Social Responsibility at Sidley

Sidley London’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme focuses on supporting our local community and providing equal opportunities for all young people. In May 2022, we launched our five-year flagship charity partnership with YMCA London City and North as part of our commitment to lasting impact. We also place a heavy emphasis on sustainability, ensuring that our business endeavours are environmentally conscious and that our culture remains committed to working and living sustainably. As well as our main programmes, Sidley takes part in numerous fundraising events throughout the year, such as the Tour De Law, the London Legal Walk, and the Standard Chartered City Race.

Some of the programmes that support our neighbours and neighbourhoods include:

YMCA England and Wales, YMCA London City and North, and Sidley’s office in London have joined together for a five-year partnership to create a brand new multi-functional Youth Hub based in Islington. This project will support vulnerable young people living in London by providing essential services and creating a safe and welcoming environment.

Thanks to Sidley’s financial contributions, this new space will reach at least 1,000 young people in its onset and will lay the foundation to help more young Londoners in years to come. Beyond fundraising, Sidley’s staff will be participating in volunteering and mentoring activities.

Payroll giving is a tax-efficient way to make charitable donations. It enables you to make regular donations, tax-free, straight from your gross pay to any UK registered charity of your choice.

All employees in the London office are entitled to volunteer for local community organisations on up to two occasions each year. Sidley volunteers have previously supported dozens of employee volunteering opportunities in the London area, including causes focused on health, education, homelessness, arts, disabilities, and elderly assistance. Prior to the pandemic, Sidley personnel contributed nearly 300 hours to charitable causes annually.

Sidley recognises that allowing young people to visit corporate environments is key to developing their ambition and driving their future success. The London office offers opportunities for students from less advantaged backgrounds to meet a number of lawyers and support staff who provide encouragement and advice on how to focus on their own career goals. We also work with the Social Mobility Foundation to help and encourage students to improve their employability skills.

All personnel are invited to take part in mentoring programmes that allow them to provide oneto-one support to students who require some extra encouragement. The firm has worked directly with The Westminster Academy for a number of years.

At Sidley, we are dedicated to doing our part to ensure a sustainable future, conducting business in a responsible and mindful way that creates long-term value for our people, clients, and communities. We aim to minimize our impact on the environment by setting ambitious climate commitments to reduce our carbon emissions, as well as by creating a more sustainable workplace and culture across our global firm. From routine but important acts — such as recycling paper and waste — to impactful legal and pro bono work that empowers businesses and social enterprises alike, sustainability is integral to our operations.