law Paris Smith: on song with the YMCA
Southampton-based law firm Paris Smith is a major supporter of local charities and delighted to count YMCA Fairthorne Group as both a client and a member of its Charity Forum information exchange. The Business Magazine looks at how the relationship has evolved
Not every charity has a famous song. Whether the Village People’s disco classic YMCA helps or hinders its image has often been a moot point for the eponymous charity.
“Surveys have shown that while our brand awareness among the public is very high, the perception of what we actually do is quite low,” pointed out Chris Hand, CEO of YMCA Fairthorne Group, which runs the charity’s operations in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“We are a community-based charity that provides opportunities for people to lead happy and healthy lives. We do this by working in communities with as many people as would like to be involved with us,” he explained.
Hand made his personal peace with the pop song in 2000 at a local YMCA festival organised for young carers. “We had a disco in the evening and seeing 650 youngsters loudly singing YMCA with all the actions made me feel very proud,” he recalled.
The YMCA was formed in 1844; the YMCA Fairthorne Group started in 2002 and is one of around 100 organisations in the UK that form the YMCA ‘federation’.
Experienced legal team
Paris Smith had previously supported YMCA Fairthorne with informal advice and providing volunteers at its Young Carers weekend and was in the frame when the charity decided to change its legal adviser.
YMCA Fairthorne opted to move to regional law firm Paris Smith. “As a client, we wanted a more personal service where we feel we are important to our law firm,” said Hand. “We are a specialist charity as well as a housing association, and this involves areas of law that Paris Smith is perfectly capable of dealing with very well.”
Paris Smith’s reputation as a local firm with a 200-year history serving the Solent area was another important consideration for YMCA Fairthorne. So was the firm’s commitment to the voluntary sector, demonstrated by setting up its Charity Forum to exchange ideas and advice.
“The firm definitely feels like it is rooted in Southampton and the local area. They have been very helpful providing us with local charity and community
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dispute resolution who works on the more contentious aspects of acquiring and disposing of properties. Laura Trapnell, head of the IP team, has advised YMCA Fairthorne on branding matters and Liam Doughty on corporate finance issues.
One of Paris Smith’s first assignments for YMCA Fairthorne was conveyancing work for moving its head office from the 100-acre Fairthorne Manor, near Botley, to Bugle Street in the centre of Southampton.
Chris Hand
connections. It’s been a very good fit for us,” said Hand.
Paris Smith has a team of 15 specialising in charity and education work. At a broader level, many of the firm’s partners and staff are involved in the local community as trustees of charities and school governors.
“We are one of the largest providers of legal services to charities in the Central South,” said Paris Smith partner Nick Vaughan. “As specialists in the charity sector we deal with most things charities need to know about and we understand the issues they face. There has always been a strong culture at Paris Smith of supporting our local community.”
Vaughan leads the Paris Smith team for YMCA Fairthorne, supported by commercial property partner James Snaith and David Eminton, head of
Nursery – one of YMCA’s Early Years staff reading a book to children
As well as running an education and community facility at Fairthorne Manor, the charity focuses on early years childcare provision and operating a growing number of local community centres across its region. YMCA Fairthorne also has around 100 residential units in Southampton and a similar number in Basingstoke, with others on the Isle of Wight. A core of around 300 employees rises to nearer 450 during holiday periods, when demand peaks for its holiday camps and childcare services.
Nursery – Fairthorne Manor nursery children out on a boat trip THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – JULY/AUGUST 2019
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