| Harneys Corporate responsibility programme
As the largest private-sector employer in the British Virgin Islands, we at Harneys feel a compelling duty to act as caring, proactive and responsible participants in the local community, and to set a standard for good corporate citizenship in the BVI.
Harneys’ Corporate Responsibility Programme is driven not only by the desire to make a meaningful difference, but also out of recognition that investment in the community is key to the future success both of the jurisdiction and Harneys. Our collective contributions to the community bring us closer together as an organisation, strengthen our corporate culture and allow us an opportunity to ‘give back’ to the community, and our staff are actively encouraged and rewarded for involvement in these activities. The programme encompasses pro-bono services; sponsorship of local social, cultural and sporting events; generous contributions to local charitable organisations; and heavy investment in education, both within the firm and at all levels of education within the wider BVI community. Pro Bono Harneys is the only firm in the BVI to have professional legal staff exclusively dedicated to pro-bono work, and the firm played a fundamental role in the development of the jurisdiction’s pro bono system. Our pro-bono work is a key opportunity for us to give back to the community by providing access to justice for individuals and charitable organisations otherwise unable to afford legal representation. Sports, Culture and Social contributions The firm contributes extensively to sport, cultural and social events in the BVI. We recently purchased a new boat for the BVI’s KATS (Kids And The Sea) programme which teaches children water skills and safety on the sea. To date thousands of BVI children have graduated from various KATS programmes with a better understanding of the joys and challenges of the sea which surrounds our islands. We also contribute regularly to a range of sporting organisations including BVI Olympic Committee, the BVI Cycling Association, and the BVI Athletics Association. We are also sponsors of the BVI Music Festival and the ‘Classics in the Atrium’ series which brings musicians from around the world to perform in the BVI. Charitable Donations In addition to donations to specific projects such as the recent drive to purchase equipment for the hospital’s maternity ward, Harneys makes regular contributions to a number of key BVI charities and non-profit organisations including the Rainbow Children’s Home, Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly, the BVI branch of Red Cross, VISAR (Virgin Islands Search and Rescue) and CADA (Community Action Against Drugs). Education As a firm we recognize that our most valuable asset is our human capital. We invest heavily in education opportunities for our staff and through our professional development programme offer opportunity and encouragement for everyone at Harneys to develop to their full potential. The firm was the first (and is still one of the only) in the Caribbean to implement a formal trainee programme for regionally educated newly qualified lawyers and has worked together with the regional law schools to this end. The programme mirrors closely the UK Law Society’s trainee programme requirements and offers up to 5 trainees each year the opportunity to join our 2-year training programme. We also provide tuition support for staff wishing to further their education and run multiple in-house training programmes for all levels of staff including study support for industry-relevant international qualifications. As a firm we have recently received a great deal of recognition for our initiatives in this area and have been extensively involved in the development and implementation of a similar programme at the jurisdiction’s community college. In addition to our in-house education programmes Harneys sponsors a number of scholarships and academic prizes both locally and regionally. Our ‘flagship’ community education project has been the adoption of a state-run primary school to which we contribute both physical infrastructure and equipment, and support services including volunteers to help with improvement projects. We also run a holiday internship programme which provides students with invaluable work experience and helps them build confidence and skills that will be useful to them in their future careers. Contact Details For further information about our Corporate Responsibility Programme please contact Mr Audley Maduro at audley.maduro@harneys.com.
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