Communities
Communities
We can trace our lineage back to 1825, when George Freeth gave his name to our first office in Nottingham. We may have grown over the past 200 years, but we remain rooted in our local communities. Helping those around us thrive is a vital ingredient in the Freeths’ ethos.
We are active in the communities we work in, using our D&I pledge to engage with local and national projects such as action tutoring, or locally, The Brilliant Club. We also engage in mentoring schemes with local universities and colleges across the UK and we have a partnership with Young Diverse World Changers where we have 50 mentoring partnerships supporting disadvantaged students into a career in law.
Highlights
- Extensive pro bono work.
- Annual charity partnerships.
- Local causes supported by Freeths offices across the country.
National Charity
Every year, Freeths colleagues vote on the national charity they want to support. We have supported The British Heart Foundation and Fareshare in 2023/24.
Fareshare is a charity that changes lives by redistributing good-to-eat, surplus food to charities and community groups. Colleagues have been up to all sorts to support this hugely worthwhile charity, including sorting food donations and taking part in charity auctions.
We have also supported charities including Mind (colleagues raised over £50,000 by doing crazy things including abseiling 100ft down Birmingham’s Custard Factory) and Cancer Research (Tour de Freeths, a 454-mile cycle tour of all our offices, raised £11,000).
<<< Three colleagues volunteering in Fareshare’s bustling Birmingham warehouse.
Local support
Every Freeths office has loads of ways of supporting local causes. And we mean loads! In the last few months alone:
- Milton Keyes supported the MKFoodBank logo challenge. Staff donations of food were laid out to make the Freeths logo.
- Volunteers from our Liverpool office got their hands dirty planting more than 250 willow trees and an orchard in a local school playground.
- Colleagues from Glasgow took part in The Big Kiltwalk in support of local charity the Doing it for Daniel Foundation.
- Nottingham office worked with the charity Action Tutoring to help disadvantaged students with their maths and English skills.
- Freeths Leicester volunteered their Sunday to redecorate the offices of local BAME-led charity Afro Innovation Group, which supports BAME refugees and those from lower-income families.
Smashing World Records
On World Food Day 2023, Freeths Milton Keynes joined local businesses, community organisations and residents to break the Guinness world record for the longest line of food cans. Over 100,000 cans later (102,447 to be precise) the record of 44,966 was well and truly broken, and Milton Keynes food bank had more than half the food it needed to support the local community for a year.
Billy Shaw and Natalie Bullin, volunteer Ulaw mentors
Billy and Natalie have both been volunteering for over a year to mentor students at the University of Law (ULaw), at the same time helping small businesses and charities.
Offering their skills as banking and finance and property lawyers respectively, Billy and Natalie advise small businesses and charities in need of legal advice, but who can’t afford it. At the same time, students sit in on the advice clinics, learning from the pros what advice to give in particular situations.
The scheme was nominated for an award for Best Pro Bono Partnership at the 2023 LawWorks Awards.
“I’ve seen so many people try and get a start in business but not have the funds or support to do it. I’m pleased I can help people in that situation now”
Billy Shaw
Senior Associate
“I get to help small businesses while supporting students, and it’s also really great for my development and that of my team. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction.”
Natalie Bullin
Associate
Louise Lewis, Berks, Bucks and Oxon Lawyer of the Year 2023
Louise is Partner and Joint Head of Oxford Trusts, Estates and Tax Team. Described in her 2024 Legal 500 entry as, “an outstanding, highly articulate and dedicated lawyer passionate about supporting her clients and providing solutions and value,” Louise also embodies the Freeths spirit with her passion for community empowerment.
In the last few months she has given a talk for A-Level students, hosted an open afternoon on solicitor apprenticeships, is a proactive founding member of the Oxford Inclusive Economy Partnership, and handed jelly babies to the Freeths team running in support of Oxfordshire Youth at the Oxford half marathon. These are just a few of the reasons we are proud to say Louise was named Lawyer of the Year at the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Law Society’s Legal Excellence Awards 2023.
Catalyst Change
We sponsor candidates through Catalyse Change, a programme that supports women aged 18-24 years with a passion for sustainability and ambitions to pursue careers in the field. We also offer mentoring to young candidates.
"Freeths have been supporting our sustainability empowerment and green career programmes for over five years. It makes a massive difference to what we can achieve as a small social enterprise. It provides inspiration and confidence to young women and non-binary changemakers from underrepresented backgrounds, helping them get the guidance and support they need to work in the climate and social space. We are very grateful to Freeths for their valued and continuing support."
Traci Lewis
Co-Founder & Director, Catalyse Change
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