Pupils at Oasis Academy Woodview, an inclusive academy for four to eleven year olds in Birmingham, have worked with volunteers from DWF to complete a number of educational projects. The projects were designed to ensure the children can get the most from their learning and included building two specially designated reading areas, clearing and organising an overgrown space, constructing and painting a mini shelter and painting three benches for the pupils to make use of during break-times. DWF's Birmingham office also donated various educational books to the school.
The group of around 20 people from DWF's Birmingham office, headed by solicitor Stephanie Sandford-Smith, took part in a number of events, initiatives and activities to support the local community as part of Business in the Community's efforts to work with likeminded businesses to create community engagement, employment, diversity and a circular economy.
In the last six months DWF Birmingham has also worked with Arena Academy in Perry Bar (formerly Perry Beeches Academy) to deliver DWF's award-winning community education programme 5 STAR Futures. This programme aims to advance social mobility by equipping young people from areas of social disadvantage to develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the workplace, and is run entirely by DWF volunteers. The office has also been involved in an ongoing mentoring programme with University of Wolverhampton and has ongoing fundraising activities in the office for the DWF Foundation, a charity launched in 2015 to provide grants, resources and support to registered charities. It has a particular focus on supporting homelessness, education, employability and health & wellbeing initiatives.
Jon Stevens, Executive Partner of DWF Birmingham, said: "We're really pleased to continue to make a difference within the community, to both help further children's education and future prospects, as well as contribute to the many worthwhile causes around Birmingham. We have a number of committed and kind-hearted volunteers who inspire many throughout the rest of the business and the region."
Samuel Brown, a teacher at Oasis Academy Woodview who helped to coordinate the volunteering, added: "The school would like to say a huge thank you to DWF for the team's hard work and dedication. The environment is looking even more child-friendly and the structures they have built will remain a fixture that the children will love! The volunteers were all a credit to the business with their professionalism, enthusiasm and willingness to make a positive change to our school."
With the city being home to the largest financial and professional services sector in the UK outside of London, DWF Birmingham is a full service law firm with real strengths in insurance and real estate.
