Muckle LLP champions sustainability through employee volunteering scheme
We've continued to demonstrate our commitment to helping local communities through our ongoing support of a regional sustainability organisation.
Over the past year, we've maintained a close partnership with The North East Community Forest (NECF), a regional organisation that works with volunteers and landowners to plant and maintain trees, hedgerows and woodlands across the region.
Making a meaningful impact
As part of our ongoing initiative to encourage employees to use their volunteering hours, we donate £1 to NECF for every hour volunteered by our people. So far, we've donated £1,680 - the equivalent of planting 336 new trees.
Our employees receive two days paid leave to volunteer with charities, and our lawyers are also encouraged to use their legal expertise to support the community as school governors, trustees and board members of local charities. Senior partner, Hugh Welch, is a trustee at Clean Slate Solutions, whilst solicitor Lydia Stewart is a trustee at Choysez, a charity supporting young women. Additionally, senior associate Alison Jones is a trustee at Newcastle Theatre Royal Trust Limited, Museum of London Archaeology and the British Museum.
A long-term commitment to ESG
The work carried out by NECF not only helps make the region become more resilient to climate change but also fosters a greater appreciation for trees and woodlands by engaging the people in North East England in environmental conservation.
We've always been committed to our ESG work including working with SmartCarbon to accurately capture our carbon footprint, as well as delivering other environmental initiatives such as hosting our own clothes swap in aid of local charities.
As a result of this ongoing work, in 2024, we became the first law firm in the North East and Cumbria to achieve B Corporation® accreditation, building on the impact we already achieved through our ESG initiatives.
A healthier, more resilient community
Ross Weddle, Chair of the North East Community Forest, said: “Business supporters like Muckle LLP make a real difference to the North East Community Forest. Their contribution doesn’t just plant trees—it helps us unlock matched government funding through the Trees for Climate programme, meaning every pound goes further. Support like this enables us to create greener streets, plant hedgerows, and establish new woodlands across our region. Together, we’re growing a healthier, more resilient North East for generations to come.
Nicola Leyden, Director of HR at Muckle, said: “As a responsible business, caring for our local communities and environment has always been at the heart of everything we do. Through our partnership with NECF we are demonstrating our commitment to our ESG goals and showing how we can make a real difference.
“Our volunteer hours donation scheme is a natural extension of our commitment to sustainable business and community engagement. By linking our people’s time to meaningful impact, we’re helping grow our region’s green future together.”
Find out more about our ESG strategies and the North East Community Forest.