With 170,000 charities registered in the UK, why would a law firm decide to set up another one? We saw a distinct gap and recently launched the Bolt Burdon Kemp Charity. Core-financed by a percentage of our firm-wide profits each year, we also plan to fundraise to support a range of causes.
As a serious injury law firm based in the City of London, our charity naturally reflects our overall aims as a firm, with a particular focus on supporting injured people and their families in the UK. In addition, the charity will support projects local to our office. We will also help people from diverse backgrounds access the legal profession as a career, and support wider initiatives which promote equality, diversity and inclusion within the profession.
We invite applications from other charities and individuals and give out grants from £100 to £10,000 each year.
Establishing the charity has been a natural next step. While we have always worked closely with charities and will continue to do so, having our own charitable organisation means we can have a more sustained and strategic impact that reflects our focus, values and culture, while also supporting our charity partners in a new way.
Acting for seriously injured people across the UK, we see first-hand the challenges facing both individuals and the organisations and institutions which support them. Some of these are legislative, and we campaign for change on this front through initiatives such as our Manifesto (see tinyurl.com/42n66t4s). But many of the issues facing injured individuals are related to, or exacerbated by, a lack of funds. This creates gaps in care, facilities and support. We navigate broken systems on behalf of clients to ensure they can access the care they need to ensure their lives are not adversely affected by their injury. But that can be very difficult at times when, for instance, local facilities are lacking. Equally, while we can push for compensation for clients to ensure they are properly cared for and supported throughout the rest of their lives, we see many more people who may not have been injured by accident, for instance, who do not have any other option but to struggle with the facilities and support available to them. To have the flexibility and control to be able to contribute to making these people’s lives a bit easier, in addition to our clients, will give us a welcome freedom.
We recently made our first grant, to Shine Cancer Support, a charity that supports young people. This will help fund meet-ups for people with cancer in their 20s, 30s and 40s so they can access support specific to their age, with advice on issues such as finances, fertility and dating. These meet-ups are valuable for the participants and will take place at Maggie’s Cancer Centre at London’s St Bartholomew’s Hospital, just moments from our office, thereby fulfilling the charity’s objectives of supporting local projects.
Establishing a charity also brings wide-reaching internal benefits. Our trustees are drawn from the firm’s board, while our grant-making and fundraising committees include team members from across the organisation, from junior staff to senior leaders, each bringing diverse experience and expertise. By embedding the charity into the fabric of firm life, we ensure our values and charitable aims remain front and centre. It also empowers passionate individuals to make meaningful decisions in areas where they are experts – whether that is supporting survivors of abuse or advocating for those with brain or spinal injuries.
To return to the question posed at the start: yes, there absolutely is space for more charities – and a compelling case for law firms to establish their own. Law firms are full of unique insights into the injustices faced by specific communities, informed by years of direct engagement and advocacy. A charity led by a law firm can harness the passion and expertise of legal professionals who are committed to driving meaningful change.
Jonathan Wheeler is managing partner of Bolt Burdon Kemp and trustee of the Bolt Burdon Kemp Charity
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