Contributors
International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has announced its new charity partners across the UK.
The firm will partner with eight charities that focus on social inclusion, which matches the firm's theme for charitable giving. The charities were chosen by WBD's regional offices, who will lead local activities with help from the WBD Foundation, the firm's charity that manages funds for responsible business work.
Sally Dallow, Partner and Chair of the WBD Foundation, says:
"We are committed to delivering on our pledge to support communities by making a tangible and long-lasting impact in the places we live and work. Through partnership and collaborative working, we know we can make a real positive impact and we're looking forward to working with our charity partners to raise funds, share our expertise, provide high-impact volunteering and mentoring initiatives and raise awareness of the work they do in – and for – our communities."
WBD's Leeds, Plymouth, Southampton and London offices have selected new charity partners while Bristol, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Teesside will continue to work with the charities they supported during the last financial year:
- In Leeds, the team will be working with Children’s Heart Surgery Fund to support the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit as a world-class centre of excellence – by providing the funding and resources needed to care for a patient's heart, mind, family and future.
- The Southampton office has chosen to support Abby's Heroes, a charity supporting children, teenagers, young adults and their families when diagnosed with cancer.
- WBD's London office will be supporting Beyond Food Foundation, a charity which helps turn lives around through a love of cooking. The charity has a restaurant in London Bridge where people learn how to run a kitchen, wait on customers and look after a business.
- And in Plymouth, the firm has chosen to work with Hugs Children's Cancer Charity, which helps families in the PL postcode who have a child with rare childhood cancers.
- In Bristol, WBD will be working with Alive Activities, a charity dedicated to improving the quality of life of older people and their carers.
- The Edinburgh office will continue to support Canongate Youth, an organisation supporting children and young people who face barriers and challenges as they make their way through childhood, adolescence and early adulthood.
- In Newcastle, the firm works with The People's Kitchen, a charity that provides food, clothing, toiletries, mobile phones and sleeping bags to homeless and vulnerable people in the community. The People’s Kitchen has become a sanctuary where those in need can find friendship and gain access to welfare, medical and housing services.
- Finally, WBD's Teesside office will work with The Hope Foundation to provide opportunities for learning, access to technology, careers advice, volunteering opportunities and support. The charity's aim is to reduce loneliness and isolation and help local people gain skills and qualifications.
Sally Randall, chief executive and founder of Abby's Heroes, said:
“We are thrilled to have been chosen as WBD Southampton’s charity partner for the next two years. This is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Abby's Heroes, which aims to help every single child and young adult who is diagnosed with cancer from across the South Coast and Wessex Region.
“We rely on the generosity and support of our corporate partners to continue our vital work. With WBD’s help, we can provide the funding and resources needed to support families during treatment, practical support and monies for making cherished memories and to run projects on the wards that make life on them a little easier.”
To find out more about the firm's responsible business and wider ESG commitments, please read the latest Responsible Business report.
