Staff At Yorkshire Offices Help Out On Community Projects

Teams of employees from law firm Irwin Mitchell have swapped their usual office roles for a day of volunteering.

They took part in Give & Gain Day, the UK’s only national day of employee volunteering, run by business charity Business in the Community. The campaign gives employees a unique opportunity to make a difference to the communities they live and work in.

Volunteers from Irwin Mitchell were in good company as they joined an international army of over 17,000 volunteers who were out and about making a positive difference in their local communities. It is believed that £1 million of man hours was injected in community projects around the globe by Give & Gain Day 2011 participants.

The Irwin Mitchell team, including partners Adrian Budgen and Paul Firth, helped renovate a hostel in South East Sheffield for homeless men in Sheffield.

The hostel operates an open-door drop-in centre, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and have worked with over 3700 people across the Yorkshire and Humber and North East regions. Most of their work is undertaken in partnership with local authority Adult Social Care departments, Primary Care Trusts, Supporting People Teams and Community Safety Partnerships.

Staff from the law firm helped with gardening, painting, building fences and other tasks as the hostel took on a new lease of life. The Irwin Mitchell Charities Foundation (IMCF) also supplied a £500 donation.

In addition, an Irwin Mitchell team consisting of Caroline Deighton, Chris Widdison and Chris Robinson, helped out with a renovation project at Beeston Primary school in Leeds. Staff from the law firm carried out a number of tasks including painting murals, staining fences and replanting the school planters.

Adrian Budgen, Partner at Irwin Mitchell, Chair of the IMCF, and a member of the BITC leadership team, said: “Give & Gain Day is a fantastic way to get involved with the community, meet new people and make a difference. Volunteering is a great experience and it’s great to get out of the office for a worthwhile cause.”

Commenting on the campaign, Gennie Franklin, Programmes and Employee Volunteering Director, Business in the Community said: “We’re pleased that Irwin Mitchell has joined our global movement of employee volunteers this year. Volunteering is one way in which businesses can start to build real relationships and help to transform the communities they live and work. The companies that take part in Give & Gain Day 2011 should be proud of their involvement, as their activities will make a real lasting difference on the lives of those people with the greatest need. Staff benefit too as it’s a valuable way to have fun, learn and develop new skills.”