Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
We are committed to undertaking our business in a socially responsible manner. By combining the talents and efforts of our people, our goal is to create an effective Corporate Social Responsibility Programme which will have an impact on the community, environment, work place and market place. Our goal is to integrate CSR into everything that we do.
The Bircham Dyson Bell CSR Action Group co-ordinate our CSR initiatives and support those working at the firm in ‘giving back’ to the community. Many of our trainees are active members of the CSR Action Group.
In addition to volunteering and pro bono activities that many members of the firm are involved in the following is a selection of our CSR initiatives:
CSR Day
All employees are encouraged to participate in CSR projects and activities and we support this by allowing each employee one fully paid CSR Day each year, to participate in either internal events organised by the CSR Action Group or an external event that you have personally selected.
Employee charitable trust
The CSR Action Group organises and co-ordinates fund raising events and activities throughout the year to raise money for our Employees’ Charitable Trust. Each year employees are invited by the CSR Action Group to nominate and vote for a charity of their choice. The funds raised during that year are donated to the selected charities. Our selected charities for 2011/2012 are MacMillan Nurses, Alzheimer’s Society and Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
In 2010/2011 we collectively raised £12,000 for Help for Heroes, Bread and Water for Africa (UK) and Brain Tumour Research.
Give and Gain Day
Every year we participate in the Business in the Community National Give and Gain Day. In June 2011, 10 volunteers from Bircham Dyson Bell helped create a wildlife area for a primary school in Lambeth, South West London.
Click here to see how our volunteers got on
Click here to read about the 2010 ‘Community Games’ activities
Click here to see our diary of the 2009 Give and Gain Day
Kids Company ‘Colour a Child’s Life’
Following our involvement with Kids Company in 2010, on 28 September 2011, 9 Bircham Dyson Bell employees volunteered to support the charity Kids Company and their “Colour a Child’s Life” project, a housing intervention programme that aims to transform the living conditions of children and families in some of London’s most disadvantaged communities.
To find out more about the day’s activities click here
Click here to read about our 2010 ‘Colour a child’s Life’ experience
Charitable giving
We operate a scheme where employees can donate to any UK registered charity of their choice by a direct deduction from their salary via payroll. This allows employees to donate in a tax effective way. The firm enhances employee donations throughout the year.
Creating a greener environment - Environmental Registration 14001
As a firm, we take our environmental impact very seriously and we are one of the first law firms to be awarded ISO 14001, in May 2008. In July 2011 we successfully retained this environmental registration.
Cristmas Appeals
In 2009 we supported Community Links Christmas Toy Appeal for disadvantaged children in Newham, East London. The children are from deprived homes and experience many problems including poverty, family breakdown and abuse. The overwhelming generosity of our employees who donated gifts enabled Community Links to provide local disadvantaged children with a present to open on Christmas day.
For Christmas 2010 we supported the Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal. Employees were invited to donate gifts for children, families, older people and the homeless for distribution to those in need across the country. As in 2009 the generosity of our employees helped make a real difference to those in need.
In 2011 we are continuing to support the Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal.