The Quayside-based firm presented a cheque for £427 to students from Hedleys College, which will go towards social enterprise projects and the purchase of specialist iMUSE technology.
It follows a previous donation of £1600, which Bond Dickinson presented to the charity last September.
The Percy Hedley Foundation currently offers iMUSE – Interactive Multi-Sensory Environments – technology to disabled people at their day service in North Shields, but the charity hopes to bring it to more people in the community with the acquisition of portable equipment.
iMUSE technology improves the quality of life for children and adults with physical disabilities and profound and multiple learning difficulties using music and visuals.
Bond Dickinson’s donation will bring the Foundation’s plans a step closer and the law firm’s support of the charity doesn’t stop there.
Earlier this year, they donated 26 Easter eggs to the Hedleys College residential unit in Jesmond and they have also sponsored three of this year’s College Awards with another donation of £150.
Staff at the law firm, which employs over 500 people in the North East, raised money by holding raffles, dress down days and bake offs.
Furthermore, the firm has also supported work placements and supported students doing a Toolkit for employers, which involves looking at documents, such job specifications and adverts to make them easy to read.
Asmah Baig, Community Relations Programme Manager at Bond Dickinson, presented the cheque to students recently and explained why the firm is keen to continue – and develop – their support for the Foundation.
“A while ago we asked staff who they wanted to support through our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme and they decided on Percy Hedley after reading and hearing about their work,” Asmah said.
“We wanted to work with a charity that does serious things and really makes a difference and Percy Hedley certainly does this.
“I would like us to get even more involved with Percy Hedley and hopefully we will be able to provide valuable work experience opportunities in the future.
“I think we could learn a lot from the students. They are a joy to be around.”
Christine Shanks, Hedleys Employability Project Manager, said: “I’m amazed at the amount of support Bond Dickinson has given us. Our relationship has developed over the years and Asmah goes above and beyond in her role as Community Relations Programme Manager.
“She is passionate about bringing equality to life and fairness for all, which supports staff to be disability aware and confident.
“She makes it possible for students to see people working in a variety of different roles and this gives them a great insight to the working environment. It also gives staff a great opportunity to see the ability of disabled people.
“We would like to thank Asmah and everyone at Bond Dickinson for their wonderful support.”