Community support
Bell Gully is committed to making meaningful contributions to initiatives that support the wellbeing of our communities, and the positive growth and development of the people within them. Our pro bono and community programmes guide our commitment to pro bono work and community support. These programmes form a fundamental part of Bell Gully’s culture.
Click here to read more about our pro bono programme.
Our community support comes in the form of donations, fundraising efforts and by volunteering our time and skills to provide practical and appropriate help.
We have long-standing relationships with local and national charities, and we actively encourage and support our people to get involved in them, for a good cause. Supplementing our formal programme, inspiring individual efforts demonstrate the firm's culture of giving back to the community. It is a spirit that is expressed at every level of the firm – from our summer clerks, lawyers and business support staff through to partnership level.
Among those with whom we work are:
Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand
For many years now, Bell Gully partners and staff have put their heads on the line as part of the Shave for a Cure campaign to support the work
Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand do with patients and families of those affected by leukaemia and related blood conditions. We also field teams to conquer the Sky Tower steps, and the Fire Fighter Sky Tower steps challenges. These annual events raise significant funds, together with awareness for the six New Zealand adults and children diagnosed with leukaemia and related conditions every day.
InZone Foundation
The
InZone Foundation is an educational initiative providing access for Maori and Pacific Island students to top academic performing state schools by housing them in zone. Inspired by the initiative, some of Bell Gully's junior lawyers established a structured mentoring programme for InZone Auckland Grammar School students. The programme has proven to be a great success, benefiting the students as well as our junior lawyers and has now been extended to the recently established InZone programme at Epsom Girls Grammar School.
Pacific Islands Law Students Association
We have worked with the
Pacific Island Law Students Association (PILSA) to set up small group workshops to help PILSA members with their applications to large law firms for graduate recruitment programmes.
City Mission
At Christmas time, we co-ordinate collection and purchase of gifts and food for those who need it, on behalf of the
Auckland City Mission and the
Wellington City Mission.
Summer clerk volunteering
Each year, we send our summer clerks out to one of our pro bono clients to provide practical assistance. For many years, our summer clerks volunteered at the houses of Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand patients, assisting with general maintenance, cleaning and gardening. More recently, our summer clerks have worked on a construction site in Manurewa, where they sanded and painted interiors, built fences, removed scaffolding and assisted with landscaping on a new home as part of
Habitat for Humanity's Assisted Ownership Programme for families in need. They have also accompanied students from a KidsCan supported school on a trip to Rangitoto Island.
Safer Homes in New Zealand Every Day
Our programmes don't shy away from charities that address confronting issues. We support
Safer Homes in New Zealand Every Day (Shine). Domestic violence affects very large numbers of New Zealanders every day, and Shine works not only to support those who are negatively impacted, but to rehabilitate the offenders as well. Our staff have assisted with Shine's street appeal, and raise money on Orange Friday with a bake sale.
SPCA's Cupcake Day
Each year our staff host a cupcake competition and sale, donating funds to the
SPCA.
Movember Foundation
We see varying results from our people's efforts to grow facial hair each year, raising funds and awareness for men's health issues in support of the
Movember Foundation.
Helping the environment
We aim to use natural resources in a sustainable way, and are serious about minimising the environmental impact of our operations.
We do this by:
Minimising waste
We take steps to minimise waste and recycle materials wherever practicable.
Having a sustainable supplier network
We seek partnerships with suppliers who demonstrate sound environmental values and practices.
Wisely using energy and other resources
We seek to improve energy efficiency and conservation wherever possible. We have instituted measures to minimise electricity, gas and water use.
We choose to be located in premises operated by property managers committed to sustainable practices. The Vero Centre in Auckland has achieved the UK Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Award for building efficiency and an EECA Energy Wise Award.
