Shoosmiths teams volunteer in the community

Everyone in Shoosmiths is able to volunteer a day a year every year and it is great to see so many teams who have been busy helping out in the community recently.

The Lakes finance team recently invited homeless people to join colleagues at the Northampton Hope Centre for homemade cake, coffee and a chat. The charity, a former Lakes office charity partner, tackles poverty and homelessness. Its work helps people experiencing the most acute problems of disadvantage, exclusion and marginalisation. As well as giving practical support, it focuses on helping people to help themselves, provides support and services that will enable individuals to take back control of their lives and campaign with them against the causes of their disadvantage.

As part of their preparations for the day the finance team also organised a CAN & COIN event at the Lakes office inviting colleagues to donate a can of food and a coin. The Hope Centre receives very little government funding and so relies heavily on voluntary donations of food, clothing, services and money. Knowing that there are 60 rough sleepers in Northampton every night and that 47 is the life expectancy of a rough sleeper resulted in just over £400 and eight crates of food being donated to the charity.

The finance team explained ‘we were humbled by the stories that we heard, the people who we met and the adversity faced every day, by those on the streets. We also laughed, befriended a few and learned a lot and are thankful for what we have. All for a collective 36 hours of volunteering.’

The Thames Valley corporate team volunteered at Camp Mohawk, a yearly event. The camp is for children with special needs and their families and is a special and dedicated place where the children can explore and play in a safe environment. The team were tasked with various projects to help improve and develop the facilities.

The Manchester property litigation team volunteered alongside GIA at Winsford Grange Care home planting a sensory garden. Winsford Grange, a 60 bed care home, based in Winsford, Cheshire provides specialist residential and nursing care to older people and people living with dementia.

Milton Keynes colleagues spent a day at office charity partner Ride High, gardening, painting and cleaning gutters. Ride High gives children the opportunity to ride horses, building their self-esteem and confidence and improving their future prospects.

The HR recruitment team visited HelpHarryHelpOthers, a cancer charity set up by the inspirational Harry Moseley. Harry was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and aged just 11 years old Harry was inspired to start his charitable campaign when a good friend of his, who he met at hospital, became very ill. Harry attended over 100 events to raise awareness and he made and sold beaded bracelets to raise funds. Harry has sadly passed away but his legacy is HelpHarryHelpOthers. The HR recruitment team visited the charity’s cancer drop-in centre and had the opportunity to tour the facility before making 183 bracelets to support the charity’s fund-raising efforts; just one of many ways volunteers help the charity.