Burges Salmon’s collaboration with Heart of BS13 

The latest Bristol Good Food 2030 story is an update from Burges Salmon’s Angela Parfitt about how people from the law firm have been volunteering with Heart of BS13. Find out how your business can get involved. 

During the past 12 months, people from independent law firm Burges Salmon have volunteered at Heart of BS13, which is a charitable organisation tackling food insecurity, promoting health and wellbeing, developing knowledge around nutrition and cooking and, increasing access to fresh produce and whole foods in the local community, as well as creating vocational training and jobs in the local community.  

The Burges Salmon volunteers have been from our Banking, Employment, Pensions, Projects, Real Estate and People teams; volunteering a total of 686 hours. Their tasks have focused on horticulture, including prepping growing spaces for planting, for example moving compost to planting areas, planting trees and native hedgerows, weeding, as well as establishing some wildlife habitats and planting foliage in a bog pond. 

As well as volunteering, the firm hosted representatives from the charity during our annual Green Week when we focus on sustainability, with daily themes, including Food Friday.  The Heart of BS13 stand was extremely popular and as a result, we are working with our in-house caterers to collaborate with them on their Pay It Forward food service which aligns with our charitable theme of ‘No Child Goes Hungry’ by helping to address food insecurities.  

Sales from this meal range will support the charity’s work, as within the BS13 community, one in eight households are struggling financially and are unable to afford the food they need. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Heart of BS13 has provided almost 50,000 meals to the community, free of charge. Heart of BS13 endeavours to inspire change and create long-term solutions to food poverty through the Heart of BS13 Kitchen. 

The charity will also return to our Bristol office twice a year, to sell their fresh and long-lasting flowers. 

From a wellbeing perspective, we are very grateful to Heart of BS13 for hosting us, providing delicious lunches (made with their produce), and allowing us to take time out of our busy working lives. In a world where things can sometimes seem very man-made and artificial, it is grounding to spend time in such a positive natural environment, with the Heart of BS13 team being so passionate about their mission to tackle food insecurity and protect the natural environment. 

Burges Salmon initially started working with Heart of BS13 by providing pro bono legal advice for the acquisition of their farm site. 

If your business is interested in volunteering, find out more on Heart of BS13’s website.