It is National Pro Bono and Trustees week, a week that allows us to recognise and celebrate the great work our team at Ramsdens does to help make a difference to those in need.
Many of our staff across the firm play a vital role, volunteering their time and energy to support those charities and individuals who need it most and give something back to the local community, with our staff holding 25 different Trustee positions and many of our staff completing voluntary work and hosting free legal advice clinics across the year.
This year is also the 20th anniversary of Pro Bono Week, which aims to shine a light back on all the wonderful time given back and what we can expect in the next 20.
Natalie Marrison, Head of our Personal Injury and Abuse team commented: “I am extremely proud that we have so many team members within Ramsdens who sit as Trustees and engage in charitable work to support our local community. Pro bono work is more important now than ever. It ensures that myself and my team can provide our clients and community key legal services with real access to justice. I have seen it strengthen our skill set as individual lawyers and create real and positive case results for our clients. The work that we do is wide ranging and aids those who are in need, the elderly, sick and vulnerable in our society and those who have been affected by domestic violence.”
Other examples of our charitable work is delivered by our individuals who work personally with local charities.
Nazia Nawaz, Head of our Contentious Probate, is a member of the Board of Trustees at Huddersfield Giants Community Trust and said: "I am honoured to be a member of the Board of Trustees of this amazing charity which works tirelessly to provide children and young adults in our diverse communities with opportunities in the sports sector. The Trust aims to encourage and promote healthier lifestyles to improve physical and mental wellbeing in young people, something which I am incredibly passionate about. I look forward to being able to contribute to the work of the Trust as it embraces new opportunities and new ways of working after the easing of lockdown.”
Michael Robinson, Senior Associate, is a Trustee Community Transport Calderdale (“CTC”).Commenting: “I thoroughly enjoy my Trustee role and being able to have the opportunity to bring guidance and support to a fantastic Charity, means a lot to me.The true hard workers are the staff at CTC and the management.This last year has proved how hard working the team is and it is great to see that the Charity was able to adapt in such difficult times to provide such a desperately needed service.I’m looking forward to the years ahead with more pro bono Trustee work with CTC.”
Claire Richardson, HR Manager, is a Trustee at Hoot Creative and said: “I have been a Trustee and Director at Hoot Creative Arts since 2018, and I’m able to use my HR experience to assist and advise as required. Hoot is an Arts and Mental Health Charity that offer a diverse range of creative activities that support mental health and emotional wellbeing. As trustees we share the responsibility for governing the charity and directing how it is managed and run. But for me it about giving something back, helping an organisation that wouldn’t normally be able to access this assistance without paying for it.”
Lindsay Preston, Associate is a Trustee at Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership, commenting: “As Trustee my role is to ensure PDAP keeps to the values and purpose of the charity, to agree a long-term strategy which can be used to agree targets and evaluate progress, ensuing law and legislation is complied with and that the resources and money of PDAP are used to strengthen the charity.”