Supporting the Local Community
Hunt & Coombs believe that a business has a responsibility to support the community it practices within.
Our responsibility is two-fold:
- Being involved in the development and support of our local community.
- Providing sponsorship and assistance to local charitable initiatives.
Our local community
We endeavour to support local firms as suppliers in order to keep money in the local economy.
We are members of the Company of St Peter, a foundation set up to maintain Peterborough Cathedral. Partners at the firm have worked for the City Centre Forum and our Managing Director is an Executive Board Member and Fellow of Woodard Schools, a £100 million charity with local interests. Other Directors and Fee Earners are involved in the management of Relate, Drinksense, and the local branch of the NSPCC. Directors are also involved at Trustee level for The Leprosy Mission, Peterborough Cathedral Trust and Sue Ryder.
We have offered our support to the West Town Community Partnership and are hoping to become involved in supporting the development of our local area.
Every year we support the Peterborough Beer Festival, where all the money taken for entrance goes to the RNLI. Since this has started four lifeboats have been provided for.
Sponsorship of sporting activity
We believe that sport and physical activity is critical to the healthy development of our children and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle as adults. We have recently sponsored a ‘Tug of War’ competition, provided sponsorship for both sporting and social events for Peterborough Athletic Club and provide a group discount to members of Peterborough Town Sports Club that sees ten percent of our fees go back to the club when we are instructed by a member of the club. This is something that we are actively seeking to expand.
Helping those in need
Our Managing Director, Lynne Ayres, is a fellow of the Peterborough Cancer Treatment Appeal and works to raise funds for them. Denis White, one of our partners, is a Director of Drinksense, the alcohol advice charity.
Staff regularly fundraise for charity or volunteer to help something that firm promotes within.
In 2010, the Firm as a whole took part in the Big Wigs Challenge, which required monies to be raised for Sue Ryder from an initial investment of £50. After a great deal of effort from all at the firm a total of £3200 was raised for the hospice.
The firm has also organised a sporting function to highlight and fundraise for the RNIB to help them promote accessibility for affected peoples.
Education
In the tradition of our founder, Dr Jack Hunt, we aim to support the education of local children. Our Managing Director, Lynne Ayres, is Chair of the Board of Governors of Peterborough High School and we have strong links with other local schools which we are always looking to increase.
Local History
As one of the longest-standing firms in the local area, we do our best to support the local history archives and supply deeds and other documents to the Northamptonshire Archives.
Arts and Entertainment
In the latter part of 2010 a Concert was held at a local theatre, The Cresset, to fundraise for MacMillan Cancer Support. The firm was pleased to be able to sponsor such a just cause.
HC Solicitors also has an active role in the promotion of world class choral music taking place in Peterborough and have entered into a relationship with the world renowned The Sixteen that we hope will encourage others to care more about The Arts in the Peterborough area.
