Pictured above: The DLA decorating team: Back row -
Adam Johnson, Matt Davies, Nigel Cooke, Nick Hinton, Chris
Rawstron, Martin Holcombe of Birmingham Settlement, Amanda
Alldrick, Noel Haywood. Front row - Emily Avis, Paula Duncan,
Deborah Brown, Ben Horsley, Russell Orme, Sue Limb, Priti
Bansel.
A team from DLA Piper has brightened up the lives of some of
Birmingham's most needy youngsters.
The team, from the corporate finance department, spent a day at
Birmingham Settlement's Centre for the Aston Family, painting the
common parts of the complex - corridors, stairwells, meeting rooms
and the like.
"With a few less deals around at the moment we thought we should
put the time to good use," said Russell Orme, head of the corporate
group at the law firm's Birmingham office.
"The aim was to brighten up the Centre and to create a blank
canvas on which they can put a few of the children's pictures,
murals and so on. naturally, everyone got a bit messy, but it was a
lot of fun and for a very worthwhile cause."
The centre, one of DLA Piper's chosen charities, acts as a
one-stop shop for families living in poverty.
Many are affected by unemployment and debt.
"The Centre for the Aston Family is an important community hub
providing services to older people, families, children and
unemployed in one of the most deprived areas in Birmingham" said
Martin Holcombe, chief executive of Birmingham Settlement.
"We are very grateful to DLA Piper - it was a tremendous effort.
Hopefully it will inspire the children to try their hands at
art."