Pro Bono Asks – July 2027 banner

Pro Bono Asks – July 2027

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Summary of requests:

  1. Charity law, property - Charity which is changing its legal status to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation is seeking some legal input to help ensure they manage the process correctly.
  2. Charity, Contracts, property - Help with any of the following:  draft a room hire agreement, a Shared Resources Agreement, and a Deed of Covenant (if also needed?) for transferring profits between two charitable legal entities.
  3. Charity structures – Initial guidance on the different types of charity legal structure and the process of changing from a CIC to a charity.
  4. Business, Intellectual Property - Request from University of the West of England (UWE) to provide some legal advice to one (or more) of four students on the UWE Entrepreneur Scheme with legal advice.

 

To see if a request is still open, please see the ‘Live Availability tracker’ here: Pro bono request AVAILABILITY TRACKER 03.07.26.xlsx  (Link expires 28.08/26)

 

Clevedon YMCA – Discover Clevedon1.           Overview - Clevedon YMCA (Charity no:250972) is a small independent charity based in North Somerset and solely responsible for raising its operating costs. The charity delivers a range of projects including a Youth café and activities for adults with learning difficulties. On advice from the YMCA Federation, the charity’s board have agreed to change the legal structure to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The charity has two freehold properties which need to be transferred to the CIO.

 

“We are aiming to undertake much of the process ourselves to change to a CIO, but there will be a few critical points where we will need and really appreciate legal input to ensure everything is correctly handled, particularly around trustee liability, transferring 2 freehold property titles, and ensuring the transfer into the CIO is properly and safely managed.” Michael Allison, Chair of Trustees, YMCA Clevedon

 

Pro bono request – As the charity’s board undertake the work to change the organisation to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, they are seeking a volunteer(s) to provide some advice and guidance to help ensure everything is correctly handled, particularly around trustee liability, transferring 2 freehold property titles, and ensuring the transfer into the CIO is properly and safely managed.

When – Flexible. The charity will work around the availability of a kind volunteer (as a guide only – e.g. between July – Dec 2026)

No photo description available.

  1. 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 vital 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 volunteers to assist with any one or more of the following:

  1. PROPERTY - Draft a hire agreement between the charity and Hartcliffe Community Club Limited (HCCL) for the hire of a room in the  community centre.
  2. Draft an agreement (Shared Resources Agreement?) between both organisations setting out how each organisation pays for shared worker time.
  3. Draft an agreement setting out how the social club (HCCL) passes over its profits to the charity (Hartcliffe Community House).

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

  1. Unique Voice - BristolOverview -Unique Voice CIC (Co. no: 07618182 ) Delivers projects which support children and young people with their social and emotional development. “We want to enable children to thrive with the resilience to overcome adversity, the confidence to make positive decisions, and a strong moral compass to guide them on their journey through life. Our work is trauma-informed, creative and inclusive. We use a wide variety of the Arts in our work such as drama, poetry, movement and art, which we deliver in schools and the community. We run wrap around care, holiday provision and family stay and play sessions across Bristol.”

“Unique Voice CIC is a company limited by shares, a decision we made based on the advice we received at the time of formation in 2011. We have a £1 share each as directors and haven't ever extracted it or taken dividends.

Pro bono request – “We would like to change the legal status of the organisation I.e. to a CIO and would really appreciate some initial guidance on the different types of charitable structures and the process of changing from a CIC to a charity.

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

  1. Legal advice for student tech entrepreneurs – We have a request for some initial pro bono legal advice for four of the students on the UWE Entrepreneur Scheme

Please see note below:

“I’m getting in touch as I am again helping mentoring students on the UWE entrepreneur scheme this summer. I have 4 students this year all of whom are tech entrepreneurs and whilst I can help with some of their support needs, I am not a specialist in the areas they need other legal support. I’m hoping to put each of them in touch with someone/a firm who/which might be able to provide some initial free legal support. I’ve set out below the names and support needed (not too much detail regarding their project as I need to be careful about saying too much about their early-stage ideas until a ‘match’ of support is made. The programme only runs for a short few weeks over the summer so any help with introductions would be much appreciated.” Becky Moyce, Student Mentor (& Snr. Consultant Solicitor, Carlsons Solicitors)

  1. Dr Henry Hickson; needs support from an IP lawyer. I can provide a business plan (draft) if someone can assist.
  2. Ed Armstrong Fisher; needs company/commercial support regarding company structure and how to protect his interests and those of is tech co-founder (best fit partnership/company advice) as well as possible IP support.
  3. Ashan Hewa; needs someone to help regarding medico-legal expertise as they are developing a medical device, advice re regulations and data protection etc
  4. Seth Thomson; is developing an electronic control system for camper van conversions. needs support from someone with knowledge of the Electronics Regulation requirements and IP advice too.

If anyone is able to assist either of these students or would like any more info. please contact Becky.Moyce@carlsonssolicitors.com