Employability Project

Irwin Mitchell - working in the community

Volunteers from Irwin Mitchell Solicitors and Newcastle University undertook the horticultural community challenge

Local disability organisation, the Percy Hedley Foundation, enlisted the help of Irwin Mitchell Solicitors this month, and challenged them with a horticultural community project. On Friday 2nd October, a team of eight Solicitors and Trainees from Irwin Mitchell together with law students from Northumbria University, worked for a full day at the Northern Counties site (Jesmond), clearing an overgrown sensory area and repairing a broken block paved path.

Ruth Woodfine, Employability Project Manager, helped to coordinate the day: "The area we focused on used to be accessible for disabled students however had become unmanageable and difficult to maintain over the last few years. Having this space made available to us once again will make such a difference. Students will help choose and plant new shrubs for the area and will also be responsible for the ongoing maintenance".

As part of the project, the Irwin Mitchell team were offered the opportunity to tour the Northern Counties site, to learn more about the services provided by the Foundation for disabled people.

Jennifer Cawthorne, Solicitor from Irwin Mitchell said: "This was the first community project I've organised in the area and I was delighted at the positive response from the Irwin Mitchell staff and university students alike. We managed to complete the task given to us as well as meet staff and students from Percy Hedley. It was a challenging day and hard work however we're looking forward to our next project already!"

Ruth continues: "Volunteering in the community is an excellent opportunity to develop team building for the employers involved, it demonstrates commitment to partnership working between our organisations and offers real practical support to the charity. It's a win-win situation for us all".

If you'd like more information on the Employability Project and how you too can get involved, please contact Ruth Woodfine on: 0191 281 7532, or if you prefer email: ruthwoodfine@percyhedley.org.uk.