New corporate partner, Child & Co, announced

Joint Press Release: Bar Pro Bono Unit and Child & Co

Child & Co, one of the oldest banks in London, and the Bar Pro Bono Unit, the national pro bono charity supported by the Bar, today announce a major partnership which will see a significant sum donated through fundraising, goods and services over the next year.

Child & Co will host key events for the Bar Pro Bono Unit over the next twelve months, including the official launch of the new chambers engagement initiative, Pro Bono Champions, which will take place in June and the inaugural night celebrating the expanded Pro Bono Awards towards the end of the year, which will be attended by many prominent figures within the profession. The partnership is an exciting opportunity for the Bar Pro Bono Unit to interact with a wider professional audience through both long-standing and inaugural occasions.

Child & Co staff will also fundraise for the Bar Pro Bono Unit in the annual London Legal Walk as well as in other ongoing activities ranging from sporting challenges to cake sales, raising both money and awareness for access to justice within the community.

Craig Smith, Area Manager Premier Banking at Child & Co, said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with the Bar Pro Bono Unit. We are looking forward to supporting their tireless work to help members of the community who are unable to obtain legal aid and cannot afford to pay for the services of a barrister. This partnership gives us a great opportunity to use our stunning location on Fleet Street and our existing network within the legal community to help raise awareness for the charity.”

Mary Dobson, Head of Fundraising and Communications at the Bar Pro Bono Unit, said: “We are delighted that Child & Co have decided to partner with us. With Child & Co sitting at the heart of legal London, this partnership with a historic institution offers the Bar Pro Bono Unit a fantastic opportunity to expand its reach amongst the legal profession.

The funds will help with our work taking the Unit pro bono service online, and the intention is to ensure, much like Child & Co’s approach to banking, that the new Unit online service is personal and warm as well as efficient and accessible. The work we do has an incredible impact on the lives of the people we help. A recent applicant to the Unit said: ‘I cannot express how grateful I am to the Bar Pro Bono Unit for their decision and also for agreeing to help with my case. Suffice to say, for me, it is akin to being cornered on the playground by the school bully and having an older brother arrive to stand behind you.’ This partnership with Child & Co will help us to match even more deserving applicants like these with the volunteer barristers who can help them.”