Making a difference in our communities

The Christmas season is a time to take a break from our busy schedules and day-to-day commitments and spend quality time with the people who matter the most to us.

Thinking it over with Carol Fish Director & Head of our Personal Injury Solicitors team.

It’s also the perfect time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next.

If anything, these past 12 months have demonstrated that being part of a community has never been more important.

Communities come in all shapes and sizes, from a group of friends or work colleagues, to a book club or a charity but whatever its make up, the essence remains the same – being part of something which makes a difference.

Whether it’s checking in on a neighbour, texting a friend or raising money for charity, every act of kindness is important.

At Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, we are committed to being part of the communities in which we live and work, and actively encourage our team to do their bit to support local charities and organisations.

Over the past year, the team has volunteered to deliver food parcels on behalf of food banks, raised thousands of pounds for charity through running challenges and walks, and used their professional expertise and experience to support charities and organisations as trustees, school governors and advisors.

As well as giving our time, Cartmell Shepherd also provides financial support to community projects.

Back in May, we sponsored an arts project in Cockermouth which involved local artist Emily Bailey creating hand-crafted puppets of well-known people in the town which were displayed in shop windows to promote businesses in Cockermouth.

We also backed another innovative project in Cockermouth this year which reaches out to people when they need it the most.

The Cockermouth Emergency Response Group (CERG) works in partnership with local authorities and other organisations to plan for and respond to emergencies.

Created by Churches Together, Rotary and Cockermouth Flood Action Group following the 2015 floods in the town, its volunteers respond to any emergency situation in Cockermouth, from volunteering at vaccination clinics to supporting people during the power outages caused by the recent winter storms.

When there’s a threat of flooding, volunteers from the group get in touch with those most likely to be affected by the rising water, as well as vulnerable people in the town, to see if there’s anything they can do to help.

From moving furniture upstairs to evacuating elderly residents to a place of safety, the group go from door-to-door checking up on people.

They also provide reassurance to people who are anxious about the potential threat of flooding during periods of heavy rain through in-person visits, social media updates and phone calls.

Earlier this year, Cartmell Shepherd supported a publicity campaign to encourage more vulnerable people in the town to register for help from CERG, and also encourage more volunteers to sign up.

The Help Us to Help You scheme was an overwhelming success, increasing the number of people registered for support by almost 150, and boosting its volunteers to more than 300.

The initiative shows just what’s possible when people pull together to make a difference in their community, and we’re proud to support it.

As I raise my glass this New Year’s Eve to welcome 2022, I’ll be thinking about all the ways in which I can make a difference during the coming year. And top of my list will be showing my support for organisations such as the Cockermouth Emergency Response Group. For more information about Cockermouth Emergency Response Group visit www.cerg.org.uk

You can contact Carol on 01228 516666 or click here to send her an email.