Member Article

Blacks Solicitors LLP announces sponsorship of Martin House

Leeds-based law firm, Blacks Solicitors LLP has announced a year-long sponsorship with West Yorkshire Children’s Hospice, Martin House. Blacks’ Music, Media and Entertainment (MME) department will be one of its sponsors, supporting the facility throughout the year - culminating in its regional music competition, Centre Stage 2013.

Blacks has always supported Martin House through a number of fundraising events and initiatives, including its annual involvement in the hospice’s Leeds Dragon Boat Race. Over the past three years, Blacks has raised over £6,700 for the facility which provides much needed hospice care to children and young people with life threatening and life limiting illnesses and their families.

The firm played a key role in supporting this year’s final of Centre Stage, an annual fundraising music competition hosted by the hospice to showcase the talent of West Yorkshire bands and musicians. The event, which took place at the Leeds O2 Academy, was attended by 1,300 music fans and raised £20,000 on the night, making the total raised this year over £40,000. Judges included Mike Heaton of Embrace, Matt Bowman of Pigeon Detectives and Ross Jarman of The Cribs, whilst the winning band, Glassbody, won a slot at this year’s Reading and Leeds festivals.

Following the success of the sponsorship of this event, Blacks’ MME department, which provides legal support to professionals in the music and entertainment industry, decided to provide a year-long sponsorship to Martin House along with other companies, acting as the exclusive solicitor sponsors of Centre Stage 2013.

The MME department’s involvement in Centre Stage is an exciting initiative for the team to be involved in, some of whom have musical backgrounds themselves. Partner, Asad Ali is a former DJ whilst Solicitor, Peter Bott, is a well-known local musician keen to support the region’s rising stars. Once signed to 679/Warner Records, Pete is the front-man of electro-pop band, Heads We Dance.

Peter said of the new partnership with Martin House:

“We are thrilled to be supporting Martin House for the next year. It’s an incredible facility which helps so many of the region’s families. Giving something back to the community is so important to us all at Blacks and what better way to make a difference than by going into partnership with one of the region’s most deserved charities. Our MME department provides a wealth of legal support to regional bands, musicians and record labels so our involvement in the Centre Stage competition this year and the next is a brilliant way to showcase our services whilst supporting an excellent cause.”

Sarah Smith, Senior Fundraiser at Martin House added:

“We are extremely grateful to Blacks for its ongoing support to Martin House. Centre Stage in particular has been a phenomenal achievement in terms of the fundraising, profile and credibility achieved for our Hospice. Now in our third year, we feel that we need to really embrace sponsor relationships to maximise both our fundraising and exposure. Having Blacks on board is a stunning example of this, thank you to all!”

For further information on Blacks Solicitors LLP and the MME department visit www.LawBlacks.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Blacks Solicitors LLP .