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Children and the Arts Programme Change In The AirIn May 2006 Walkers and Cayman Airways, the National Flag Carrier of the Cayman Islands, launched the "Change in the Air" fundraising programme. Innovation being a defining characteristic of Walkers' approach to business and community service, we proposed the programme concept to Cayman Airways and the result was the creation of a fundraising initiative dedicated to the direct financial support of charitable organisations in Cayman. The programme enables Cayman Airways passengers to contribute towards raising funds for a designated Cayman charity by placing a donation in special "Change in the Air" envelopes. The envelopes are placed in the seat back pockets of every inbound and outbound Cayman Airways flight. If a passenger chooses to make a donation (any currency is accepted), the envelope is then handed to a member of the In-flight crew prior to the passenger disembarking the plane. The Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund (NRF) is the first charitable organisation designated by Walkers and Cayman Airways to benefit from the "Change in the Air" programme. The NRF is a private independent Trust, established on 23 September 2004, to relieve persons who were injured, bereaved, rendered homeless, destitute or otherwise affected by Hurricane Ivan. Walkers absorbs all the costs associated with the initiation and ongoing administration of the programme, while Cayman Airways keeps passengers informed about the programme and assists in the collection of the donations on behalf of the designated charity. Children and the Arts ProgrammeIn February 2003 Walkers launched the "Walkers' Children and the Arts Programme". The primary functions of the programme are to encourage children's participation in the arts and to raise public awareness of the academic and social benefits to be gained by children who are actively involved in the arts. One of the programme's primary goals is to reach out to children identified as being "at-risk". The most recent programme, The “Walkers’ Children’s Art Review Club” was initiated in conjunction with the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands. Walkers supplies full-funding for the programme, which provides professional art instruction for 7-9 year olds, further to the tutoring that they receive at primary school level. The aim of the programme is to ensure that a range of children island-wide benefit from art instruction, with a maximum of 3 students from each of the public and private schools making up a group of approximately 20-25 participants. One of the benefits of this programme is that it is accessible to children who have talent but not necessarily the means to attend after school activities. In May 2006 the "Walkers' Children and the Arts Programme" was extended to the British Virgin Islands where the firm also has an office. As its pilot project in the BVI, Walkers chose to adopt The Dance School Ltd. which urgently needed ballet barres as they vigorously prepared for their Dance Fest in June 2006. Pro Bono and Legal AidIn 1999 Walkers established its criminal and legal aid department in recognition of the shortage within the local community of criminal defence lawyers and the acute need for legal aid and pro bono support. Walkers is the only major firm in the Cayman Islands that does a significant amount of pro bono work and, since the establishment of Walkers' Criminal Department, has devoted a substantial number of hours to pro bono cases each year. Walkers' Criminal department represents pro bono clients in the Magistrates Court, the Grand Court (High Court) and the Court of Appeal. The Walkers Criminal Department also provides legal services to clients who have qualified for the very limited financial support given by Legal Aid. However, because legal aid usually does not cover all of the charges filed against a client, significant pro bono services are generally offered as well. This enables the client to be fully represented in relation to all of the charges that have been filed. In many cases pro bono advice and services are provided prior to a client receiving legal aid. The Cayman Islands' only pro bono legal advice organisation, Legal Befrienders, was founded by Walkers litigation associate, Sara Collins, in 1998. Associates at Walkers are active volunteers in the Legal Befrienders programme, which initially provided free legal advice to victims of domestic abuse, but has since extended to providing free legal advice on all domestic issues. Sara became a role model for young Caymanians and was nationally recognised for her efforts in March 2002 when she was awarded the Young Caymanian Leadership Award (YCLA) for her work with Legal Befrienders and other programmes in the local community. Walkers also makes a valuable contribution to the Jersey community through the local legal aid scheme. Unlike the system operated in the UK, which receives government funding, the legal aid scheme in Jersey is offered on a pro bono basis. When called to the Bar, newly qualified Jersey advocates and Jersey solicitors are required in making their oath to swear to represent "les veuves, pauvres, orphelins et personnes indéfendues." By tradition the oath of new lawyers is conducted in French, the original language of the Island. On 20 August 1904 the Bar determined that this obligation shall be undertaken by advocates of less than 15 years standing à tour de rôle whereby those seeking legal assistance are given a certificate allocating the next lawyer on the rôle to represent them. For more than 100 years all Jersey lawyers have provided legal advice and services in almost every discipline, including
A major contribution to the scheme was made by Walkers during the time when Advocate Richard Michel was elected as Acting Bâtonnier, the administrator of the scheme with responsibility for assessing whether to grant legal aid to applicants. Subsequently, Advocate Richard Michel was elected by the Law Society of Jersey, as one of its most senior lawyers, to the role of Bâtonnier. The major part of that role is to control the overall administration of Legal Aid to act as final arbiter in disputes regarding Legal Aid, the conduct of Advocates and fees. Currently Walkers Jersey has 4 advocates who are on the rôle and for whom approximately 50 certificates are issued each year. Several members of Walkers' staff assist with the work undertaken, providing an excellent service to those otherwise unable to afford access the legal system. Relay For LifeThe Relay For Life is an inspirational community event that celebrates the lives of people touched by cancer and raises money for the vital work of Cancer Research UK. Walkers' Jersey office entered a team of 13 for the 2007 event and has participated many times since the event began nine years ago. During the course of 24 hours the following events take place:- Every Relay begins with the inspiring Survivors' Lap of Honour. Cancer survivors walk the first lap of the course as a testimony to the progress and success we have achieved in cancer research. Then members of each team take turns to walk around the track for 24 hours, showing how cancer never sleeps. There is a carnival atmosphere all day with a wide variety of activities taking place, including dancing, games and musical performances. As evening draws in everyone gathers to light Candles of Hope to pay tribute to those whose lives have been directly affected by cancer. Bags are filled with sand and a glowing candle to light up messages of celebration and remembrance, which burn throughout the night. With the ceremony in their minds the teams then get back to the Relay, take part in more activities and continue walking the track throughout the night. At the end of the Relay everyone joins together for a final lap to celebrate their fundraising achievements and look back on an unforgettable Relay For Life. Many Walkers' staff and their families supported the team and raised £3,000.00 for Cancer Research UK in 2007. Cayman Classical PerformancesCayman Classical Performances, the Island's only non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing classical performing arts to the local community, was co-founded by Walkers' partner, Caroline Williams. Caroline was one of five founding members who began the organisation in 2001. She also sits on the association's board of directors. One of the Cayman Classical Performances' main objectives is to organise live musical events by visiting artists in order to foster an appreciation of classical music from an early age. The association is equally committed to music and performing arts education and is endeavouring to make available master classes and workshops by visiting artists. Since its establishment, the association has organised several music workshops by visiting professional classical pianists for local children. The provision of scholarships to Caymanians wishing to study music and the performing arts is also a major goal of Cayman Classical Performances. Lex MundiLex Mundi is the world's leading association of independent law firms. The association has more than 160 member firms around the world, representing approximately 20,000 lawyers. The organisation provides for the exchange of professional information about the global practice and development of law, facilitates and disseminates communications among its members and improves the members abilities to serve the needs of their respective clients. Member law firms are located, one per jurisdiction, throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Walkers is the Lex Mundi member in the Cayman Islands. Walkers Lex Mundi contacts are: Grant Stein and Mark Lewis. Student SponsorshipThe firm spends approximately US$300,000 each year in scholarships and sponsorship of Caymanian law students at the Cayman Islands Law School and universities and colleges in the UK. Seen as an investment in the future of both the Cayman Islands and the firm, sponsorship is an important part of the firm's involvement in, and contribution to, the community. NATIONAL TRUST'S BLUE IGUANA RECOVERY PROGRAMMEIn December of 2003 Walkers had a Blue Iguana stuffed toy custom designed in the likeness of the Cayman Islands' indigenous Blue Iguanas. The toys were originally created with a view to promoting the firm and Cayman Islands at overseas conferences. However, when the plushy Blue Iguanas arrived they became an instant sensation. Recognising their potential as a tool for educating and raising awareness about the plight of the Blue Iguana, Walkers decided to share them with the community. Over the past three years, Walkers has donated over 1000 of the Blue Iguana toys to the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands and the National Trust’s Blue Iguana Recovery Programme in order to raise money for conservation and educational programmes. The National Trust's Blue Iguana Recovery Programme received a further fundraising boost in 2006, when Walkers pledged a total of CI$60,000 to be paid to the programme over a period of three years. The donation will be used to fund the operational costs of the recovery programme. The Blue Iguana toys have been so successful that Walkers continues to produce different variations of the toy each year. In 2005 a female Blue Iguana, complete with lavender eyelashes and scales joined the Walkers Blue Iguana family and 2006 saw the arrival of some adorable baby Blue Iguanas, followed by a hand puppet Blue Iguana in 2007. Walkers' conservation efforts were extended to the Jersey office in 2007 when the firm joined forces with Jersey’s Environment Division to launch a combined initiative to promote the conservation of the Island’s Green Lizard population. Walkers created a Green Lizard toy, which is being used to raise funds and awareness about the endangered reptile. In addition, staff in the Jersey office help preserve the Green Lizard's habitat by clearing areas of scrub and bracken. Charitable DonationsEach year the firm dedicates a significant budget to local charitable donations. Donations are given to charities, community service organisations and individuals who are in need of financial assistance. Some of the many organisations that the firm supports include: the Lion's Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Cayman Islands Red Cross, the National Drug Council, the Pines Retirement Home, the Marine Institute, the Cayman Islands Law School Students Society and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. The firm also sponsors summer camp enrollment for a number of local underprivileged children. For a number of years it has been the practice at the end of every month for the firm’s staff to have a dress down day when each staff member is given an opportunity to donate money to a predetermined charitable cause. The firm’s partners then match the money collected by the staff. Community ServiceWe believe that it is important for Walkers not only to provide financial support to the Island's community service organisations, but also to be active participants in these organisations and their projects. Walkers' Marketing and PR Department work very closely with organisations such as the Cayman National Gallery to identify needs within the community and to create programmes which directly address those needs. As a result of this unique collaboration it quickly became clear to the firm that the human resources dedicated to the arts programmes were just as valuable as financial contributions. In addition to funding a large number of children's arts initiatives through the "Walkers Children & the Arts Programme," the firm also provides staff with time off during the week to serve as volunteers for the programmes the firm is funding. One example of this is the Walkers Art Review Club which is attended by two Walkers volunteers each week. Many staff members also take time out of their weekends to volunteer at various Walkers sponsored events. The services of Walkers Marketing and PR Department are also provided as a resource to the various arts organisations that the firm collaborates with on projects. A number of Walkers' attorneys and staff are active participants in Cayman's various community service organisations and participate regularly in sponsored activities, such as runs, walks, sports and other fund raising activities for the benefit of the community. Others are active supporters of voluntary organisations such as the National Trust, the Red Cross, Cayman Hospice Care and the Cayman Islands Cancer Society, amongst others. |
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