Manuel Bravo Project

What Manuel Bravo Project does

Manuel Bravo Project is a UK registered charity (Registered Charity Number: 1156119) founded in 2005 in Leeds in memory of Manuel Bravo, an Angolan asylum seeker whose case failed due to lack of legal representation. The organization provides free legal representation to asylum seekers and refugees in the UK who cannot access legal aid, focusing on asylum appeals, fresh claims, and settlement applications. It operates from a single headquarters at Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds (LS7 1AB), with services delivered across the Yorkshire region.

The charity delivers its work through three interconnected programmes: an in-house casework team that takes on complex asylum appeals and fresh claims; an outreach service offering free initial immigration advice via weekly drop-in sessions (e.g., Thursday 10am–12pm at St. Vincent's centre) and scheduled appointments; and pro bono projects staffed by volunteer solicitors, barristers, and law students from partner firms including Shoosmiths, DLA Piper, and Eversheds. Referrals are accepted via online casework and outreach forms, and the charity partners with South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice (SYRLJ) and Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS) for client referrals. The organization is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC Number: N201100024), and is patron-supported by Alison Lowe OBE.

Manuel Bravo Project has no commercial revenue model; all legal services are provided free of charge to clients. Operating funding comes entirely from individual donations and grants from charitable foundations including The Access to Justice Foundation, Big Lottery Fund, The AB Charitable Trust, Justice Together Initiative, and Disrupt Foundation. The organization employs approximately 11 people, helped 95 refugees and asylum seekers in its most recent reporting year, and is actively recruiting a Head of Casework to expand both in-house casework and the outreach programme. Distribution is regional (Leeds and Yorkshire), and outreach is conducted through the website (manuelbravo.org.uk), social channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), and community partnerships.

Name

Manuel Bravo Project

Legal name

Manuel Bravo Project

Website

https://manuelbravo.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manuel Bravo Project is a Leeds-based UK registered charity providing free legal representation and immigration advice to asylum seekers and refugees who cannot access legal aid, delivered through an in-house casework team, outreach drop-in service, and pro bono partnerships with major law firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigration Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Asylum legal aid
• Immigration legal advice
• Refugee legal representation
• Pro bono immigration services
• Free immigration casework

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Funding: Manuel Bravo Project operates as a registered charity (Number: 1156119) regulated by OISC. The organisation relies entirely on donations from individuals and funding from charitable foundations. No commercial revenue is generated as all legal services are provided free of charge to clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Manuel Bravo Project is a registered charity that provides free legal representation and immigration advice to asylum seekers and refugees in the UK who cannot access legal aid. The charity operates an in-house casework team for asylum appeals and fresh claims, an outreach service for free initial immigration advice, and pro bono projects supported by volunteer legal professionals. All services are delivered free of charge and funded entirely by donations and charitable grants.

Product overview

Manuel Bravo Project is a registered charity providing free legal services to asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. The organization operates as a unified service consisting of three interconnected offerings: an In-House Casework Team that handles asylum appeals and fresh claims for those ineligible for legal aid; an Outreach Service that provides free initial immigration advice through drop-in sessions; and Pro Bono Projects supported by volunteer legal professionals. Clients access services through referral and outreach forms on the website, with all services coordinated through the organization's Leeds office.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-House Casework Team

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped 95 refugees and asylum seekers last year with free legal representation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ShoosmithscoreOthersLarge law firm that provides volunteer legal assistance to Manuel Bravo Project clients, representing them in court proceedings on a pro bono basis.
• DLA PipercoreOthersInternational law firm that provides volunteer legal assistance to Manuel Bravo Project clients, representing them in court proceedings on a pro bono basis.
• EvershedscoreOthersLaw firm that provides volunteer legal assistance to Manuel Bravo Project clients, representing them in court proceedings on a pro bono basis.
• South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice (SYRLJ)coreOthersReferral partner that assists refugees with legal matters and referred Marisa to Manuel Bravo Project for representation after帮她 raised a fresh claim for asylum.
• PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers)coreOthersCharity in Leeds that supports refugees and asylum seekers. Referred Victoria to Manuel Bravo Project for legal representation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Helen Bamber Foundation: UK charity combining legal protection with therapeutic and casework support for survivors of trafficking and complex asylum cases. Comparable in serving asylum seekers with trauma-informed approaches and providing legal representation, with overlap on complex protection claims.

Direct peers

• PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers): Leeds-based charity providing support and casework for asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers. Direct operational peer in the same city — Manuel Bravo Project receives referrals from PAFRAS — sharing beneficiary base and complementary services.
• Asylum Aid: London-based charity providing specialist legal representation to asylum seekers, with particular focus on women and those with complex protection needs. Comparable operating model (free legal aid in the gap) but with London-specific strategic litigation focus.
• Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID): Specialist charity providing free legal advice and representation to immigrants in detention. Directly comparable free legal-aid model, with overlap on asylum cases at the detention/tribunal interface relevant to Manuel Bravo Project clients.
• South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice (SYRLJ): Regional charity providing free legal representation to asylum seekers in South Yorkshire. Most direct operational peer to Manuel Bravo Project — same niche (free legal aid for those ineligible for legal aid), same case types, adjacent geography, and an active referral partner.

Broad incumbents

• Refugee Action: UK-wide charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers with advice, integration programmes, and advocacy. Comparable beneficiary population and advice-giving ethos, but operates at national scale with broader service portfolio.
• City of Sanctuary: UK-wide movement supporting refugees through local sanctuary-chapter activities and advocacy. Less direct legal-aid overlap, but comparable mission focus on refugee rights and community-based support that intersects with Manuel Bravo's work.
• Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI): National charity combining immigration casework, policy advocacy, and strategic litigation for migrants and refugees. Comparable client base and immigration law focus, but with a much broader advocacy remit than Manuel Bravo's service-delivery model.
• Refugee Council: UK-wide charity providing advice, advocacy, and integration support for refugees and asylum seekers. Directly comparable mission to Manuel Bravo Project at larger scale, with overlapping services in immigration casework and refugee support.

Others

• Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA): Membership organisation for immigration and asylum lawyers providing training, resources, and policy input. Not a direct service-delivery peer, but a key ecosystem player that supports the immigration legal-aid sector in which Manuel Bravo Project operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MBProjectLeeds
• Facebookfacebook.com/ManuelBravoProject
• Instagraminstagram.com/manuelbravoproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manuel-bravo-project

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manuel Bravo Project