Clifford Chance

Duchess of Cambridge attends charity forum on challenges children face today hosted by Clifford Chance

Today (Wednesday 20 November) Clifford Chance was delighted to host charity partner Place2Be's Forum attended by its Royal Patron HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.

Clifford Chance's partnership with children's mental health charity, Place2Be, started over 10 years ago and today the Firm provides free legal, technical and strategic support to the charity. This includes advice on complex, contractual, data protection, corporate, employment, real estate and other issues. Additionally, Clifford Chance delivers regular professional training to Place2Be staff on matters such as IT and 'business writing' skills; gives Place2Be regular use of its Canary Wharf meeting rooms and conference facilities; and encourages its business services employees to use their professional skills to assist the charity.

Place2Be provides integrated school-based mental health and emotional support services, supporting 75,000 children in over 200 schools across some of the most deprived areas of the UK. At today's event the charity brought together health and education experts, including Professors Stephen Scott and Tanya Byron, to address key challenges facing today’s children, and how we can help them to tackle these and grow up resilient. Pertinent topics covered included: cyberbullying; self-harm; special educational needs of children today; preventing addiction; the need for parents to bring up strong, well-adjusted children; and how we can raise aspirations, access and achievement.

Clifford Chance Partner, Adrian Levy, who leads the firm's pro bono relationship with Place2Be and is a trustee on its board said: "We are very proud to partner with Place2Be and to have supported its development to a charity that, each year, reaches and changes the lives of thousands of schoolchildren across the UK."

"Clifford Chance is committed to playing its part in the community and providing comprehensive support to our pro-bono partners.  During the past ten years our relationship with Place2Be has become a template for this type of partnering."

Benita Refson, OBE, Chief Executive of Place2Be, said,

“It was both a huge honour and pleasure to welcome The Duchess to our Forum today at the offices of Clifford Chance. We truly value her shared passion and commitment to supporting children’s mental health. Life can be tough for children for all sorts of reasons – from entrenched issues such as neglect and abuse, through to facing family breakdown and loss – and it’s critical that children have someone to turn to, who will listen.

“The main role of teachers is to educate children and help them achieve their full potential. However, their dedication extends beyond purely academic results to the overall wellbeing and mental health of their pupils and their families, as is clear from their presence at the Forum today.

“Tough topics were covered today; but it was hugely inspiring and encouraging seeing experts from across education and mental health uniting in their passion to tackle problems affecting children, and a shared vision of hope and prosperity for our future generation – translating the potential for collaboration into a reality holds the key to truly meeting children’s often multiple and challenging needs and giving them back the childhood they deserve. “

Clifford Chance is committed to being a responsible member of the global community in which it operates. The Firm has established a Corporate Responsibility strategy that reflects where it has greatest impact: People, Community and Environment. Clifford Chance recognises that community investment is not only about financial giving but should also include the commitment of its time and expertise. In 2012/13 lawyers and business services staff carried out nearly 60,000 hours of pro bono and community work, worth £19.2 million.  The Firm also gave £1 million in donations and sponsorship. The Clifford Chance Foundation is the focal point for the Firm's charity fundraising, pro bono work and volunteering which focuses on Firm-wide but locally driven schemes that widen access to justice, finance or education. The Firm is a participant in the UN Global Compact.