Law firm supports community with anniversary grants

Hull-based Neil Hudgell Solicitors will celebrate the milestone by giving away up to £60,000 a year for at least the next two years.

The Neil Hudgell Solicitors Trust will award 15 grants worth up to £1,000 every three months.

Further details of the scheme will be given at the launch at Hull’s Sirius Academy on Tuesday, April 17, but the firm said applicants must be based in Yorkshire, have a turnover of less than £25,000, and be able to demonstrate the impact the funding will have on the community. In particular, funding will be aimed at either grass roots sports, educational projects, and schemes which support the vulnerable and needy.

The company, specialists in compensation claims for personal injury, medical negligence and professional negligence, has already announced two of the first recipients – Freddie’s Friends, a Hull-based charity working with sick and disabled children; and Sirius Academy, where the trust will sponsor a “Legal Eagles” programme for A-level law students.

Managing director Neil Hudgell said: “Our firm’s roots are in our community and in the 15 years since we started, we’ve been grateful for the support we’ve received from local people and the trust they’ve placed in us.

“Over the years we’ve tried to give something back by supporting a number of activities, organisations and events, both locally and nationally.

“Now as part of the celebrations to mark our anniversary we want to expand our support in a more formalised way right across Yorkshire which is why the Neil Hudgell Solicitors Trust has been formed.

“In many neighbourhoods there are people who devote a great deal of time and effort to improving the lives of others in their community but, all too often, these projects struggle or fail to achieve their potential due to lack of resources and funding.

“We hope that funding from the trust will plug that gap and so have a positive impact on the lives of people throughout our region.”

Freddie’s Friends was set up in memory of Freddie Appleyard, who died from a rare brain disease aged just two years and four months.

His parents, Mark and Rachel Appleyard, established the charity to fund specialist equipment, toys and trips for ill and disabled children.