risks which the charity should consider or query with Serco before signing the contract.
“We are just about to enter final contract negotiations and due diligence to sign a new contract with Serco to run a workshop in a prison they run on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. We already have a contract with Serco, however they are proposing a complete change to the contract format and pricing structure. We really need to access some legal expertise to review the new contract and identify if any elements of it may expose the charity to undue risk and/or be otherwise unwise to sign in current form.” Ed Norton, CEO, Life Cycle
When – By mid-March 2026 if possible
Pro bono request 2 - (Charity law) Seeking a volunteer to review their draft amended charitable objects before they submit them to the Charity Commission for approval. They would appreciate any feedback and advice on potential amendments they may need to make.
“Our Trustees are currently revising and futureproofing the phrasing and language of our charitable objects that were first written 27 years ago. But we are ignorant of how semantics in phrasing, and/or a failure to mention key phrases might result in updated wording not meeting the requirements of charity law and being rejected by the Charity Commission for failing to adequately state the public benefit we aim to achieve.”
When – By end March 2026 if possible
Request 3.
Overview – Friends of Redcatch Park CIC (company no: 14599958) is a wholly voluntary led organisation which collaborates with a range of local groups and volunteers to maintain, improve the park’s facilities for community activities, recreations, sport, play and to protect and encourage wildlife. The park borders Knowle West, one of Bristol’s most deprived areas marked by high levels of child poverty, low income, and limited access to services. The group was recognised for its contributions to the community with the award of the Lord Mayor’s Medal in 2024.
The group is currently in discussions with Bristol City Council to take on a long term lease of the pavilion building through a community asset transfer.
The pavilion has been closed due to a poor state of repair and taking on the lease is the only viable option to bring this asset back into community use. One of the main objectives will be to refurbish the changing rooms in the building so that the football pitches can be used again by local groups in particular Park Knowle FC amateur football club which has 11 football teams of a variety of ages, (6 to 65) gender and abilities. This will also provide opportunities for women’s rugby, walking football community cricket and more. This will be of clear benefit for children and young people in the local area
Pro bono request – (Commercial property) If the group is selected by Bristol City Council to take on the lease (decision expected by June 2026 & no other options are being considered) - The group will be seeking a volunteer to advise on the draft HoT’s and property lease for – The Pavilion, Redcatch Park, Knowle, Bristol
Landlord: Bristol City Council
When – Estimated from July to Dec 2026