Community Responsibility
Autism Anglia
Colchester
The firm are extremely proud to continually provide support to our local charity, Autism Anglia. They are independent charity that provides care and support to autistic children, adults, and their families in East Anglia. The charity also seeks to promote greater knowledge and understanding of autism through training, education, and supplying information to the public and professionals. They offer several services for autistic people and their families. We are in regular contact with the team at Autism Anglia and will assist and advise them on numerous matters. The Private Client team also run a Will Scheme on behalf of the charity throughout the year. We, as a firm continually strive to support and raise awareness of autism by supporting Autism Anglia.
Grassroots
Our Managing Partner, Alice Brotchie has been a Trustee of Grassroots charity since 2014. Thanks to the support of local businesses and individuals, Grassroots charity has a long track record of helping to make a real difference to people’s lives. More than £700,000 has been distributed as small grants to voluntary organisations across Colchester and Tendring helping local people, particularly those who are vulnerable, disadvantaged, lonely or isolated. Grassroots grants have been used for a wide range of purposes such as mentoring services for vulnerable children, play equipment for a pre-school sensory garden and cookery classes for individuals who have been homeless. Alice attends regular panel meetings helping to govern the charity and consider funding applications as well as manning the Grassroots stall at local events. Voluntary organisations wishing to apply for funding should visit the Grassroots charity website.
Armed Forces
Our Private Client Department has made a commitment to support military spouses to have a professionally prepared Will. All too often, a serving member of the Armed Forces will have a Military Will in place, but their spouse will have no Will. It can be problematic putting down roots and having any real stability as a military family, and as such this can often leave people feeling like there is no real point in preparing a Will or feeling like they have no real reason to prepare one. This is not the case and Helen is encouraging military spouses to have Wills. As a military spouse herself, Helen has first-hand experience and knowledge. She currently offers free simple Wills to military spouses to ensure their affairs are in good order.
Next Chapter
Cate Cussell has also recently stepped into the Chair of the board of trustees for Next Chapter (formerly known as Colchester & Tendring Women’s Refuge). This is a domestic abuse charity working across the areas of Tendring, Colchester, Maldon, Chelmsford, Braintree & Uttlesford. They provide free and confidential services to support people who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced domestic abuse. Cate has previously worked with the CEO Beverley Jones and is looking forward to seeing what is next in store for the charity.
Beacon House
One of our partners, Cate Cussell is Trustee of Beacon House. Beacon House Ministries is a Christian charity that was established to help homeless people, those in insecure accommodation and those at high risk of homelessness. Beacon House offers a wide range of support services including medical care, providing a necessary and vital lifeline to vulnerable individuals. Cate is very passionate about working with the local homeless community and bringing them solutions with a spiritual context.
Dementia Friends
The Private Client Department are ‘Dementia Friends’ through Alzheimer’s Society. Through this scheme, they can raise awareness and have an understanding so that people living with dementia can continue to live in the way they want. The department thereby can take a professional, personal, and caring approach to their advice and assistance. The team already liaise with other departments of the firm as to how they can provide cross-departmental support surrounding a vulnerable client or their family members. The firm endeavours to consistently look at ways to improve their services to our clients and their families that are affected.
Colchester Garrison
GoodyBurrett is very proud to have a long-standing commitment to supporting the army in Colchester. Sue Devereaux, our experienced Family Solicitor offers a free Family Law Legal Surgery on the last Wednesday of each month at the Community Centre in Fallowfield Road, Colchester. Any military personnel can book an appointment and discuss any aspect of their Family Law matter with Sue. The Family Legal Clinic has run for many years by Sue, who is extremely committed to assisting those within the military community.
The Queen's Green Canopy
We are proud to announce that as part of the Platinum Jubilee 2022 celebrations our team at GoodyBurrett planted a tree for the Queen’s Green Canopy. The scheme encourages the planting of trees to commemorate Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne. You can now check our tree on the QGC map.
Mercury Theatre
We are also very proud to have adopted a seat in the auditorium at Mercury Theatre as part of their ‘Mercury Rising’ project.
Armed Forces Covenant
The Armed Forces Covenant is a voluntary pledge acknowledging and understanding that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives.
Its two principles are that, recognising the unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the Armed Forces:
- Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.
- Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
The Partners at GoodyBurrett are keen to support the pledge. The firm offers discounts on some legal services and provides outreach services at a free legal clinic at Colchester Barracks for Service families. The clinic is held on the last Wednesday of each month and appointments should be made through the Army Welfare Service at Colchester Barracks.