Gordons Raises £25,000 for Leeds-Based Charity, Simon on the Streets

Wednesday 24th May 2017

Staff at Yorkshire law firm Gordons have donated £25,000 to Leeds-based charity Simon on the Streets, the firm’s chosen charity partner over the last year.

Activities and events arranged by staff from the firm’s Bradford and Leeds offices, which also involved a number of the firm’s clients, helped to generate the funds.  The money will enable the charity to pay for a full time support worker for a year and continue to offer emotional and practical support on an outreach basis to those sleeping rough or those at risk of homelessness.

Simon on the Streets works with individuals who have complex needs and who cannot or will not access mainstream services. It currently supports around 70 people across Yorkshire through a variety of projects in Leeds, Huddersfield and Bradford. In addition, the charity’s support workers signpost other vulnerable individuals to mainstream support services via street outreach work.

Staff at Gordons took part in a range of activities to raise money throughout the year, including The Simon on the Streets ‘Sleep With Simon’ event, with 14 members of staff sleeping out for a night, a 30-mile walk through the Peak District, a Tough Mudder challenge, charity raffles and an international food day.

Sue Oliver, development manager at Simon on the Streets, said: “It costs around £25,000 to employ and train a full time outreach worker, who provides the intensive support we offer to our clients and we rely almost entirely on corporate fundraising and donations to fund this. Therefore, the efforts of Gordons and its staff are extremely welcome and they will make a significant difference to vulnerable people at risk of homelessness in Yorkshire.

“Support from fundraising activity allows us to provide everything from a cup of coffee and a much-needed chat with a service user to trauma support – essentially being there for our users should they be hospitalised or suffer a serious incident such as an assault.”

Over the last six years Gordons has raised more than £125,000 for its chosen charities, which included funds for Willow Young Carers Service, PhysCap and The Friends of Alfie Martin.

Victoria Davey, partner at Gordons, said: “We are really pleased that so many colleagues supported the charity and undertook challenges or organised great events which enabled us to raise such a significant sum for Simon on the Streets. It is an excellent charity and one that is close to the hearts of many of our staff.

“The services provided by Simon on the Streets are vital for at-risk people across West Yorkshire and we are delighted to help raise funds that will enable the organisation to continue offering assistance to those who need it in our region.”

Gordons has offices in Leeds and Bradford and employs 196 people. Clients include Morrisons; international brewers Molson Coors; and the world’s largest electrical heating business Glen Dimplex.