A brush with the law is not normally something Lisa Smith would be pleased about but when three Glasgow lawyers offered to help her decorate her Ruchill flat she was delighted to accept.
The three legal eagles from law firm Dundas & Wilson - Eric Galbraith, Allan Wernham and Jenny Nicholson - volunteered to assist Barnardo’s Scotland 16+ Glasgow service which sees young people formerly in care given assistance to secure rented accommodation.
The lawyers were joined by fellow colleagues marketing executive Shona Waddell, CSR officer Emily Catterwell, and trainee banking solicitor Jennifer Barr.
Lisa, 21, who was taken into care when she was 11-years-old has been given a housing association tenancy in North Glasgow and will receive support until she is 25.
Eric Galbraith, a partner in the corporate department at Dundas & Wilson, said: “We were all eager to contribute to our local community and think the work Barnardo’s Scotland does with young people is excellent.
“Sadly, some young people have had a more difficult start to their lives so providing support to help them access housing and helping them set up their own home is very satisfying.
“It’s been a lot of fun and everyone’s been really enthusiastic about helping. It’s good to get away from the desk and really see the difference you can make through giving a bit of your time to a good cause.”
Lisa said: “Having my own home is very important to me as it allows me to focus on my education and finding a career path to follow.
“Without the help of Barnardo’s Scotland and the people from D&W who have given up their time to be here today, I wouldn’t have been able to decorate the flat myself. It means I can finally settle in a place I can call my own home at last. I’m really grateful to the guys for their help and they’ve done a smashing job.”
Emily Catterwell, corporate social responsibility officer at D&W, said: “As a company we are committed to assisting worthy causes within the communities in which we operate and we were delighted to help Wendy decorate her new home. It’s a great chance for our people to get out of the office and give something back to the community.”
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