The Cambridge office of Irwin Mitchell raised over £7,700 for Rowan as part of the firm’s Charity of the Year programme in 2019 and the second consecutive year Rowan had been nominated.
Rowan is a charity and arts centre that provides a creative environment for people with learning disabilities, using art as a tool to reduce social exclusion.
The charity provides a safe, creative and welcoming environment through studios based around materials including wood and ceramics and also by running music and performance workshops.
The funds raised by Irwin Mitchell will help the charity provide art materials, gain access to tutors and also sponsor students so they can attend the site.
The impact of Rowan’s work in the community is demonstrated by the consecutive years they have been nominated for Charity of the Year status by the law firm’s Cambridge office staff.
The Charity of the Year initiative is part of the work of the Irwin Mitchell Charities Foundation (IMCF), an independent charity founded in 1997, which has raised almost £2.5 million for charities in the UK and abroad.
Colleagues across the firm’s 14 regional offices vote to select a good cause, which they can support through voluntary work and fundraising events. This year they raised almost £420,000 via the Charity of the Year, dwarfing the 2018 and 2017 totals of £284,000 and £189,000 respectively.
Hetti Wood, marketing manager at Rowan, said: “We have been blown away by Irwin Mitchell’s support over the last two years. They fundraised again in 2019 with just as much commitment and passion. The belief shown in Rowan really speaks volumes about the importance of our work in the local community, and the money allows that vital work to continue.
"The money raised will support our student artists’ bursary scheme by allowing for subsidised costs, as otherwise some of our artists would be unable to attend. Irwin Mitchell’s donation allows our young artists to thrive in a safe community, amongst peers who support each other.”
Neil Whiteley, regional managing partner at Irwin Mitchell’s Cambridge office, said: “The Charity of the Year initiative is a fantastic opportunity for our colleagues to really make a difference in the local area, which as a firm is something we have always been passionate about doing.
"We are hugely proud of the relationship we have developed with Rowan over the last two years and the progress we can see because of it. We look forward to seeing the services that Rowan continue to provide in the future.”