Our Contribution to the local Community
Winners of the ConocoPhilips Excellence in Community Relations Award at the Northern Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2009.
Corporate Social Responsibility has become the term that describes how organisations contribute to the well being and development of the community in which they operate. For many solicitors’ practices in the past this was integral in their activities. Through practising their profession, lawyers assist both individuals and businesses.
Over the years, Wilkin Chapman LLP has acted for private clients and those who are publicly funded. We have also contributed to the success and development of the community by acting for companies and large organisations whose activities in turn provide employment, opportunity and contribute to the economic health of the region.
Individuals at Wilkin Chapman LLP support the community in many ways - from spearheading charity fund raising campaigns, to working voluntarily as a college or school governor to taking part in charity fun runs and gaining sponsorship.
More recently we became aware of the ‘Business in the Community’ project and the opportunity that this offers for taking community work to another level. Wilkin Chapman LLP make a financial contribution to Business in the Community and in return receive a number of “volunteering opportunities”. This is particularly beneficial as it offers younger personnel the gateway to volunteer - something that they may not otherwise know how to do. Furthermore, it is up to some staff to organise projects and this in turn gives them valuable team leadership experience. Our staff now give their time (and Wilkin Chapman LLP matches this by giving them paid time off work), volunteering to help those people or organisations in our community who are disadvantaged.
More detail of the wonderful work that has and is being done follows but it can be seen that whether it is a short or long term project, whether sitting listening to an individual school child read or painting a wall in a community centre, staff at Wilkin Chapman LLP really are making a contribution and feeling the reward of knowing that they personally are making a difference.
Our ‘Business in the Community’ projects
‘Partners in Reading’
‘Partners in Reading’ is a scheme where members of staff from both the Grimsby and Lincoln offices attend local junior schools in disadvantaged areas one lunchtime per week to listen to children read.
Community Projects
Partners and staff have also taken part in a number of community based projects which require them to work as a team to plan, organise and control tasks.
Recently, 10 members of staff in Grimsby helped to design and create a reading garden at Willows Primary School as part of Business in the Community’s Give & Gain Day 2010.
Approx 15 partners and staff have provided the manpower for a two day project to decorate the communal room at the Womens Refuge in Grimsby.
Another project, based in Beverley involved partners and staff planting a large number of trees essential for the survival of a local conservation area.
One member of staff is involved in a different kind of community based project. Aileen Heald, a secretary at our Family Law and Mediation Centre heard about the charity ‘Stella Maris’ through her local church. Every week, on her bicycle, she visits foreign seaman on board their ships that dock at Grimsby and Immingham ports to provide phone cards, newspapers in their language, videos, basic toiletries and food shopping as they are sometimes unable to leave their ship to make these purchases. On one of her visits, the seafarers had not been paid by the Ship’s agent for many months so they were not able to pay for their basic supplies. Aileen and her team were able to provide these items for them and ensure the official bodies became aware of the situation.
Many of the crews on board these ships are away from home on 12 month contracts and don’t see anyone other than their crewmen, so her help is important. Wilkin Chapman LLP allow her half of this time from the office (the other half she spends in her own time) to attend the ships on a weekly basis.
Aileen said, “Many of the seaman are very appreciative of a visit from a stranger even though some do not speak much English. It made me realise how doing something very easy for me could make a huge difference to the lives of these seafarers”
ProHelp
Wilkin Chapman LLP has been involved with another Business in the Community scheme called Pro Help since 2002, where legally qualified staff offer their expertise on a pro bono basis to local charities or organisations who require help.
Previous projects have included work for Haven Equestrian Centre, Lincoln Skate Park Project, Lincoln Wellbeing Centre, a pre-school in Donington-on-Bain, Rutland Railway Museum and The Creative Collection.
Charities.
As well as staff participation in community projects, the firm makes regular financial contributions to various local charitable organisations surrounding all of our offices. This tends to be supporting our clients’ requests for donations if they are taking part in charitable events or general requests from the public.
Sport Sponsorship
We are also very keen on sponsoring our staff in their sporting activities. The firm has its own netball and cricket teams where we pay for their court and pitch fees, clothes and equipment. The cricket team currently maintain their own pitch.
