Law firm’s long term commitment to communities in Leeds

Law firm Ward Hadaway has invested a substantial donation into Leeds Community Foundation’s The Leeds Fund to help support local communities in the city, now and into the future.

The Leeds Fund was launched by Leeds Community Foundation in 2016 and has distributed nearly £3 million to Community Organisations, supporting thousands of people across the city, providing grants to organisations that tackle social issues and inequalities which may otherwise go unaddressed.

With a quarter of people in Leeds living in poverty, The Leeds Fund provides vital grants to support the long-term sustainability and survival of Community Organisations so they can be in the best shape possible to do what they do best – help people day in and day out.

Emma Digby, Leeds Executive Partner at Ward Hadaway said: “Like many firms with a presence in Leeds, we are committed to giving back through staff fundraising or other related activity. But we wanted to do even more and to understand how as an organisation we could make a real, tangible difference, enabling communities to thrive in Leeds and be given every opportunity to do so.”

Christina Kettlewell, a Director at Ward Hadaway said: “As Members of Leeds Community Foundation, we wanted to understand what more we could do as an organisation to play our part. We were inspired by the work of the Foundation and the role of The Leeds Fund, particularly, after hearing firsthand from those individuals that had been directly supported – what it means to them and the enormous impact it has on their lives. The Leeds Fund allows us to invest through its immediate impact pot, and into the future via endowment.”

Kirsty McKinnon, Head of Relationships at Leeds Community Foundation said: “A huge thank you to the team at Ward Hadaway, who understand the vital role of The Leeds Fund in ensuring local people continue to be supported in the long term. Investing in The Leeds Fund is a direct, well-established, and compelling way to improve the lives of thousands of people.

Every donation helps to shape a brighter future and provide a platform for communities to thrive. We need more support from businesses like Ward Hadaway, who want to make a real difference and invest back into the community.”