MEMBERNEWS IN BRIEF


Solicitors remember colleague with fundraiser


A team of runners from Buckles Solicitors LLP have completed the White Peak Trail Run in memory of colleague Luke Appleby, who passed away last year. The group has so far raised


£861 in aid of Myotonic Dystrophy Support and Nottinghamshire Hospice, both of whom supported Luke and his family through his illness. Nikki Aston, James Coppinger


A lesson in helping others


L-R: Chris Frostwick (centre), Practice Leader of Grant Thornton’s Leicester office, with Year 7 pupils from Judgemeadow Community College, who took part in Grant Thornton’s School Enterprise Programme


Students at Leicester’s Judgemeadow Community College have raised £527 for small business owners in developing countries, through a ground-breaking initiative that supports and realises children’s entrepreneurial potential. Designed to encourage school


pupils to develop business skills while supporting growing businesses overseas, the pioneering School Enterprise Programme (SEP) is run by financial and business adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP. Grant Thornton’s Leicester office


became the firm’s first to run the scheme outside of London last year, and has this year again joined forces with Judgemeadow Community College’s staff and 11 and 12-year-old pupils in Year 7. Leading Grant Thornton’s


Leicester-based School Enterprise Programme team are Fayola Francis and Preity Birring.


‘The programme focuses on developing the students’ financial, entrepreneurial, leadership and communication skills’


They have been supported by a


group of managers and advisers from Grant Thornton’s Leicester audit, tax, advisory and support services teams, who have mentored the students. Fayola said: “The programme


focuses on developing the students’ financial, entrepreneurial, leadership and communication skills, while generating money for microfinance loans. These loans enable small business owners in developing countries to establish and grow businesses. “Working with microfinance


organisation Care Lendwithcare, which is part of Care International, the Leicester School Enterprise Programme lent more than £700 to


small business owners in Ecuador, Malawi and Zimbabwe last year, and this year, the students from Judgemeadow College have added a further £527. “Through games and exercises


and by giving students the opportunity to set up and run their own microbusinesses in real life, the programme enables them to learn what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. The programme’s format means the children must apply their knowledge to develop and operate their own microbusiness concepts. It also teaches them about investing money. As through microfinance, all of their profits are invested into entrepreneurs in the developing world.”


Support for community asset


Focus Consultants has staged a string of fundraising activities to support Stonebridge City Farm in Nottingham, after the community charity launched an urgent appeal in January to raise £30,000 to keep the farm going through the winter months. Staff at Nottingham-based Focus came up with


some fun Easter activities to raise much-needed cash, which was topped up by the partners at the firm. Now the company, which also has branches in


Newark, Leicester, London and Boston, has handed over a cheque for more than £270. Stonebridge City Farm is a community charity which


has been an important part of Nottingham life for the past 40 years and today supports 120 people a week. Staff at Focus raised £135.40 for Stonebridge City Farm


with various events. The Focus partners then matched the amount raised, which brought the total to £270.80. Laura Summers, Chair of Stonebridge City Farm and


Cultural Services Consultant for Focus, said: “The response to our appeal has been absolutely overwhelming. We knew our farm was valued by those who use it, but we had not expected the show of support we have received.


Focus Consultants hands over the cheque to Stonebridge City Farm


“For the past 40 years the farm has provided


services for those most in need within our community. We are due to release the results of the appeal soon, but it has surpassed our expectations and we are now looking at how best to use that money to ensure the future of the farm. We wish to extend a huge thank you to Focus for its support.”


and Dennis Phillips, all lawyers at the firm’s Nottingham office, took part. Nikki said: “A few of us are


regular runners but thought we would choose an event to put us out of our comfort zone – and this really did.”


University of Derby funds street lighting installation


More than a kilometre of roads and footpaths have had the latest street lighting technology installed thanks to a project entirely funded by the University of Derby. The £60,000 scheme included


13 new lighting columns up to six metres tall and replacement lights fitted to 19 existing columns along Kedleston Road, A38/Queensway and Markeaton Street. Each of the 3KW LED lights is


highly energy efficient, lasting up to five years before requiring replacement, compared to once a year for standard lights. Andrew Bevan, Head of


Property Development at the University of Derby, said: “We are delighted to fund a project which will improve safety and visibility not just for our students but all members of the local community.”


Summit to raise awareness and funds for Samaritans


The Samaritans of Nottingham has announced Hallam’s Nottingham Digital Summit as a key fundraiser to support its life- saving work. The summit brings together


more than 700 of the region’s marketing, creative and technical professionals with the goal of raising more than £20,000 to fund the Samaritans. The summit takes place on 3


July. Hallam is asking attendees to make a donation to The Samaritans in lieu of conference fees.


Chris Shilling, Deputy of


Nottingham Samaritans, said: “We are so grateful that Hallam has chosen The Samaritans of Nottingham to raise money. We want to thank Hallam for raising vital funds.”


business network June 2019 19


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