BIRMINGHAM BLACK LAWYERS CIC

Company limited by guarantee

Company Registration Number:
13935386 (England and Wales)

Unaudited statutory accounts for the year ended 28 February 2024

Period of accounts

Start date: 1 March 2023

End date: 28 February 2024

BIRMINGHAM BLACK LAWYERS CIC

Contents of the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 28 February 2024

Directors report
Profit and loss
Balance sheet
Additional notes
Balance sheet notes
Community Interest Report

BIRMINGHAM BLACK LAWYERS CIC

Directors' report period ended 28 February 2024

The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the period ended 28 February 2024

Principal activities of the company

The company is a Community Interest Company (CIC). As such, the CIC's activities are outlined in the Community Interest Annual Report that is included within this filing



Directors

The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from
1 March 2023 to 28 February 2024

Tamina Greaves
Kishma Ladesa Tyana Bolaji


The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions in part 15 of the Companies Act 2006

This report was approved by the board of directors on
20 November 2024

And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: Tamina Greaves
Status: Director

BIRMINGHAM BLACK LAWYERS CIC

Profit And Loss Account

for the Period Ended 28 February 2024

2024 2023


£

£
Turnover: 21,359 13,178
Cost of sales: ( 3,580 ) ( 3,045 )
Gross profit(or loss): 17,779 10,133
Distribution costs: ( 54 )
Administrative expenses: ( 48,858 ) ( 29,177 )
Other operating income: 25,907 19,098
Operating profit(or loss): (5,172) 0
Interest payable and similar charges: ( 204 )
Profit(or loss) before tax: (5,376) 0
Profit(or loss) for the financial year: (5,376) 0

BIRMINGHAM BLACK LAWYERS CIC

Balance sheet

As at 28 February 2024

Notes 2024 2023


£

£
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand: 106 6,546
Total current assets: 106 6,546
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year: 3 ( 5,482 ) ( 6,546 )
Net current assets (liabilities): (5,376) 0
Total assets less current liabilities: (5,376) 0
Total net assets (liabilities): (5,376) 0
Members' funds
Profit and loss account: (5,376) 0
Total members' funds: ( 5,376) 0

The notes form part of these financial statements

BIRMINGHAM BLACK LAWYERS CIC

Balance sheet statements

For the year ending 28 February 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

This report was approved by the board of directors on 20 November 2024
and signed on behalf of the board by:

Name: Tamina Greaves
Status: Director

The notes form part of these financial statements

BIRMINGHAM BLACK LAWYERS CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 28 February 2024

  • 1. Accounting policies

    Basis of measurement and preparation

    These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Section 1A (Small Entities) of Financial Reporting Standard 102

    Turnover policy

    Turnover from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have been transferred to the buyer. Turnover from the rendering of services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the contract. The stage of completion of a contract is measured by comparing the costs incurred for work performed to date to the total estimated contract costs.

BIRMINGHAM BLACK LAWYERS CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 28 February 2024

  • 2. Employees

    2024 2023
    Average number of employees during the period 0 0

    The number of employees noted above excludes the directors.

BIRMINGHAM BLACK LAWYERS CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 28 February 2024

3. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year note

2024 2023
£ £
Accruals and deferred income 0 3,962
Other creditors 5,482 2,584
Total 5,482 6,546

Short term creditors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price). Loans and other financial liabilities are initially recognised at transaction price net of any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method.

COMMUNITY INTEREST ANNUAL REPORT

BIRMINGHAM BLACK LAWYERS CIC

Company Number: 13935386 (England and Wales)

Year Ending: 28 February 2024

Company activities and impact

The primary aim of Birmingham Black Lawyers is to advance diversity within the legal profession. To achieve this goal, we have undertaken the following initiatives: - Continued our partnership with the Tyro Lawyer Plus mentoring program, offering a tailored mentoring scheme to a further 15 aspiring lawyers. This program encompassed six months of one-on-one mentoring, networking skills workshops, guidance on applying for vacation schemes and training contracts, a dedicated networking event, an open day at the prestigious National Law firm Higgs LLP, and complimentary tickets to our annual black-tie ball and awards ceremony. - Organised multiple panel events at local universities exclusively for aspiring black lawyers. These events took place at the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University and the University of Law, featuring panels of lawyers from various practice areas. - Hosted our very first Careers Fair in collaboration with Aston Law School; enabling Black students to speak with law firms. The exhibitors ensured the representatives sent were from a diverse background. Over 170 students attended and 12 exhibitors were present which included Birmingham Law society, national law firms and barristers chambers. - Hosted our annual Black-Tie Ball and awards ceremony, showcasing the talents of black lawyers in the legal profession. This event attracted over 330 members of the legal community, including the local and national Law Society presidents, judges, senior lawyers, and more. 30 students were granted complimentary admission, providing them with the opportunity to network with legal professionals, seek work experience opportunities, and be inspired to pursue their legal careers. - Conducted various skills workshops and seminars, with a focus on career development, designed to support established black lawyers in their progression to more senior roles. - Held our first Student Empowerment Conference in collaboration with Freeth’s LLP – an initiative aimed at 16-18 year olds. We hosted 30 students from Central St Michaels Sixth form college for a day of interactive sessions aim at giving them an insight into the life of a lawyer and to help them develop the skills they’d need for the profession. - Arranged several social events, enabling aspiring lawyers to connect with established professionals, expand their professional networks, and secure work experience opportunities. These events foster peer-to-peer interactions and facilitate the exchange of insights and knowledge between junior and senior solicitors, barristers, and members of the judiciary i.e. our annual Black History Month event (sponsored by the Solicitors Regulation Authority), Our annual Christmas Party hosted at Jaymaya’s restaurant and Networking social also hosted at Jamaya’s restaurant. - Collaborated with various law firms to host open days, affording aspiring black lawyers the chance to learn about law firms, their work, and the application process. - Maintained relationships with key stakeholders to ensure that issues impacting the black legal community are effectively communicated and that collaborative efforts are undertaken to ensure the representation of black lawyers aligns with the diverse Birmingham community i.e. attending meetings and round table discussions to discuss differential outcomes of BAME students on the Solicitors Qualifying Exam. These projects, representing only a portion of our efforts, have directly benefited members of the black legal community and aspiring black lawyers. They have created a supportive community for lawyers who often find themselves as the sole black individuals within law firms, while also providing opportunities that enhance the prospects of aspiring black lawyers in securing successful roles in the legal field.

Consultation with stakeholders

We engage with community stakeholders such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the National Law Society and the Birmingham Law Society and many of the large solicitor firms and barrister’s chambers and academic institutions in the midlands area in order to advocate for improved diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. This creates a platform for a unified representation of issues affecting the black legal community. The discussion with key stakeholders enables us to directly influence the discussion and action taken in the various diversity and inclusion strategies, the impact being that tangible change occurs. In the ten years we have been operating as a social networking group, we have already seen the impact our work has had on improving diversity within the Birmingham legal community.

Directors' remuneration

No remuneration was received

Transfer of assets

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration

This report was approved by the board of directors on
20 November 2024

And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: Tamina Greaves
Status: Director