Fieldings Porter in the Community

Fieldings Porter Solicitors has long been involved in its community; its work, social and recreational sides. Allied with the charity law advice and assistance we provide, in recent years we have tried to make the most of these combinations.

Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies

Fieldings Porter has supported the local community throughout the decades through various programmes and sponsorships. During 2017, 2018 and 2019 Fieldings Porter has sponsored local amateur theatre group Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies. There is also agreement in place for sponsorship in 2020.  The group, known as BATS, brings together 34 different amateur groups from Bolton and the surrounding areas which perform in the arts in some way.

The member groups of BATS are an eclectic mix of drama, choir, orchestra and musical theatre groups who perform around the area. BATS helps with the co-ordination of Bolton’s plethora of performing groups to ensure there is always something for the people of Bolton to enjoy.

BATS also provides a collective voice for the member societies in discussions over performing space in the town, advertising power, interaction with the professional theatres, mutual assistance between societies and cross promotion of every production by the member societies. Each of those productions is also reviewed by BATS ahead of an annual awards dinner, which is the highlight of the social calendar for its member societies. Many hours of hard work and dedication along with money goes into putting on every production and it is only right that this effort is recognised by the local community and its businesses. There are many highly talented people in Bolton and several BATS members have gone on to great things in professional theatres.

During the 2018/19 season BATS members have performed over 70 productions and every one has been reviewed. The annual awards night this year is on 30^th August 2019 at the Holiday Inn, Bolton when Bolton’s finest will don their best attire to find out who has been nominated for and won the various trophies.

Fieldings Porter is proud to sponsor BATS in its work for a third year running to help facilitate the awards event and wishes each and every potential winner the very best of luck for the night – break a leg!

Visit the BATS website for a full list of member societies and what’s on in the area. The awards themselves will be covered by the Bolton News.

@BoltonAmateurTheatre

www.facebook.com/BoltonAmateurTheatre/

www.batsbolton.co.uk

The Good Deeds Trust

In August 2017 Fieldings Porter has committed to purchasing 100 Guardian Angel Devices to be given free of charge to those suffering with Dementia or Alzheimer’s in the Bolton area. 

Developed by the Good Deeds Trust, the Guardian Angel Devices are worn by Dementia sufferers to provide the contact information of their designated emergency contact. They come in the form of a wristband, badge, keyring or bag/zip tag and are pre-programmed with the first name of the person with dementia and the telephone number of their designated emergency contact, which could be their carer, next of kin, or any other person whom they trust.

For more information see our news item here.

Bolton Lads and Girls Club

We have been supporters of and provided legal advice and assistance to the club for many years and are pleased to be able to show our patronage on our website. We continue to be involved with the club, most recently our 5-a-side team reached the semi-final of the competition held at their Hacken Lane facility.

Age UK Bolton

For many years now Fieldings Porter has been a member of Age UK Bolton’s Legal Advice Service. Every two months one of our experienced solicitors attends Age UK Bolton at The Square, 53-55 Victoria Square, Bolton to offer free and confidential advice on all legal matters affecting older people. Newly qualified solicitor Claire Richardson who attended the most recent advice clinic said “The majority of enquiries relate to information and advice about making a Will or Lasting Power of Attorney but we have also advised on a range of other legal issues including neighbour and land disputes”. The Legal Advice Service allows us to offer advice and assistance to vulnerable people who may not otherwise have access to that information and is a great way to build relationships in the local community.  

For details of the next Legal Advice Clinic or if you would like to arrange an appointment please contact Age UK Bolton http://www.ageuk.org.uk/bolton/

Caritas Bolton

Fieldings Porter’s Family Department operates  a monthly pro bono drop in clinic for the residents of a local mother and baby unit run  by Caritas Bolton to offer advice on a range of family law  issues. This reinforces the link with Caritas which the firm has had for many years and provides access to initial  family law advice for the residents in areas where often no public funding (legal aid) is available.

Manchester University Legal Advice Centre and vacation scheme

As part of Fieldings Porter's work in the community and as part of our acknowledged role in social responsibility, Jane Nicholls, Emma Savage, Chloe Ward, Pamela Donnellan, Nicole Thornley and Michelle Waite have all participated in Manchester University’s Legal Advice vacation scheme and continue to do so.  They have all supervised a pair of students interviewing clients in their respective areas of law, covering family, crime, civil disputes and housing issues. Following the consultations our solicitors sign off letters of advice to each of the clients shortly after the meetings. The clients were all seen at the Civil Justice Centre in Manchester where the Manchester University's Legal Advice Centre has a project called “Manchester Free Legal Help”. We are pleased to have been involved in this partnership for many months since early 2014 with others from our team assisting too and we provide our services free of charge or pro bono and wish the venture every success.

Canon Slade Internship Scheme and Annual Careers Convention

Since 2011 Fieldings Porter has been running a mini-internship scheme with pupils from Canon Slade Sixth Form in Bolton. The scheme offers up to two pupils the opportunity to come to the firm for two weeks over the summer holidays. During this time the pupils usually spend time with our Family, Criminal and Commercial teams as well as, on occasion, our Wills & Probate team. They are set ‘tasks’ in each department and are provided with a reference at the end of their internship. This can be used for university applications, obtaining further work experience etc.

Pupils apply formally by way of CV and covering letter (through the school) and are then interviewed by a member of our firm and a member of staff from the school.

What some of our previous interns have said:

“I am very grateful for the opportunity and have learnt a great deal about the legal profession and working in a legal environment. It has been an experience that I have thoroughly enjoyed.” (2015)

“I feel like I have gained a lot from the experience”. (2014)

Canon Slade Careers Convention – this is for years 9 to sixth form (year 13) and held annually in November. We have had a presence there for 5 years now, latterly on 24 November 2016. 2017's event is on 22 November. Pamela Donnellan, as a former pupil and deputy head girl, has been the firm’s attendee and says “It’s always a pleasure to meet prospective local law students and their family. I think the event is a good way of informing them about life as a solicitor and a career in law.”

Fieldings Porter Walk to Work September 2011

In essence Craig Morris one of the Partners and his colleague Clive Monaghan began the walk in Gretna on Monday 12th September and arrived at our office here in Silverwell Street on Friday 23rd September. The route in part followed the Settle to Carlisle railway line through the Yorkshire Dales and was estimated at just over 140 miles from start to finish.

Walk Itinerary

Mon 12th Sept   Gretna to Carlisle                        10.86 miles

Tue 13th            Carlisle to Armathwaite                9.43 miles                 

We raised just over £5,000 . The amount was divided and given to the Bolton Hospice, Bolton Crossroads, Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, Birtenshaw School and St Luke’s Church Drop in Centre.