CS R report - BLM
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CSR r r e e p p o o r r t t April 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility Introduction BLM embraces Corporate Social Responsibility for the benefit of our local communities, the wider environment and staff personal development. Our commitment to CSR is much more than providing pro bono legal advice; it touches on the community, our marketplace, the environment and our workplace. It covers a broad range of activities from recycling through to the use of Fairtrade coffee and working with disadvantaged young adults in our local communities. This report provides an overview of our community activities during the past year and looks at the projects we will be supporting during the next 12 months. The Prince’s Trust The Prince’s Trust is well known for its work over the last 30 years with young people. It offers practical solutions to help change young lives which can include training, mentoring and financial assistance. We are now in our third year of partnership with the Trust and have raised over £150,000 for the youth charity since 2007. Last year we took part in our first Insurance Leadership Group (ILG) challenge and sent a BLM team to the Namibian desert to trek, cycle and abseil 140km across the harsh terrain. Despite not winning the event, our Desert rats were crowned Fundraising Champions after raising almost £30,000 for the Trust. In April/May 2009, we will be taking part in our second ILG challenge where a team of six, called the Pelican briefs, will travel to Costa Rica to battle it out against more than 30 participants from the insurance industry. The Costa Rica Coast to Coast Insurance Challenge will see the Briefs cross the continental divide to hike, bike, white water raft and kayak 250 kilometres for seven days back-to-back. In support of the challenge we held our annual national quiz night in March which raised over £21,000 in sponsorship. Quizzes were held in locations across the country with various organisations donating prizes to be auctioned or raffled off on the night. Young Ambassadors The Prince’s Trust Young Ambassadors are young people who have been through a Prince’s Trust programme and are keen to contribute further. They speak about their experiences of the Trust at conferences and meetings, run consultations and focus groups with young people to find out information, sit on judging panels for Trust awards and recruitment panels interviewing potential Trust staff. Crucially, they recruit and raise awareness of The Prince’s Trust to other young people. Several BLM offices have been proud to host Young Ambassador training days over the past few months. During these days, the Ambassadors receive public speaking training and then apply the knowledge by telling their stories to BLM employees who provide feedback. Terry Renouf explains the importance of the Ambassadors as: The best advert for the Trust. It was not the celebrities that persuaded us to help the Trust but the real life stories of Young Ambassadors. BLM’s support started when one of our partners in Birmingham was invited along to a Prince’s Trust event in Birmingham – he heard the stories of some Young Ambassadors and was inspired and enthused. The Insurance Leadership Group BLM is a member of The Prince’s Trust Insurance Leadership Group (ILG). The ILG is a unique networking forum for leaders of insurance companies, brokers and underwriters in the UK. Since launching in January 2006, the ILG has grown to 43 members who have collectively pledged £4.3 million to support the Trust’s vital work. Please see www.blm-law.com (Who we are section) under ‘BLM and CSR’ for our Prince’s Trust partnership plan. To find out more about the Trust visit: www.princes-trust.org.uk page 1 Berrymans Lace Mawer CSR report April 2009 BLM Pelican briefs Back row L-R: Matthew Hyam, Mark Pendlington, Paul Wainwright and Guy Lane and front row L-R: Natalie Puce, Claire Laver and team reserve Laura Pearce. The Young Ambassadors and BLM staff at BLM Birmingham, August 2008
Transcript of CS R report - BLM
CSR rreeppoorrttApril 2009CCoorrppoorraattee SSoocciiaall RReessppoonnssiibbiilliittyy
IInnttrroodduuccttiioonnBLM embraces Corporate Social Responsibility for the benefit ofour local communities, the wider environment and staff personaldevelopment. Our commitment to CSR is much more thanproviding pro bono legal advice; it touches on the community,our marketplace, the environment and our workplace. It covers abroad range of activities from recycling through to the use ofFairtrade coffee and working with disadvantaged young adults inour local communities.
This report provides an overview of our community activitiesduring the past year and looks at the projects we will besupporting during the next 12 months.
TThhee PPrriinnccee’’ss TTrruussttThe Prince’s Trust is well known for its work over the last 30 years withyoung people. It offers practical solutions to help change young liveswhich can include training, mentoring and financial assistance. We arenow in our third year of partnership with the Trust and have raised over£150,000 for the youth charity since 2007.
Last year we took part in our first Insurance LeadershipGroup (ILG) challenge and sent a BLM team to theNamibian desert to trek, cycle and abseil 140km acrossthe harsh terrain. Despite not winning the event, ourDesert rats were crowned Fundraising Champions afterraising almost £30,000 for the Trust.
In April/May 2009, we will be taking part in our second ILG challengewhere a team of six, called the Pelican briefs, will travel to Costa Rica tobattle it out against more than 30 participants from the insuranceindustry. The Costa Rica Coast to Coast Insurance Challenge will see theBriefs cross the continental divide to hike, bike, white water raft andkayak 250 kilometres for seven days back-to-back.
In support of the challenge we held our annual national quiz night inMarch which raised over £21,000 in sponsorship. Quizzes were held inlocations across the country with various organisations donating prizes tobe auctioned or raffled off on the night.
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The Prince’s Trust Young Ambassadors are young people who have beenthrough a Prince’s Trust programme and are keen to contribute further.
They speak about their experiences of the Trust at conferences andmeetings, run consultations and focus groups with young people to findout information, sit on judging panels for Trust awards and recruitmentpanels interviewing potential Trust staff. Crucially, they recruit and raiseawareness of The Prince’s Trust to other young people.
Several BLM offices have been proud to host Young Ambassadortraining days over the past few months. During these days, theAmbassadors receive public speaking training and then apply theknowledge by telling their stories to BLM employees who providefeedback. Terry Renouf explains the importance of the Ambassadors as:
The best advert for the Trust. It was not the celebrities that persuadedus to help the Trust but the real life stories of Young Ambassadors.BLM’s support started when one of our partners in Birmingham wasinvited along to a Prince’s Trust event in Birmingham – he heard thestories of some Young Ambassadors and was inspired and enthused.
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BLM is a member of The Prince’s Trust Insurance Leadership Group(ILG). The ILG is a unique networking forum for leaders of insurancecompanies, brokers and underwriters in the UK. Since launching inJanuary 2006, the ILG has grown to 43 members who have collectivelypledged £4.3 million to support the Trust’s vital work.
Please see www.blm-law.com (Who we are section) under ‘BLM andCSR’ for our Prince’s Trust partnership plan. To find out more about theTrust visit: www.princes-trust.org.uk
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BBLLMM PPeelliiccaann bbrriieeffssBack row L-R: Matthew Hyam, Mark Pendlington, PaulWainwright and Guy Lane and front row L-R: Natalie Puce,
Claire Laver and team reserve Laura Pearce.
The Young Ambassadors and BLM staff at BLM Birmingham, August 2008
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Mentoring
BLM is a member of various mentoring programmes which provideadvice, guidance and support.
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In March 2008 volunteers from BLM Liverpool were presented with anaward by Merseyside DiversityMentoring. They were congratulatedfor their efforts in supporting lawstudents and given the OutstandingContribution to the OutlookProgramme award. As part of theOutlook Programme sevenmembers of the Liverpool officeoffer interview practice, CV adviceand support to students who may beat a disadvantage when applyingfor training contracts with law firms.Merseyside Diversity Mentoring is apartnership of the University ofLiverpool, Liverpool Hope Universityand Edge Hill University.
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For over a year, members of the London office have been visiting alocal primary school to help children improve their skills as part of theHackney Reading and Maths Scheme. We have recently increased thenumber of BLM mentors and the number of children now enrolled onthe scheme has risen from 10 to 14.
Earlier this year BLM London held its fourth ‘insight tour’ for 18members of youth charity City Gateway. As part of the tour the youngpeople were given CV advice and interview practice, as well asan insight into the workings of a law firm. In September 2008and February 2009, two City Gateway apprentices began 12week placements with various departments in order to gainvaluable work experience.
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Members of our Birmingham office have recently joined The Prince’sTrust Business Programme as mentors. The scheme encourages thebusiness community to provide support to young people who are startingup in business or gaining skills in order to secure full-time employment.
Legal advice
In addition to our non-legal projects our solicitors provide legal adviceto students and the local community.
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Solicitors and trainees from our London office provide legal advice infortnightly sessions at the Royal Courts of Justice Citizen’s Advice Bureau.At present 12 solicitors are involved with the programme.
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The Manchester office is part of a joint project with ManchesterMetropolitan University and the Partners of Prisoners and FamiliesSupport Group. Ten volunteers from the office are acting as supervisorsto law students who are offering advice under a legal advice scheme.
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BLM Liverpool provides advice to law students from Liverpool Universityin a weekly advice clinic. Volunteersolicitors provide assistance andguidance to students who are offeringfree legal advice to local people.
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Below: City Gateway ‘insight tour’Right: Hackney Reading and Maths Scheme in conjunction with Inspire,the Education Business Partnership for the London Borough of Hackney.Top to bottom, clockwise: Kate Cornell, Alistair Kinley, James Reid,Christopher Newton
Sarah Mansfield, BLM Liverpool’s CSR representitive, receiving the award
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Our CSR programme is continually growing with more and more peopleat BLM volunteering their time to get involved with charity projects. In2008 staff from each of our offices took part in fundraising activities orused their time to the benefit of charities. Here are just a few examples:
Birmingham
In July 2008 BLM Birmingham held a quiz night in aid of the BoneCancer Research Trust and raised almost £800. The quiz was organisedto support BLM paralegal Joe Millington who cycled 3,500 miles acrossthe USA with a friend to raise funds for the charity.
Cardiff
Members of the Cardiffoffice took part in the2008 Race for Life. Theteam raised over £300for Cancer Research UKand even appeared onITV’s local news!
Leeds
Representatives from theBLM Leeds officeattended the ZurichCares Charity Ball in
September 2008 to raise funds for local and national charities. Theevent was held by Zurich Insurance’s charity Zurich Cares and thefollowing charities benefitted from the ball: Calvert Trust, The Foundationfor Conductive Education, Canine Partners, NSPCC ChildLine, MarieCurie Cancer Care and Hope and Homes for Children.
Liverpool
Last year the Liverpool office raised £1,000 for the North LiverpoolCitizen’s Advice Bureau and as a result Matthew Hyam, trainee solicitor,has been invited to be a trustee on their board this year.
London
Last year the office raised money for City Gateway and Inspire – twolocal charities that help young people through education and with whomwe volunteer.
Manchester
Last year the Manchester office organised anational glasses collection for ‘ProjectParaguay’. People from across the firmdonated prescription spectacles that wereshipped to Paraguay in October. Eighty-four pairs were collected, which will beused in some of the poorest areas of thecountry.
Southampton
In October members of the Southampton office attended a charity quiznight arranged by College Chambers. The event raised money tosupport the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. The BLM teamcame in at 4th place out of over 35 teams.
Stockton-on-Tees
BLM Stockton-on-Tees arranged a seriesof events in support of Children in Needin 2008. The office raised over £300 byholding a raffle, quiz and lunchtimebingo game.
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TThhee aannnnuuaall cchhaarriittyy wwaallkk 22000088In 2008 we raised over £4,500 from our annual charity walk. Over 50 people tookpart and raised sponsorship money by walking 10 miles in the Peak District. Eachoffice nominated a charity to receive donations and the following charities benefited:Acorns Children’s Hospice (Birmingham), Tŷ Hafan (Cardiff), St Gemma’s Hospice(Leeds), Liverpool Citizens Advice Bureau (Liverpool), Inspire! (London), ProjectParaguay (Manchester), Macmillan Nurses (Southampton) and Butterwick Hospital(Stockton-on-Tees).
CSR rreeppoorrttCSR in practiceEveryone at BLM is given the opportunity to get involved with our CSR programme. Here, two people share theirexperiences of BLM’s CSR programme in the London office.
In which CSR project are youcurrently involved?
I’m involved with the Hackney Readingand Maths Scheme. The London office isin partnership with a local primary school,St John of Jerusalem, and volunteersattend to mentor children in maths andreading. Currently, we have 14 childrenpartnered with 28 members of staff and
we travel each week during a lunch break to provide support. We havealso been involved in the school’s ‘Work Week’. Members of the officetook part in a Dragon’s Den session where children presented theirinventions and we also arranged an advertising workshop.
What do you contribute to this project?
I set up the scheme in the London office in 2008 and now run it as theproject co-ordinator. I also volunteer at the school when I get a sparemoment!
What made you want to get involved in BLM's CSRprogramme?
I felt really passionate about getting involved with local communities andparticularly with children and young adults. The city can seem reallyinaccessible to these children and I felt strongly that they should be givenan opportunity to see what can be open to them career-wise.
BLM has a really strong CSR programme and I knew I wanted to be partof it following a presentation about the City Gateway project. It all snow-balled from there!
What are the benefits to you?
The children are all wonderful characters and it’s so rewarding seeingthem grow and develop. The scheme has already made a hugedifference to those children we mentor, who have had improved resultsand have grown in their confidence. Being with the children is also ahuge amount of fun and just what you need sometimes after a hardmorning in the office!
How did youbecome anapprentice at BLM?
I am a trainee atCity Gatewayand I study IT. Aspart of thecourse we attend‘insight tours’and visit variouslaw firms andBLM was one ofthem. Followingthe tour I really wanted to work withBLM and asked for a work placement.
Why did you choose BLM?
I chose BLM because I really liked the staff and thought that they put areal effort into the day. They had everything ready such as informationpacks and our CVs. I really enjoyed the insight tour at BLM. I feltwelcomed and there was a friendly and professional environment.
What does your placement involve?
I work mainly in marketing and business development and I help withup-coming events and do research on different companies. One of mytasks has been to prepare the information for this report. I have alsoworked in other areas such as reception, postroom and accounts. I willalso get to spend time with the occupational disease team.
What do you think you will get out of your placement?
I will get a lot of experience out of this placement as I have been arounddifferent departments doing different jobs, having responsibility andcarrying out tasks. It has been really good, I enjoy it very much.
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CSR rreeppoorrttNicola WilliamsTrainee solicitor,BLM London
Tahera BegumApprentice, BLM London
For further informationIf you would like to suggest ideas, become involved with us or find out more, please contact your nearest CSR representative:
Birmingham [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Liverpool [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
