Simon Wagstaff

The Allen & Overy Foundation is funded by contributions from A&O partners worldwide and is managed locally by the Belfast grants committee.

To qualify for support, charities must specialise in promoting access to justice, or support and develop education or employment projects across Northern Ireland.

The grants committee this year received 60 applications, the highest number to date. Successful organisations, including the charity Extern and Ulster University, will receive a share of £88,479 to support their work.

Simon Wagstaff, associate director in technology services at A&O Belfast and chair of the Belfast grants committee, said: “The successful charities all have a passion for delivering projects in the fields of justice, education, and employment. These areas reflect our core values as a business, and we recognise the importance of providing vital funding to those who need it most across the community and charity sector.

“As well as offering financial assistance to the charities, we will be working with them to identify reciprocal volunteering and pro bono opportunities for our 700+ employees in Belfast. This is an important aspect of our commitment and continued investment as a responsible business.”

Extern, which works to transform lives and create safer communities, made a successful bid for funding and received £5,000 towards mentoring and employability support for young people with multiple and complex barriers to participation in the workforce.

Caroline Rutherford, programme manager for young people and families at Extern, said: “Extern’s Moving Forward, Moving On project is delighted with the donation from the Allen & Overy Foundation which will enhance our work with local young people, supporting them to progress into education, employment and further education and training.

“With Allen & Overy’s support we will offer them the best opportunity to make a successful start in the world.”

Ulster University received £12,000 which will provide two LLM justice scholarships, enabling students to provide pro bono legal support.

Professor Paul Bartholomew, vice-chancellor at Ulster University, said: “Since 2015 the Allen & Overy Access to Justice Scholarships have enabled over 20 students to reduce other paid work to dedicate more time to develop their practice in the Ulster Law Clinic and Social Justice Hub advising and representing clients, helping negotiate settlements, assisting with appeals, delivering free training to community groups to enable them to provide information to service users, and also mentoring Undergraduate students who provide family law support.

“This ongoing support constitutes a powerful recognition that the training of graduate law students in social justice is important and worthwhile. We are immensely grateful to the Allen & Overy Foundation for driving positive social change, enabling a more diverse and inclusive pipeline of talent in Northern Ireland, and purposefully building sustainable futures for all.”