Our Supporters:
Hill Dickinson

Hill Dickinson is a commercial law firm delivering advice and strategic guidance to businesses, organisations and individuals internationally. We caught up with Esther Venning, Health Commercial Partner & Head of Leeds Office, about their choice to give back to local communities through Leeds Community Foundation.

How have you been involved with Leeds Community Foundation?

Our involvement came about, as often happens, as a result of two serendipitously linked events. Back in 2020, I was volunteering as a mentor with Lean in Leeds, a network that works to improve the quality of life and opportunities for women and girls. One of my mentees at that time worked for Leeds Community Foundation and I subsequently introduced her to a good friend of mine, Hannah Corne – who, in turn, ended up working for Leeds Community Foundation and squared the circle by inviting me to sign Hill Dickinson Leeds up as a member.

Becoming a member was an easy decision for us: the work that Leeds Community Foundation undertakes to drive positive change and create meaningful social impact in and around the Leeds City region resonates not only with my own desire to actively support social change but with our values as a firm.

How important is social value to you?

Understanding and adding social value is something we can all choose to engage with, as individuals and as a business. As an individual, in addition to supporting Leeds Community Foundation, I’m also a trustee and volunteer board member for Basis Yorkshire, a charity that works across the region to end stigma and help safeguard vulnerable groups, including women, sex workers and young people experiencing sexual abuse and exploitation. As a firm, we continually make decisions and set ourselves targets to improve our sustainability, be a responsible business and contribute to our local community in a measurable and meaningful way. Our move in January this year to 11 Wellington Place, one of the most sustainable office developments in Yorkshire, was a significant step for us, signalling our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and creating an environment for our people and clients that actively supports their wellbeing.

Why do you choose to invest in communities through The Leeds Fund?

The Leeds Fund supports the vital services of hundreds of organisations that exist to tackle social inequality in the region, so it’s a great channel for firms like ours to direct support into the local community wherever it’s needed most. We are proud to know that our support helps the Fund reach so many grassroots organisations with grants that positively impact people’s lives, including access to skills, education, health, culture and employment.

What community issues are important to you?

Leeds, like most major cities, is growing at pace and attracting huge investment. But alongside that success are areas of huge deprivation and groups of people who remain excluded and disadvantaged. For example, Leeds is facing a housing crisis with growing numbers of people facing homelessness. As a society, it’s our duty not to look away, rather we need to work together as a community to directly tackle those areas of inequality and help effect change. We also recognise that, as a commercial law firm, we’re not the experts in knowing how best to tackle these issues or which community issues to prioritise. That’s why we value Leeds Community Foundation’s insight and guidance on how we can help.

Have you got any advice for people who are looking to support Leeds Community Foundation?

I’d say do it! Absolutely no hesitation there. It’s a source of incredible pride to our Hill Dickinson Leeds team that by supporting Leeds Community Foundation, we’re helping so many worthy causes right across the region, particularly those that often struggle otherwise to be seen. The team at Leeds Community Foundation do a brilliant job of identifying those organisations and ensuring that funds are directed their way. And the more the business community supports Leeds Community Foundation the greater the impact they can achieve across the city.

Learn more about how you can support Leeds Community Foundation here.