Locations
After two successful years, we're reflecting on our partnership with PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide. With an impressive £206,552 raised, this has been our most impactful charity partnership to date, driven by the unwavering support of PAPYRUS.
PAPYRUS's work generating suicide-safer societies fits with the firm's strategic focus of helping to promote the rights of children and young people through our Just Purpose impact programme. Nominated by our people, PAPYRUS is dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing specifically in young people. With this, PAPYRUS aims to shatter the stigma surrounding suicide and equip young people and their communities with the skills to recognise and respond to emotional distress.
Throughout our partnership, we saw an incredible variety of adventurous and creative fundraising activities. From a fabulous cricket evening at Lord's and comedy nights with Abnormally Funny People, to various colleagues taking part in a skydive from 11,000 feet, this partnership had it all.
As part of One Firm Action, Fieldfisher's global challenge to address local and global issues, colleagues across all practices in London embraced the opportunity to collectively take action in our local communities to raise money for PAPYRUS.
In addition to our fundraising efforts, we came together to learn more about suicide prevention. PAPYRUS delivered three powerful sessions, that helped us "SPARK" an increased awareness of suicide prevention, "SPOT" the 'signs' that may indicate that someone is having thoughts of suicide, and "SPEAK" with each other to encourage a safe, open, and sensitive conversation about suicide.
This year also marked our third year joining PAPYRUS in London at the HOPEWALK, their flagship event, raising awareness during World Mental Health Month. Walking alongside PAPYRUS provided our people with the opportunity to develop relationships with their community and step away from our desks to connect and support one another.
Lead champion, Josephine Dodd from Fieldfisher says:
"Partnering with PAPYRUS over the past two years has been incredibly rewarding. This collaboration has not only helped me personally come to terms with a bereavement by suicide, but it has also provided many others in our firm with a safe space to share their own experiences. Our London office’s achievement of raising over £200,000 during this partnership is truly remarkable. These funds will significantly contribute to the 24/7 support that PAPYRUS offers to young people in need. Beyond fundraising, a key goal of mine was to equip our employees with the skills to talk about suicide and recognise the signs of someone who may be at risk. The Just Purpose team and I were proud to work with Lauren Elcock to deliver bespoke training sessions to our employees at Fieldfisher London. I look forward to keeping in touch with PAPYRUS to follow their amazing work."
Ged Flynn, Chief Executive of the national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, says:
"We would like to say a big thank you to Fieldfisher for its continuing support which helps us to give hope to young people who are struggling with life. The generosity helps to pay for potentially life-saving calls, texts and emails to our confidential HOPELINE247 service, which offers support and advice to young people and anyone who is worried about a young person who may be having thoughts of suicide. The support also helps PAPYRUS to engage with local communities and volunteers in suicide prevention projects and supports the training we deliver to individuals and groups, equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour. We believe that many young suicides are preventable and together we can all help to keep our communities suicide-safe.”