Category: Equality, diversity and inclusion

Helping the The Proud Trust manage donations and objections for an empowering new hub for young LGBT+ people.

For young LGBT+ people, the world can be a difficult place. Often isolated, anxious or simply unaware of any support, a safe space to meet and share experiences with their community is a crucial resource.

Since 1988, The Proud Trust centre in Manchester has been that space. Over three decades they’ve built a 20,000 strong community, empowering young people with activities and advice in their building on Sidney Street.

But the building was showing its age. The Proud Trust wanted to create a space better suited to the needs of their young LGTB+ community. They were in the process of raising £2.4 million for a new centre when they talked to us about helping with the legal challenges involved in developing a new site.

Managing risk and reputation

Major donors such as the Big Lottery Fund, who made a substantial contribution, expect the highest standards to make sure funds are spent responsibly. The Proud Trust approached us to help manage any risk and protect their reputation.

“We definitely weren’t aware when we first started about just how much legal input would be needed – although we had been advised to put some money aside from fundraising to cover contracts and legal issues. I had an idea we needed to do something, but I wasn’t sure what that something was!”

Amelia Lee, strategic director at The Proud Trust

As well as donors to satisfy, trustees can be held to account by the Charity Commission who demand good governance and transparency. They need to show a higher threshold of responsibility because they are custodians of money that has been donated by others.

There were also the neighbours to consider. The centre in central Manchester is surrounded by other businesses, bars, restaurants and different faith groups. These neighbours have rights, enshrined in their title deeds, that could impose restrictions on the new build.

Any inner-city development is going to be under close scrutiny, especially where young people are involved – heightened in this case by stigma towards the LGBT+ community.

Always on hand to offer advice

The Anthony Collins Solicitors (ACS) team was led by Laura Mynott, a specialist in commercial and residential property for faith organisations and social businesses. With experience of the charity sector, Laura was able to put the legal checks in place to reassure principal donors such as the Big Lottery Fund that, once the money was secured, it was being spent correctly – and within the Trust’s own constitution. As Laura says;

“For the Trust, it’s having a professional advisor on board to reassure them that everything has been checked and done correctly. And that, at the end of an email or a phone call, there’s always someone there to explain the next steps and any risks to watch out for.”

Laura Mynott, associate at ACS

An incredibly rewarding project

The team also carried out an extensive title search on surrounding properties to make sure no restrictions would conflict with the centre’s goals. Up to 20 properties were thoroughly researched in the process. Any potential objections could be identified and resolved before they might endanger the development plans.

From Laura’s perspective, working with organisations such as The Proud Trust is why she joined Anthony Collins Solicitors;

“We were really proud to work on this project, to be involved in projects like this is incredibly rewarding. For us it’s more than just a purchase or a sale, it’s making a difference to a community.”

Laura Mynott, associate at ACS

“I want to say thank you to the team at Anthony Collins Solicitors. It’s been all possible thanks to your support. And we appreciate everything you’ve done with us.”

Amelia Lee, strategic director at The Proud Trust

For the young LGBT community in Manchester, progressing the development as quickly as possible is vital. To be able to open the doors to a new space in 2021, when hopefully social distancing will be a thing of the past, will be incredibly important to a community of young people who need support at a crucial time in their lives.

We acted for a client who wanted a dissolution of civil partnership – without losing contact with her child.

When relationships breakdown, it can lead to extremely stressful circumstances. Especially when there is a child involved. In this case, we acted for a client who wanted a dissolution of a civil partnership. Our job was to make this happen as quickly as possible, in the most amicable way.

During the relationship, the couple had a child together. Our client’s civil partner was the child’s biological mother, and the client was the non-biological parent. However, both parties had played a large role in the upbringing of the child.

The relationship between the parties was extremely acrimonious – the couple couldn’t agree who was at fault and both had filed for dissolution. The care of the child and finances were interlinked. The couple couldn’t decide how to split family finances, who the child was going to live with or how much time each parent would spend with the child.

Challenging our client’s role as a parent

Our client’s role as a non-biological parent was being undervalued. The biological mother argued she should be the child’s main carer and wanted to limit our client’s time with the child. But our client sought to share the care of the child.

To add to the situation, there were also safeguarding allegations made both ways. As a result, an independent social worker was instructed – and we challenged the outcome of the report on behalf of our client.

A fair settlement

The hearing ended well, and our client can continue to play an important role in her child’s life. We secured a fair settlement allowing both parties to spend time with the child and have a place to live. Not only is this outcome fair but will give the child stability moving forward.

Ultimately, despite the early court involvement, there was a willingness by both parents to mediate matters that subsequently arose. This allowed the parents to discuss matters directly and make informed and mutual decisions for their daughter. This was a favourable outcome for all – especially the child. Chris Lloyd-Smith, Anthony Collins Solicitors (ACS) partner, says,

“There were lots of factors in this case that took the focus away from the child. But, despite everything, at the end of the case, she still had two mothers.”

Chris Lloyd-Smith, partner at ACS