Communities and charities

At HLK, we’re committed to putting people first and helping to shape the world around us.

Part of this approach is to look outwards, towards communities we can support. We want our people to feel connected to the communities around us and causes they believe in, so that we can make a difference.

Community focus

For a number of years, the firm has had a charity and donations fund. Funds are set aside each year from which small grants are awarded to support charities, community organisations or projects nominated by our people. These might be schools, sports clubs, play groups or environmental groups that mean something to our people and will benefit their local communities.

Supporting good causes

Additionally, when our people fund raise or take part in charity events, such as marathons, cycle rides, sponsored walks, bake sales amongst others, they can apply to the fund for a charitable donation to the charity in question, boosting the amount raised.

Over the last few years, charities that have received donations include Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK, Jonathan’s Voice, Macmillan Cancer Support, The Stroke Association, The Lewy Body Society and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Dark green background with baubles with foliage on them

Paying it forward

In December 2023, we ran a three-week seasonal goodwill challenge for our clients and contacts in the HLK community called Pay IP Forward where each week we posed an intellectual property themed question. A winning entry was randomly chosen each week for which the prize on offer was a donation to a charity nominated by the weekly winner.

Collage of HLK colleagues volunteering at a farm

Local focus

Across our offices, you’ll find our people getting involved in different activities organised at a local level.

These range from giving up their time to take part in volunteering days to support community organisations such as local city farms, to donating Easter eggs to local food banks or raising money to coincide with nationwide appeals. These ad hoc activities draw our people together to make a bigger impact.

HLK colleagues at the Bristol 10k 2024

For example, in May 2024, several colleagues got together to take part in the Great Bristol Run, to raise awareness and funds for Jonathan’s Voice, a charity set up in memory of our friend and colleague Jonathan McCartney. Jonathan’s Voice works with organisations and individuals to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues and to empower people to speak up and reach out for help when they need it. Thousands of people took part to run the 10k route around Bristol.

HLK colleagues at the London Legal Walk 2024

A team of colleagues also completed the 10k London Legal Walk in June 2024. This annual event brings together the legal community to fundraise and raise awareness for the London Legal Support Trust, which supports over 100 free legal advice charities each year, helping them provide more free specialist legal advice. Over 16,000 people took part in the walk.

Lending a helping hand further afield

One organisation we’re really proud to work with is Lendwithcare. Their programme provides us with an innovative way to help entrepreneurs in low-income countries work their way out of poverty with dignity, turning their hopes for a better future into reality.

Through the programme, we loan funds to a small business and once the money has been repaid, we make further loans to support more low-income entrepreneurs to start or grow their business. As for the type of businesses or projects we help fund? We usually choose farming or green initiatives.

Over a number of years, we’ve supported 14 projects: six have been repaid, and eight are still in progress, helping entrepreneurs transform their lives for the better, and those of their families and their wider communities.

World map with HLK's Lend with Care projects labelled

Being able to learn more about these people, their backgrounds and what the funds will go towards, means a great deal to us.

Here are three of their stories.

Planting for success

Lauro, a farmer in Ecuador, who sought investment for his onion farming business and to buy cattle to extend his farming of livestock.

Read more about Lauro

Sewing new beginnings

Daow, a seamstress in Thailand, whose loan went towards a new sewing machine, fabric and other sewing materials.

Read Daow's story

Fields for growth

Thim, a farmer in Cambodia, who requested a loan to buy additional land to expand his wet-season rice farming.

Find out more about Thim