Hammonds pledges support for Hollybank

LAW firm Hammonds has selected Hollybank Trust as its chosen charity for the year.

The Mirfield-based trust, which is seen as the first of its kind in the world, provides homes, education and recreation to young people and adults with profound disabilities.

The charity is led by chief executive Steven Hughes who has played a key role in expanding its facilities and accommodation.

The decision to adopt Hollybank Trust is a result of a strong client relationship between Hammonds and Volvox chief executive John Hall – who is also the trust’s chairman.

“John and Steven gave us a tour of the facilities at Hollybank which were impressive and humbling in equal measure,” said Hammonds managing partner Jonathan Jones.

“We had been seeking to consolidate and develop our charitable initiatives for some time and Hollybank provides us with an ideal opportunity to put something back into the local community.”

As part of its commitment, Hammonds will be displaying art from Hollybank for sale in its reception area and meeting rooms. It will also be organising a charity Valentines Ball in addition to a whole series of fundraising activities over the year.

Mr Hall, whose son Jimmy lives in the Mirfield home, said that corporate sponsorship was essential to keep the trust running and developing.

“We are very pleased to have Hammonds on board,” he said.

“The trust costs around £9m a year to run and we need a lot of money to keep investing in projects such as new homes.”

Around 100 young people and children are cared for by the trust either in its school, which recently received an outstanding Ofsted report, or in one of its residential facilities.

It boasts a hydrotherapy pool, gardening, and respite care facilities. As well as Mirfield it has homes in Halifax and Holmfirth.

However Mr Hall, who has played an instrumental role in ensuring the survival of the trust, admitted that despite its global reputation not many people know of its work in Yorkshire.

“Corporate sponsorship helps raise our profile,” he said.

“We were concerned that in a recession firms wouldn’t be willing to support us but in fact the opposite has been the case. Steve Hughes and his team have created a world class facility that Yorkshire should be proud of.”