Charity

As an award-winning law firm, Express Solicitors remains committed to being an involved, engaged and positive force in our local community and the UK as a whole. We take our corporate social responsibility (CSR) incredibly seriously.

With a genuine belief in giving back more than what you take, we have worked hard to instil a culture of responsibility, social conscience and charity within our firm.

Specialising in personal injury claims, the well-being of individuals is at the core of our business and we aim to reflect this in our actions outside the courtroom.

Express Solicitors corporate charity

We have had a number of specially chosen charities that we have corporately sponsored throughout the years.

For example, our ongoing partnerships with charities Burning Nights and Headway allow us support these fantastic charities in a multitude of ways. As part of the Burning Nights Legal Panel, we offer legal advice to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome patients. We also sit on the Headway Head Injury Solicitors Directory 2024 which means we provide support via donations, our outreach services, and day-to-day support for patients and loved ones of those affected by brain injury.

However, our charitable activities extend beyond personal injury and business-related charities to those with whom our colleagues have forged personal connections.

In addition to these corporate sponsorships, in 2023 over £24,500 was donated to charities such as Forever Manchester, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Macmillan, the Spinal Injuries Association and more.

We also invite our staff to nominate a charity of their choice every month. This means that in 2023, staff nominated 12 different charities. The Partners then match money raised by staff. Our staff value being able to nominate a charity as it adds a personal touch to our corporate social responsibility.

We regularly participate in charity events such as the Northenden boat race which raises money for the Christie Hospital in Manchester, local to our office in Sharston. We also sponsor local sports clubs and schools.

Our large and active charity committee and our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Network, made up of colleagues from departments across the firm, meet regularly to share ideas and plan events.

With a large, nationwide client base, we feel an obligation to try and help as many people across the country as we can. In 2024 we will continue to dedicate time, money and resources into our fundraising activities.

Some of our recent charity events

Aware of the immediate impact of financial donations as well as the long-term effects of raising ongoing awareness, we take pride in engaging with incredible causes throughout the year to help vulnerable people across the UK.

Whether it’s a lighter touch like a bake sale, or through direct sponsorship, it’s our commitment to do what we can to help those most vulnerable in society.

As a company, we are proud to support charities such as:

Burning Nights CRPS Support charity

Burning Nights is a UK-wide independent support charity that aims to improve life for those affected by CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). In addition to this, they provide some essential services, information and support to CRPS patients, their families, loved ones and carers, as well as to professionals in the health and legal fields.

Express Solicitors is part of Burning Nights Legal Panel which consists of law firms that specialise in personal injury, clinical negligence and legal cases where injuries have caused the onset of CRPS.

As a member of the Legal Panel, we assist Burning Nights with providing a helping hand to any Complex Regional Pain Syndrome patient with the best legal advice, should they need it.

Headway

Headway is the leading UK charity dedicated to the care and support of people who have sustained a brain injury.

The national charity has a network of branches across the UK supporting people affected by brain injury and their families. Their mission is simple, to help improve life after brain injury.

The charity offers a wide range of services, including brain injury rehabilitation programmes, carer support, social re-integration, community outreach and respite care.

Express Solicitors are proud supporters of the Headway Birmingham and Solihull branch and the Headway North Staffordshire branch. Throughout 2023 we have raised funds for the charity to support their amazing work in rehabilitating and supporting individuals and their families.

We also sit on the Headway Head Injury Solicitors Directory 2024 which means we provide support via donations, our outreach services, and day-to-day support for patients and loved ones of those affected by brain injury.

Daniel Slade, Chief Executive Officer (Legal) is leading the partnership:

“Headway offers invaluable support to people in their time of need and the years following injury. The Charity is a lifeline for so many. I am therefore delighted we have renewed our membership and joined the directory.

“The role of the solicitor in helping to improve life after a brain injury cannot be understated. It’s a responsibility we take extremely seriously and continued professional development is a vital part of ensuring we are best placed to support people with a head injury and their families.”

Maggie Oliver Foundation

The Maggie Oliver Foundation (TMOF) is an incredible charity that exists to create a society where survivors and those at risk of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) are empowered to live fulfilled and successful lives.

TMOF ensures that every survivor is treated with dignity, respect and as an equal and valued member of society.

Maggie Oliver, the founder and chair behind TMOF is best known as the detective-turned-whistleblower who resigned from Greater Manchester Police in late 2012 in order to expose the now infamous Rochdale Grooming Scandal.

Claire Reddicen, Associate Chartered Legal Executive, OL/PL, works closely with TMOF. Claire is also passionate about acting for victims of crime including historic sexual abuse.

Forever Manchester

Forever Manchester raises essential funds to provide community support across Greater Manchester, investing in numerous grassroots projects. It seemed only natural to support Forever Manchester since we are also part of that same community and share in Forever Manchester’s vision of improving the quality of life for the diverse population that inhabits Greater Manchester.

We have been supporting Forever Manchester since 2014 in numerous ways: providing donations to support local community projects, funding Forever Manchester’s birthday parties, and raising funds through various events such as parties, bake sales, tombolas, races, sky diving and indoor climbing events.

In February 2024, we attended the Forever Manchester Birthday Party which saw over £100,000 raised – a record donation amount.

We will also be participating in the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2024 to raise even more money for Greater Manchester’s biggest supporter Forever Manchester.

Greater Manchester Blood Bikes

Greater Manchester Blood Bikes Manchester is a charity set up in Greater Manchester that transports Blood, Plasma, Platelets, Samples, Vaccines, Donor Breast Milk (DBM) & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals and healthcare sites.

The Blood Bikes Manchester service is staffed by amazing volunteers which allows the NHS to divert funds to where they are needed most.

We nominated Blood Bikes as our Charity of Choice in 2022.

Damian Bradley, Partner and Head of Legal Operations at Express Solicitors, commented: “We are delighted to be able to support Blood Bikes Manchester. As a firm, we are very proud of our strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and our staff take an active lead in how the firm dedicates its time and resources to help charitable organisations and local communities.

“We look forward to working to support Blood Bikes Manchester and promoting the great service they offer over the next twelve months.”

St Ann’s Hospice

St Ann’s Hospice charity is one of the oldest and largest adult hospices outside of London. They support patients from across Greater Manchester and provide excellent care and support to people living with or affected by life-limiting illnesses.

Since only a third of their funding comes from the NHS, they heavily rely on fundraising to keep their doors open to those that need their help the most.

As a part of the Greater Manchester community, Express Solicitors colleagues regularly compete in the Tour de Manc to raise money for the hospice.

This year, in May 2024, Liam Wynne, Damian Bradley, Michael Hardacre and Ellie Turton have all promised to take part in the Tour de Manc.

We wish them the best of luck in their upcoming training!

The Christie Charity

We have supported The Christie Charity – one of the largest hospital charities in the UK – by taking part in the Northenden Boat Race for many years. In August 2023 we raised over £400.

The charity has helped people suffering from many afflictions, as well as their families: from cancer to hereditary diseases. We are honoured to have been able to take part in this event and support The Christie Charitable Fund.

Express Solicitors Supporting Main Sponsor of the Tour de Manc

We don’t just pay lip service to charity and social responsibility, we put the hard yards in and go the extra mile to raise money. It’s in our DNA.

Our dedicated staff teams have also helped to raise thousands of pounds for nationwide charities and local groups, through a variety of sporting events and other activities. Our proudest achievements include:

A 980-mile bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats

A year of ‘dress-down’ days, raising more than £4,000 for over 10 charities

A £5,000 donation and free legal services for the Manchester Bombing Appeal

We’re proud to work with causes supporting vulnerable families, cancer research, mental health, life-changing physical conditions and much more.

Sustainable practices

Another central tenet of Express Solicitors is our ongoing commitment to sustainability. We are always reviewing our strategies to cut the firm’s carbon footprint, by reducing waste, restricting use of natural resources, and using renewable energies.

We espouse sustainability as part of our workplace culture – encouraging all employees to car share or cycle to work. We also believe in giving something back. In 2013, we donated over 1 tonne of old light fittings, and gave the scrap metal value to the Trussell Trust. With sustainable computer programs and eco-conscious staff, we’re doing our bit to make the world a better place.

Looking after Greater Manchester

Through supporting local organisations such as The Booth Centre, The Christie Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, and more, we see the effects of our social responsibility right here at home.

We’re also involved in supporting local youth groups and sports teams. From bake sales to sponsorship, we’ve supported the Whitegate Scouts, Oulton Park Cricket Club, Toxteth Tigers Basketball Programme and even the Northenden Boat Race.

We’re here to help with our unlimited legal advice

That’s right, we offer unlimited legal support. Have a question about claiming? You can speak with us for as long as you like as many times as you like. We’ll let you know your legal rights completely free of charge and with no obligation to make a claim.

Our people

Express Solicitors understand that a culture of Corporate Social Responsibility doesn’t start and end with words on a web page, it has to come from our own people. We take every effort to encourage our staff to actively engage with their community, giving time and energy to important causes.

We carry our work with us though. As lawyers committed to providing justice to individuals throughout our community, we engage in initiatives such as the North West Legal Support Trust to support those who need legal help but can’t necessarily afford it.

What does Corporate Social Responsibility mean in practice?

From bake sales and fancy dress to financial support and legal representation, being socially responsible means more to Express Solicitors than simple lip service.

Over the years we’ve been an enthusiastic supporter of large, nationwide charities, as well as an active member of the Greater Manchester community. While we encourage each of our staff to give back to their community, either on their own or with the company, our mission to enrich the lives of those around us speaks for itself.