Corporate Social Responsibility Policy (CSR)
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY POLICY (CSR)
What is CSR?
CSR can mean many things but it centres on the concept of “sustainable development”. It has been described as “how business takes account of its economic, social and environmental impacts in the way it operates – maximising the benefits and minimising the downsides”.
For us, this means treating our stakeholders well, supporting charities that are important to us, reducing our impact on the environment and being active in our local community.
By putting CSR into practice we want to ensure that wherever possible we are:
- Acting in an ethical manner
- Improving the overall service given to our clients
- Creating a positive working environment for our employees
- Giving back to our local communities
- Minimising the impact on our environment
Our People
We expect and promote respect between all of our people both in their dealings with each other and with clients, suppliers and other third parties. The firm has a separate equal opportunities and diversity policy which outlines our commitment to the way we treat people.
Investors in People
Attwaters have become one of only four law firms in the UK to be awarded Silver Investors in People accreditation.
Investors in People Silver accreditation shows a forward thinking and expansive approach to best practice through every level of the organisation. It demonstrates a progressive approach to business improvement through people.
Our Community
Key to our history and our ethos is our understanding of the importance of our role in supporting the local communities in which we work. Examples of this are as follows:
• Harlow Citizens Advice Bureau
We are heavily involved with our local Citizens Advice Bureau. Madeline Seibert, Medical Negligence Partner is a Board member and Trustee of the charity. We see this as a vital and fundamental service to the people of Harlow and the surrounding area, offering advice on a range of legal issues including Dept, Housing, Immigration, Employment and Family Law, amongst many other areas.
In addition, many of our staff voluntarily give up their own personal time to man the Solicitors rota, which provides free advice sessions to individuals with specific legal problems.
• Medical Negligence team initiatives
Our Medical Negligence team works closely with AvMA (Action Against Medical Accidents) of which David Kerry, Partner is a Panel Member and Adjudicator. Madeline Seibert, Partner is also a Panel Member. Our team of Medical Negligence fee earners are also involved in voluntary work and regularly help out at the charity with the Patient Helpline.
David Kerry is an Independent Adjudicator for the Legal Services commission and is also a member of the charity Elder Abuse.
• Work Experience Placements
The firm has links with a number of local schools and actively participates in work experience programmes and placements throughout the year.
• School Governor’s
Attwaters currently has 4 Partners who are non parent governor’s at schools in Essex and Hertfordshire. The appointments were initiated through the charity School Governors’ One-Stop Shop , which encourages people with transferable skills to volunteer as school governors. It does so at no charge to local authorities, schools, volunteers or employers. Further Partners and an Associate are awaiting confirmation that they have also become governors.
• Charitable work
Attwaters has a proud record of supporting local and national charities.
Each year our staff nominate and vote for our Charity of the Year.
Examples of our charitable work include:
2011 Brain & Spine Foundation
- Brain & Spine Foundation – Attwaters has now raised in excess of £10,000 through: organising a 10 mile walk along the River Lee.
- Running in the London Marathon 2011.
- Holding a Charity Golf Day at Canons Brook Golf Club in Harlow.
- Holding events for Jeans for Genes, Red Nose Day and Children in Need.
- Will Aid – Nov 11, raising over £2000.
- Holding our annual Quiz Night in aid of our Charity of the Year.
2010 Brain & Spine Foundation
- Brain & Spine Foundation – Attwaters raised £6,000 through organising a 26 mile sponsored walk from Hatfield Forest to Epping Forest.
- Organising a Charity Golf Day at Canons Brook Golf Club in Harlow.
- 5 members of Staff ran a half marathon – Run to the Beat.
- Jeans for Genes – Oct 10
- Children in Need – organising a fancy dress day with children’s party food
- Will Aid – Nov 10
- Quiz Night on 11th November 2010.
2009 St Clare Hospice
- St Clare Hospice – Attwaters raised £7,000.00 through organising a 28 mile sponsored walk in June 09 and also took part in ‘it’s a knockout’ Sept 09
- Macmillan cancer support – coffee morning Oct 09
- Jeans for genes – Oct 09
- Children in need – quiz evening and pyjama day held in Nov 09
- Will Aid – Nov 09 (raised nearly £2,000)
• Sport and recreation
In addition, local sports clubs benefit significantly from our support, including:
- Harlow Rugby Club veterans’ side
- Bishop’s Stortford Swifts under-11s soccer team
- Hertford RFC
- Old Loughtonians Hockey Club
- Proud sponsors of The Harlow Scene Sports Awards 2010
- Sponsors of the Probate Transactional competition at the Anglia Ruskin University
Our Suppliers
We treat our suppliers fairly and ethically and aim to support the local economy by using local suppliers wherever possible. We expect our suppliers to adhere to the basic principles of CSR.
Our Environment
We recognise the importance of environmental issues locally, nationally and globally and we look for ways to reduce our impact on the environment by:
- Continually seeking to improve our environmental performance,
- Reducing the volume of waste produced,
- Encouraging recycling throughout the firm,
- Complying with current legislation and best practice
- Increasing staff awareness of environmental issues
This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary.