Home | News & events | Press releases | Shoosmiths' free legal advice could have twin charity benefit

Shoosmiths' free legal advice could have twin charity benefit

16 August 2010

Free legal advice from Shoosmiths is helping a Midlands charity help young people with learning difficulties into work.

Chris Dewes, a Birmingham-based partner at the national law firm, has provided pro bono advice to the Emily Jordan Foundation – first on setting it up, then on helping it find new premises.   

Set up by Chris Jordan, the foundation is a lasting legacy to his 21-year-old daughter after she died in a river boarding accident in New Zealand, in 2008.

He said: “We’re very appreciative of the help Shoosmiths has provided through the pro bono work it’s done: first helping set up the foundation, and subsequently with the purchase of the property.

“Every penny of the £180,000 we’ve raised to date has gone towards this purchase, and the savings we’ve made on legal costs have been significant.

“That, coupled with being able to phone somebody should something crop up – even for a just a couple of minutes – has proved invaluable. It really makes a big difference, and is hugely beneficial.”

Shoosmiths’ Dewes, a commercial property specialist, helped the foundation secure its new premises at a Kidderminster industrial estate, which the foundation shares with its ‘trading arm’, Spokes.

Spokes involves young people with learning difficulties repairing and renovating donated bicycles which are then sold back to the public. Shoosmiths helped Spokes become a Community Interest Company two-years-ago.

Chris Jordan said: “Spokes helps the Emily Jordan Foundation achieve its aims, which are to prepare young people with learning difficulties for work and increase their ‘employability’, develop their self-esteem, and improve their social skills so they can interact with others and lead fulfilled lives.”

The foundation works with up to 30 young people every year, and the new unit at Finepoint Way will allow it to expand into developing IT skills and introduce woodworking facilities.

Now, Shoosmiths is hoping for a further spin-off.

Partner and head of office Joel Kordan has been made chairman of the West Midlands region of ProHelp, Business in the Community’s national network of more than 600 professional firms committed to making a difference to local communities by providing free advice and professional support.

“Unfortunately,” said Kordan, “ProHelp membership here in the Midlands has fallen sharply, as businesses react to straitened times by pulling back from this type of work. But I think it remains vital.

“I want what Chris Dewes has achieved with the Emily Jordan Foundation to act as a rallying call to new organisations to join ProHelp, and to encourage former members to recommit to this worthy and important work.”

For more about the Emily Jordan Foundation, please visit www.theemilyjordanfoundation.org.uk;
while more on ProHelp  is at http://www.bitc.org.uk/community/employee_volunteering/prohelp/index.html

For further information please contact:
Name: Alastair Gray
Phone: 03700 864096
Email: Alastair.Gray@shoosmiths.co.uk

Email this page