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04 December 2020

Commercial Recoveries Team Gives Back to the Community

When our Commercial Recoveries team decided to ‘give something back to the community’ its members joined forces with North East Lincolnshire Women’s Aid to brighten up the days of mums and their children who are all currently living in the charity’s supported accommodation in Grimsby. Here’s their story.

PUTTING smiles on the faces of children was the inspiration behind ‘Team Commercial’s’ collection of toys, books, and sweet treats.

Team leader and senior paralegal Jenna Emsley-Fairbass explains how her colleague paralegal and future trainee solicitor, Kelsey Jerrard, led the idea from start to finish and did a fantastic job organising the partnership with Women’s Aid, and arranging to deliver scores of items - first to our offices and then onto Women’s Aid.

“With lockdown two just ending but closely followed by pre-Christmas Tier 3 restrictions, we wanted to join forces with a local charity to brighten up families’ days.

“Women’s Aid was chosen, and the idea came about to fill local treat bags that would be great for the children but also useful for the mums,” explains Jenna.

“Lockdown at any time has its challenges but more so through the winter. We got our thinking caps on and decided that we would send letters to families asking what their desirable items would be for a lockdown treat bag.

“With 11 replies from the families, who live in charity-owned supported flats, we set to work - first having clear-outs in our own homes to bring some smiles during this difficult time.

“One of the replies was from a mum who asked for ‘things that would make her children smile because when her children smile, so does she’. When you read something like that it makes you realise just how much we take for granted.”

The team, says Jenna, also managed to source items from friends and relatives, whilst donating money individually to buy products they didn’t have. Kelsey Jerrard even managed to source one particular book, after contacting the writer, who then agreed to sign it.

Jenna explains how the work of the team during 2020 inspired its decision to support a local community charity.

“One thing we have experienced within our team this year is how some people have used lockdown to work on issues such as problem debt, which in some cases has highlighted peoples’ vulnerability.

“We have had seen a rise in people getting in touch to discuss their situation, and an openness to work with us in tackling their issues. That is why we knew we wanted to work with a charity in the local community to help those who are vulnerable and give something back.

“Our mantra this year has been ‘in a world where you can be anything, be kind’. We know our kindness in this way will make a difference to the women and children when they see their treat bags.”

With the donations now dropped off with Women's Aid, its North East Lincolnshire chief officer, Denise Farman thanked the team, saying: “Asking all our women and children ‘what would you like in a treat bag if you could choose your favourite things’ was so much fun, and emotional too. Some of the women said that ‘absolutely anything would be lovely’ and others wrote great long lists. The children wrote things like, Orios, M&Ms, Crunchie, Toblerone, custard creams, Jaffa cakes, and much more. Our friends at Wilkin Chapman have gone that extra mile to make this special, personalising items and finding things to brighten people’s days.”

Women’s Aid has had a refuge in North East Lincolnshire for more than 40 years, with a rebuild and modernisation in 2006. It also has safe houses in the community and self-contained supported accommodation. For more information please see www.womensaidnel.org

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