At Michelmores we work with our charity partners in a collaborative way, with the aim of making a clear positive impact on the communities in which we operate. We are proud to be supporting four fantastic Charity Partners across our five office locations, including Bristol, Cheltenham, London, Exeter and Sidmouth. At the heart of our partnerships is a shared commitment to making a positive impact in our communities. We believe that these partnerships will enable us to achieve that goal and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.
We know that our people have a variety of skills, and we support them to use these to the best possible effect. As well as raising vital funds for our charity partners, we share our expertise, our passion and energy, to engage in their work.
We are supporting the following Charity Partners in each location:
1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experience domestic abuse during their lifetime and, without effective help, 30% of those individuals may return to an abusive relationship.
FearFree have been supporting vulnerable families and individuals across the South West for over 30 years. However, their services are under immense strain, with the number of referrals and complex cases rising by 20% every year.
Monies raised from our partnership will enable them to grow and develop to meet the expanding needs of their clients and families. Our support will help to empower our community, raise awareness and open up a dialogue about abuse which ensures that victims get the support they need and perpetrators can address their abusive behaviours to stop abuse for good.
It is the only adult hospice in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, supporting a population of nearly 1 million. They only receive 20% of their funding from the NHS, which is why volunteers, donations and partnerships like ours are so important. Our partnership will enable them to give patients and their families the support, comfort and dignity they need to live well until the end of life.
Monies raised from our partnership will help to bring specialist support and care, either in a patient’s home, or at their Inpatient Unit in Brentry.
Their mission is to empower clients to overcome significant challenges and cycles of deprivation to have independent, crime-free and sustainable lives. Their aims directly correlate to our Destination 2030 strategy, even sharing the same visionary language of helping people to achieve a “positive future” despite adversity.
During the pandemic, many people lost their jobs, couldn’t support their families, or suffered from mental health issues. Now, the unprecedented economic crisis is causing unemployment to become a pressing issue and risks pushing many more families towards the poverty line.Young people and over-50s are struggling to find jobs, BAME workers are earning 42% less than their white counterparts, and many young people are at risk of being exploited by gangs or lured in by the manipulation of their vulnerabilities.
Monies raised from our partnership will be used to develop their Skills, Employment and Training service (SET), which help adults and young people facing complex barriers to success, such as mental health issues, substance abuse, or involvement with the criminal justice system, to navigate pathways to sustained employment.
It is Gloucestershire’s only inpatient unit for specialist palliative care which has been operating for 40 years. Their overarching mission is to continue expanding their reach, caring for more people and supporting families who have lost loved ones.
The hospice costs £10,000 a day to run all their services.
We aren’t afraid to roll up our sleeves to participate in volunteering opportunities. We offer one paid volunteering day each year for everyone at Michelmores, enabling our people to get involved in vital community projects.
In 2022, we launched the Momentum programme with our partner, VisionPath. Momentum focusses on building career skills, experiences and mentor opportunities for disadvantaged students; our goal is to create lasting, meaningful social impact, and broaden the life chances of young people. We currently partner with three schools and deliver sessions to students on a range of topics, making the most of the variety of skills and knowledge across the Firm.
A sustainable society is one that is fair and equitable for all, and Michelmores understands the collective responsibility of our profession to help people and social organisations access legal advice without financial obstacles. Our pro and low bono work is focused on deploying our expertise where it can have the most impact. For example, in relation to impact investment work, climate litigation, protecting vulnerable people, promoting equality and having a direct effect in our communities via business mentoring and supporting our local authorities to reach ambitious net zero targets.
For more information, please contact Jonathan Kitchin
In January 2020 we began our partnership with the mental health charity, The Charlie Waller Trust (CWT). As the partnership ran during the COVID pandemic, it was extended by four months and will finish in April 2023. CWT was chosen to be the Firm’s charity partner following a staff vote, winning by an overwhelming majority. Supporting our own and each other’s mental wellbeing are core to our culture and values. We have benefitted greatly from the expertise of CWT’s advisors, and the excellent resources made available to us.
As well as supporting our people with excellent workshops and activities, we have had the opportunity to come together to support the charity with our fundraising events.
Since January 2020 we have held numerous events to raise both awareness and funds, including: