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Meet the global law firm that’s raised over €250k for an Irish children’s charity
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“Eversheds Sutherland are extremely proud to have Barretstown as our corporate charity partner for almost 20 years.”
Ireland’s largest and most established global law firm, Eversheds Sutherland recently invited Team IMAGE to join them on a Helping Hands Day at Barretstown in Co Kildare. It was lashing rain, in true Irish summer style, but we had a great time planting trees on the estate alongside employees from Eversheds Sutherland – working together to support a cause very dear to all of our hearts.
Barretstown is a wonderful charity that provides specially designed camps and programmes for children, and their families, living with a serious illness – supported behind the scenes by 24-hour on-site medical and nursing care. They are Ireland’s largest provider of medically endorsed therapeutic camps and programmes and a leader in the psychosocial care space, serving children from Ireland, the UK and throughout Europe.
“Our mission is to help as many seriously ill children as possible to rebuild confidence, emotional well-being and independence after the trauma of a childhood illness,” says Dee Ahearn, CEO at Barretstown. “The services we provide are now a strategic part of national health policy and align to the objectives of the National Cancer Strategy to provide for the unmet psychosocial needs of children.”
Barretstown is doing amazing things both on and off their estate and while we were lucky enough to help for a day, our co-planters at Eversheds Sutherland have just marked their 17th year of partnership with Barretstown.
“We are extremely proud to have Barretstown as our corporate charity partner for almost 20 years,” says Alan Connell, Managing Partner and Head of Tax at Eversheds Sutherland. “We began our partnership with Barretstown in 2007, reflecting our purpose and focus as part of a global organisation supporting our local communities. That partnership has gone from strength to strength, and the need for the services provided by Barretstown to people across Ireland, the UK and Europe has never been greater – with higher rates of serious illness diagnosis and, thankfully, improved survival rates among children who face the long road to recovery through treatment.
“Barretstown provided services to 17,676 people in 2023, a 23% increase on the previous year, and have plans to increase this to over 20,000 this year through residential programmes at Barretstown and outreach programmes in hospitals and schools throughout Ireland and the UK.”
“Our firm has raised over €250,000 for Barretstown, meaning we have funded 250 days of camp within the facility – something we at Eversheds Sutherland are immensely proud of."
Eversheds Sutherland launched their partnership with a €25,000 donation to Barretstown, a drop in the pond compared to the huge funds they’ve raised for the charity since. Over the years, this partnership continues to grow as Eversheds Sutherland show their support through active participation in the governance of the charity, volunteering, further donations, event sponsorships and free legal advice.
“Our firm has raised over €250,000 for Barretstown, meaning we have funded 250 days of camp within the facility – something we at Eversheds Sutherland are immensely proud of,” said Connell. “We have been proud supporters of their ongoing fundraising activities, having sponsored their Gala Ball events in 2014, 2017 and 2019, and their Sports Day events from 2011 to 2017. The funds raised from these types of events are crucial for continuing the camp’s mission of providing free, medically supported programs to children and their families.
“The facilities at Barretstown are part of what makes it such a special place and the Eversheds Sutherland team have also helped to support the development of some of those facilities – from planting trees to donating orchards to sponsoring the maze on its grounds in Co Kildare. In keeping with our values, we offer a unique opportunity for people in our firm to take part in volunteer days with Barretstown. Our Head of Litigation, Pamela O’Neill, also sits on the charity’s Risk & Governance Committee, which is such an important area of focus for all charities. We also provide support through pro bono legal and tax advisory services.”
Eversheds Sutherland offer their staff the chance to take part in the Barretstown Helping Hands days throughout the year. “It gives our staff an opportunity to be directly involved with our charity partner and to understand why the partnership is so important to our firm,” explains Connell.
Eversheds Sutherland are also a partner of Host in Ireland, a global initiative created to increase awareness for how and why digital infrastructure coming from Ireland – with global and Irish companies – plays a unique role around the world. As part of Host in Ireland’s “DCs for Bees” initiative, to help save Ireland’s declining bee population, the law firm committed to planting 40 orchards at the Barretstown base in Co Kildare, which will, once matured, offer the children and their families the chance to enjoy the trees and participate in fruit picking activities. These trees will contribute to pollinator populations as they provide habitat and act as a food source.
“Staff engagement levels have been fantastic; seeing the Eversheds Sutherland team give their time to volunteer and take part in Barretstown events helps to strengthen the ongoing relationship,” says Ahearn. “The sponsorship of the numerous Barretstown Galas over the years has also been hugely successful as these are vital, flagship fundraisers for us. It has also been a great opportunity for the Eversheds Sutherland team to attend and feel part of these magnificent events to celebrate our success and the amazing partnerships that make this possible.”
Help support Barretstown
In 2023, Barretstown marked the milestone of serving over 100,000 campers and is projected to support over 250,000 by the end of the decade. In advance of celebrating its 30th-anniversary Barretstown commissioned a report which estimated the social value of the impact of its services over the last three decades at over €1.9 billion. To mark this milestone, they are holding the Barretstown 30th Anniversary Gala Event to help raise funds this September.
Eversheds Sutherland have recently been confirmed as the headline sponsor for the gala. Speaking on the partnership, Alan Connell says, “We are immensely proud to have supported Barretstown as our corporate charity partner for over 17 years. As our firm strives to be a responsible business, we continue to help our clients, our people and our communities, particularly those in our society facing difficult circumstances, to thrive. We are delighted to be sponsoring the Barretstown Gala Event for the fourth time, on their very special 30th Anniversary.” You can read more about this and ways to participate here.
Barretstown also regularly shine a light on campers and their families who have benefited from their services. Alex and Elayna, young girls who have experienced the devastating effects of an ultra-rare illness, are two such children. Read their story here and learn how Barretstown helps change the lives of children like them suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses.
To help keep their exceptional services going, Barretstown must raise €9 million this year, with just 4% of government funding contributing to this. Businesses and individuals can get involved by fundraising and volunteering. For more information, contact a member of the Barretstown team or visit www.barretstown.org.
“The services provided to all the children and families who come to Barretstown are entirely free of charge,” explains Ahearn, “so charity partners, such as Eversheds Sutherland, are hugely important and vital for the charity to help more seriously ill children experience the magic of Barretstown.”
Photography by MDA Productions.
If you have an interest in finding out more about a firm whose people live its values, are purposeful, purpose-led, and support their communities discover more at Eversheds Sutherland’s website.
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