Social Mobility Awareness Day 2023 #Speakmore

Would you believe we are nearly ready to welcome the second half of 2023? I don't know where the last 6 months have gone - it feels like it's gone in the blink of an eye. I mean, they do say time flies when you're having fun, so I must have been enjoying what I've been up to each day. Lucky old me ey!

So, what have I been up to that has been so fun? I've been reflecting this week, and pulling some slides together for our Exec team to show them what great work the teams have produced this year, and it also just so happens to be Thursday 15th June...What's the significance of that date I hear you shout?! For those that don't know (the title of this article may have given it away!) it's Social Mobility Awareness Day 2023, and this year's theme is #speakmore . So much of the amazing work we've done has social mobility at its heart, so what a perfect day to share an update with you all....

*To learn more about Social Mobility Awareness Day, you can check them out on the link above. As a relatively new awareness day, it's about getting the word out there and having the conversation heard - what are our stories, and how do we contribute towards fair outcomes and equal opportunities being available to everyone?

Now, I could bore you and share my story, but that's not too exciting - as a white, duel nationality cisgendered woman, the first generation of her family to go into higher education, I recognise my privilege every single day, and feel so proud to work for Optima Legal who have supported and shared my visions to become a champion for change. How have they done this? Well, it's all early days, and there are lots more great initiatives to come, but keep reading to see what awesome things we've been working on over the first half of this year...

First up, we've partnered with Simon on the Streets as part of their 5 for 5 campaign. As a conveyancer helping people with their housing transactions, we felt it was only right to also support those who don't have secure housing. Natalie Clark is their amazing CEO, give her and the Charity a follow to find out more, and see how you can get involved.

To further this relationship, lots of the team and some of my personal network joined me as I hosted our first fundraising event, raising just shy of ￡1000. Huge thanks to everyone who supported this event, it was such a wonderful way to raise money whilst also having fun. Some excellent people donated to our raffle, so a huge shout-out and thank you to Liaquot Ali Matthew Cooper Megan Ward and the many others I am unable to tag on this network.

Following the event, Andy and Nat presented Shannon Howard and I with the customary giant cheque, at one of Simon on the Streets regular networking events. It was a fab evening, and you can find out details of future events by following them on their Socials and Eventbrite.

*Thanks to Alex Blakeborough - Creative Development Finance, Equity and Bridging for the above photo.

The money raised is a really meaningful amount that could fund 10 days of 121 support to someone who is homeless, 20 applications for ID for people with no access to identification documents, or 400 hot drinks to those who are homeless or vulnerably housed on their weekly soup run. If anyone would like to get involved and fundraise or donate, Andy Sharpe is the person to reach out to.

We've also partnered with the incredible Latch (Leeds Action to Create Homes) Ltd . Latch is a unique voluntary sector organisation based in Chapeltown, Leeds providing supported housing to people at risk of homelessness or in housing need. Latch refurbishes empty properties, transforming them into homes and providing opportunities for unemployed volunteers to gain skills and experience. By partnering with Latch, we get to use our specialist skills to provide pro bono legal work, saving them valuable money they can instead use to support their service users.

Latch recently held an 'open house' event, @Richardfyfe and I went along to check out the skilled work that has contributed to the renovation of one of their homes. The work is still in progress, and stunning original features in the traditional Leeds back to back home have been retained. It was also a chance to catch up with Ashe Russell , who I've worked with before, many moons ago at StepChange Debt Charity Leeds really is a very small world! Ashe Russell was actually fundamental to our relationship with Latch, as when that random lady (me!) called them up saying "I've got a plan, who can I chat to?" he put me in touch with the very passionate CEO @Jameshartley.

The passion and commitment of CEO @JamesHartley encouraged us to further deepen this relationship, with the creation of the 'Optima Legal Education Fund'. We'll be making regular payments to this fund, and support workers at Latch will be able to draw from it to support young people in Latch housing with education related costs. We'll kick it off later this month, and are treating all young people in Latch housing to a new book.

The National Literary Trust, and research conducted for World Book Day tells us that more than half a million, or 1 in 15 children in the UK do not own a book, with 16.4% (or 1 in 6) of adults in England, having literacy levels at or below Level 1, which is considered to be 'very poor’. The ‘Optima Education Grant for Young People’ is a way we can challenge this disadvantage and support education and social mobility, using our privilege and power for social good.?

Whilst we're talking social mobility, I must also mention the amazing students from New College, Bradford. The College is part of The New Collaborative Learning Trust, with 7 learning institutions in the north of England.

Specifically set up just over 4 years ago to tackle social mobility, and now having over 1400 students, three quarters of students live in areas with low levels of to higher education and nearly half are in receipt of bursary funding. This is compounded by being located within a local authority ranked second worst for social mobility in the country. We share their beliefs, and want to make a significant difference to the lives of young people and ultimately make a positive contribution to social mobility, and so this year, we kicked off our relationship with them, supported by Jim Robinson and his incredible team.

Working with the team at New College, we together designed a trailblazing work placement programme for 30 students, which kicked off in March 2023. The programme consisted of a variety of visits and sessions aimed at increasing knowledge of working within the Legal sector, along with other key professional skills contributing to a successful career in Law. You can see our first session above, with Kayleigh, Liaquot Ali and Davina Jarvis doing their thang!

Following the three month placement, on May 25th our graduates joined us for their graduation ceremony in Leeds. As part of this event, some of the graduates stood up to speak to us about their experience, and I was blown away by their presentation skills, their vocabulary, their praise for the programme and their incredible bravery. It made me extremely proud to work with such talented young people, and to support them as they move forwards on their journey into further education.

When I look back over the last few months, it makes me so very thankful, and so very proud. Why am I thankful? Well, firstly, for my privilege, but also, to Optima Legal for supporting me with these initiatives. Our Executive team have been fully engaged and involved with these projects, and I've been encouraged and inspired by them every day.

From Tom Trevorrow and David Morrissey joining us in Leeds at the graduation event, to Duncan Wadsworth introducing students to networking, Alison McGuigan for her support in approving costs and being engaged with these initiatives, and of course not forgetting Davina Jarvis for her enthusiasm and dedication, we are all Legal professionals from different backgrounds and with different journeys, we are working together for change, and it rocks my world.

My saving comment is a very special mention to Lucy Ellacott for her ongoing support, mentorship, encouragement and kindness. I've only been with Optima since Jan 2022, and within my first few months had a really difficult time following the loss of my Auntie and Grandmother. Lucy Ellacott was my cheerleader, and without her unwavering support and compassion, combined with sensible practicality, none of this would have been possible.

So, after all of this, what next? Why stop here? Well, we're not. The next few months are equally exciting.

The next area of focus is career development for our teams. I'm working with our internal people to get our Apprenticeships cohorts up and running, and in September of this year, we will welcome up to 7 of our internal team into Legal Apprenticeships. Interviews kick off in a few weeks, and I can't wait to see people showcase their skills.

There are also some exciting plans in the pipeline for some networking groups, I'm thinking...Women in Law & Embracing Individuality might be topics that you see again at some point in the future, before of course, cohort 2 of our school placement programme getting ready for kick off later this year.

Thanks to everyone who read this far - Please do reach out if you'd like to chat, or if I can hook you up with any of my fantastic contacts - the more we all work together and #speakmore , the more awareness and action we can inspire.