Charity September: a month for giving
Every year at LGFL, we look forward to September as a special month when we can support some of our favourite charities - and eat cake too!
This year may feel a little different with social distancing and COVID precautions, but the intent is the same. We want to support local, national and international charities at a time when all charities are feeling the pinch due to lost income from donations and fundraising events.
First, we’ll be stepping out in style for the Reading Legal Walk 2020 on Weds 16th September. The annual Reading Legal Walk is a sponsored 10km walk, and we’ll be raising funds for:
- Flag DV
The Free Legal Advice Group for Domestic Violence (FLAG DV) aims to fill the gap left by the reduction in Legal Aid services. FLAG DV is a small charity offering support across the three counties of the Thames Valley; Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire.
- Age UK
One of the UK’s most respected charities, providing tireless support for vulnerable elderly people in our area. As their strapline says, Age UK is there because “No one should have no one to turn to”.
- Reading Refugee Support Group
A local charity that has been helping refugees and asylum seekers rebuild their lives in Berkshire for 25 years.
So we can all social distance and adhere to the ‘rule of six’, each team will consist of 6 or less walkers. Also, we won’t have a start or finish line, as teams start wherever and whenever convenient for them on the route.
This week, we’ll also be dressing down in our denim for Jeans for Genes Day. It’s such a simple idea to ditch the smart suits in favour of our favourite jeans for a dress-down day, and raise funds to help children with a genetic disorder in the process. However, it’s hard sometimes to break the habits of a professional family lawyer, so we know Rita will still be in her high heels!
More details of Jeans for Genes Day here
On Friday 25th September, we’ll be holding our own in-office MacMillan Cancer Support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. This annual event raised a phenomenal £275million last year, enough to fund over 500 MacMillan nurses to help those living with cancer.
The pandemic and lack of space for proper distancing will sadly prevent us inviting guests to join us as they have in previous years, including our local MP, clients, suppliers and friends. Instead we’ll pop our kettle on, get out the smart LGFL china that’s been waiting patiently in the cupboard to be used since March, and tuck into our own cakes.
Do join us in spirit, and if you’d like to make a donation direct to MacMillan, here’s the link.
Last year, we decided to sponsor a girl in Zimbabwe to help her stay in education and fulfil her dream of becoming a police officer. Through the Creating Better Futures charity, our monthly sponsorship helps Plaxedes stay at school, and contributes to projects focusing on feeding, nutrition, and sanitation in her community. We have enjoyed developing a one-to-one relationship with her, adding that all-important personal touch to funding for vulnerable children that shows that real people do care, and want to help.
As our Managing Director Rita Gupta explains:
“In our work, we always put the interests of the children first. This feels no different, and we are genuinely delighted to help Plaxedes achieve her ambitions through sponsoring key elements of her education, including school fees, and school meals.”
Discover more about Creating Better Futures here
Help for those experiencing domestic violence or coercive abuse
Abuse does not discriminate. If you are experiencing domestic violence, the time to act is NOW.
- Call 999 and if possible, get yourself and your children to a place of safety.
- Call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 200 0247 (women) or the ManKind confidential helpline on 01823 334244 (men).
- Once you’re safe, contact us for professional legal advice on how to proceed.