In December 2019, for the 2nd year running, we ran our "12 Days of Capsticks' Christmas." 

This was, in effect, a simple umbrella label for a massive series of activities undertaken for the benefit of charitable causes across all of our offices  nationwide—the "12 days" representing activity taking place over separate days leading up to Christmas. 

The efforts for various charitable causes across the firm’s offices was amazing and a full list of these is below. 

What was most astonishing—and gives me a lot of hope for 2020—was that all of these activities were entirely "employee-led". There was no corporate gimmicks, no cynical marketing, just the spontaneous kindness and goodwill of Capsticks' paralegals, partners, trainees, lawyers, support staff...everyone. It's a testament to the Firm that it has agreed to "match-fund" all of the monies raised for various charities. 

I am very lucky in my role as Head of CSR to get copied in to dozens of emails that essentially involve very busy people across the Firm taking time out of their very busy lives to help others in their local community and do so, basically, for no other reason other than because it’s a kind thing to do. It’s profoundly uplifting. 

In very brief summary, the 12 Days of Capsticks Christmas activity included:

In Chorley:

• the smallest office with the biggest heart – they pulled together a huge donation of food for the Living Waters Church Foodbank

In Leeds:

• a brilliantly creative idea – the Leeds Office silent auction saw £420 raised for Leeds Mind
• £100s worth of gifts were donated and be given out to local children in need in the community through the Salvation Army
• a collection and delivery of a massive haul of supplies for North and West Leeds Foodbank
• an array of fetching Christmas Jumpers were worn to raise funds for Save the Children

In Birmingham:

• for its Toy Appeal, two boxes of toys delivered to Birmingham Children’s Hospital tomorrow
• around £120 has so far been raised through a bake sale and Christmas Jumper Friday for St Basil's Homeless charity Christmas appeal and 8 boxes worth of supplies have been donated

In Winchester:

• over £100 was raised through an office-wide quiz in aid of Trinity Homeless charity
• further sums were raised through a quite brilliant Christmas jumper competition where reputations and fire safety was risked with some bold jumper choices

In London:

• the Firm's (now traditional) Trainee parade raised over £1,000 for the Merton Homelessness project. Donate here
• employees collected and delivered 73.5 kg of food/supplies to Wimbledon foodbank
• funds for the Merton Homelessness project through the well-known Christmas activity—high-intensity spin classes! 
• our Wimbledon-based firm choir supported the Wimbledon Guild in delivering a carol concert
• a further £100 was raised for Merton Homelessness Project through doughnuts sold in celebration of Chanukah.  

With a wide range of projects and fundraising activity taking place throughout the year, CSR at Capsticks in 2020 is looking as busy and exciting as ever...

We believe we have a responsibility to contribute to our community.