Working with young people

'As a firm that is committed to being socially responsible we know it is important to invest in the next generation. As an international business whose success depends on recruiting and retaining outstandingly talented people from all walks of life, wherever we operate in the world, we recognise we have a vested interest in developing the potential of young people. This understanding helps to shape our approach to diversity and our volunteering initiatives with schools, colleges, universities and community organisations near our offices.'
Barry O'Brien, partner, member of our community and pro bono committee, member of the Business in the Community (BITC) / Education Leadership Team, governor at our partner secondary school, Haggerston School for Girls, in Hackney

We recognise that investing in young people has important immediate and long-term benefits to business and society. Since 1999, we have been working in partnership with schools and community organisations to raise the aspirations and achievements of young people, especially those in disadvantaged circumstances, and to inspire and equip young people to successfully enter the world of work.

Volunteers in many of our offices participate in a range of schemes, from team challenges and mentoring, to job coaching and work experience. These are designed to broaden horizons and to improve confidence, motivation, communication and social skills, as well as develop specific skills such as reading, numeracy and languages. We hope this will increase each individual's opportunities in life and help develop the entrepreneurs, employees and business leaders of the future.

We also participate in pro bono legal advice work that aims to protect the rights and improve the quality of life of disadvantaged young people, for example through our work with Shelter's new Children's Legal Advice Service, Plan UK, the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative, the National Children's Bureau, and Africans Unite Against Child Abuse.

Job coaching in Germany

Volunteers from our offices in Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt provide job coaching to 15-17-year-old adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds with poor qualifications and a long history of discouraging experiences. Volunteers help with CVs and application letters, and practise interview skills with the students. This provides the students with a unique learning experience and access to successful role models and positive feedback; while our volunteers benefit from the opportunity to expand their own skills in addition to using their professional skills to the benefit of the young people.

Most of our offices in Germany are also involved in regular team challenges with schools and organisations working with young disadvantaged children, while volunteers from our Frankfurt and Berlin offices support reading programmes at local schools.

Initiatives in London

In 2008 we launched two new projects in London so that our volunteering activities now embrace young people from primary school through to university.

We are providing coaching and financial support for Youth at Risk's new Inspiring Student Leaders programme. The scheme works with participants to develop leadership skills, improve attainment, raise aspirations, decrease attrition rates and enhance social cohesion by strengthening their links with local communities. It works with students at Bedfordshire, London Metropolitan and Thames Valley universities, and is supported by the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Community and pro bono committee member Barry O'Brien helped to launch a campaign to fill 40,000 vacancies in school governing boards in the UK as part of our involvement in BITC's Education Leadership Team. The research we commissioned was presented to the Department for Children, Schools and Families; it was also used to encourage other law firms to support school governors during 2008 National Pro Bono Week, and was used internally to recruit more people to become school governors.

Teachers working in secondary schools in disadvantaged areas in the UK through the Teach First scheme, continue to help us to review our community programme during their summer placements.

Three of our key partnerships are nearly 10 years old - Redlands Primary School (10 years), Haggerston Secondary School (9 years) and Career Academies UK (8 years).

New activities in Amsterdam and Paris

In 2008, our Amsterdam office launched a new community project working alongside SAMAH, a foundation for young asylum seekers that helps them become more self-sufficient. And our Paris office hosted a scheme for disadvantaged young people to introduce them to the workplace. The scheme, which the office hosted in association with the Ministry of Education, was such a success that several of the school pupils went on to participate in summer work placements.

'I have developed skills that are useful in my own life, and at work, such as gaining an understanding of things like financial, personal, and strategic planning. Best of all there is a real sense of satisfaction gained through knowing that children are likely to benefit in a real and immediate way from my efforts.'
Mark Boyle, School governor