Caring for our Communities Action for Children

Action for Children help disadvantaged children in Scotland, from before they are born until they are in their late twenties, through practical services and programmes that are proven to work

Action for Children help disadvantaged children in Scotland, from before they are born until they are in their late twenties, through practical services and programmes that are proven to work.

One such programme is a homelessness project called New Horizons. This programme offers a welcoming and safe environment for young people who are in the process of leaving care or have experienced homelessness for a variety of reasons.

Over the years, MacRoberts has supported them in the following ways:

  • A group of Partners donated Christmas gifts to the young residents.
  • We donated money to allow the residents to replace damaged bedroom and living room furniture.
  • We supported the Clickety Chicks event which raised over £35,000 for Action for Children and also donated 24 home starter packs for young people at New Horizons. The starter packs consisted of a trolley case with crockery, cutlery, a kettle, slippers and a dressing gown, bed linen and towels.
  • GSM! donated money to help buy additional food for their Christmas dinner so that those without family to visit on Christmas Day could have a special day together with all the usual trimmings – something the core budget just wouldn’t allow.
  • We held a fashion show and pop-up shop in our Edinburgh office which raised over £1,000 for the charity.

Where does the money go?

Money raised supports vital projects such as the New Horizons Housing Support Service. One resident (N) is 18 and has been in and out of care her whole life after a very traumatic early childhood. She told us that she only managed to get her “head sorted” once she became a resident at New Horizons. They provided counselling and mental health support, helped her learn to cook and clean, budget so she can manage her own finances, prepare a CV and application for college etc.

Perhaps most importantly, they provided her with a home.

N said she was overwhelmed that people in an office in Edinburgh, who didn’t know her or the others, had cared enough to try and make their Christmas special. She said the furniture made such a difference to them all and they immediately became more house proud and homely.

The starter packs made them feel cared for, proud and gave them more confidence to move on to the next stage in their lives – independent living which, for a young person who has experienced homelessness, is a daunting and scary prospect. They used to arrive with some clothes in a black bin bag and none of the usual life essentials we take for granted. New Horizons also provide outreach support to aid the transition to independent living.

N is now studying social sciences at college and plans to become a social worker or carer at a similar project to New Horizons so she can give back and reassure people like her that they do not need to be defined by their past.

Visit Action for Children's website

Our Awards & Accreditations

  • In 2016, we were one of the first law firms in Scotland to become accredited Living Wage employers.

  • Shortlisted for Firm of the Year at the Scottish Legal Awards 2022.

  • Winners of Corporate & Commercial Team of the Year and Family Law Team of the Year at the Scottish Legal Awards 2020.

  • Our Real Estate team won the Property Team of the Year Award at the British Legal Awards in 2018.

  • Winner of SME of the Year at the Scottish SME Awards 2017, hosted by Scottish Business Insider.

  • Highly Commended for Commercial Team of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2016.

  • In 2019, MacRoberts achieved Cyber Essentials Plus certification, a UK Government entry-level information security standard. 

  • MacRoberts holds the ISO 9001:2015 certification for Quality Management, the most widely recognised quality management system standard in the world.

  • Iso 14001 2015 Environmental Management

    MacRoberts holds the ISO14001:2015 certification for Environmental Management, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to environmental awareness.

  • MacRoberts holds the ISO27001:2013 certification for Information Security, an internationally recognised security gold standard.

  • Business continuity is a critical element of the Business Management System at MacRoberts and we hold full accreditation with the ISO 22301:2019.

  • MacRoberts is a member of IP Inclusive, a network of intellectual property professionals working to make our community more equal, diverse and inclusive.

  • We are active members of the PRIME Programme – an organisation that focuses on ensuring a career in law is open to talent from all economic and social backgrounds.

  • MacRoberts supports the Scottish Business Pledge, a values-led partnership between Government and business that is based on boosting productivity and competitiveness through fairness, equality and sustainable employment.

  • We are supporters of the Partnership for Change, a network of organisations and individuals who share a common ambition to improve diversity on boards and in senior leadership.

  • We are a member of the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (ENEI), a UK-based not-for-profit organisation which helps employers build and maintain diverse teams and inclusive cultures through our membership, training, and consultancy services.

  • MacRoberts was awarded enei's Silver TIDEMark for 2023. TIDE is enei's self-assessment evaluation and benchmarking tool which measures an organisation's overall approach and progress on diversity and inclusion.

  • MacRoberts is a Disability Confident employer, and are committed to disability equality across our firm.

  • MacRoberts fully supports flexible working practices and supports family-friendly working practices.

  • In 2022, MacRoberts received a Bronze Award in Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index for our commitment to LGBTQI+ inclusivity in the workplace.

  • MacRoberts is a longstanding member of Scotland Food & Drink, the leading trade association for Scotland's food and drink industry.

  • MacRoberts is an Associate Member of SELECT, Scotland's largest construction trade association.