V&P Affiliate Member Candidates 2023-24

Link to Personal Statement – Gavin Callaghan, Managing Director, Beartas 

Personal Statement – Augustus Della-Porta, Partner, Bates Wells

Why I would like to join the Values & Principles Board

It’d be a privilege to serve on the Values & Principles Board as a representative of the affiliate members.

Who am I?

I’m a partner at Bates Wells, a leading law firm in the charities and not-for-profit sector and the first law firm to be a B Corp, which means we consider the impact of our decisions on our people, clients, suppliers, community, and the environment. We see it as our mission to act as a catalyst for positive change – from gaining charitable status for the LGBTQ+ helpline in 1987, right through to acting for the Uber drivers case we’re not been afraid to challenge the status quo.

I advise on a range of legal issues such as governance, restructuring, mergers, intellectual property and fundraising. I lead on working with public sector bodies with over 10 years’ experience in this sector, with particular expertise in spinning out services from local authorities and helping public sector bodies restructure their services, for example Southampton City Catering, On Course South West (Plymouth) the Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust (Brighton & Hove) and Achieving for Children (Kingston and Richmond).

Before becoming a lawyer I was an English teacher and ran a charity working with refugees, with much of that work spent working with local authorities and public sector bodies on behalf of the beneficiaries I served. I’m a trustee of an international education charity and provide regular pro bono support to charities, particularly those related to Syria, where I lived for some years. In case helpful, My online CV gives further information on my background and expertise.

With my skills and expertise I’d also be able to help in ensuring the values and principles are being upheld at all levels in a coherent manner, and are brought to life in the activities of the network.

Representing you

Working closely with the other affiliate member representatives I’d like to help facilitate increased engagement between affiliate members and other members of the network. Some of ways in which I’d like to do this include:

• arranging a session at annual conference – this could be to hear from senior council thinkers, presentations from affiliate members to officers on a topic of mutual interest, or a joint presentation/ panel discussion – for example, there could be a panel discussion on the impact of the new subsidy control guidance
• one to one advice sessions for officers
• working parties for joint problem solving on a particular issue

Noting that many affiliate members are also on the DPS framework, I’d seek comments from affiliate members on the framework which I’d feed back to the V&P board.

I’d also seek to facilitate regular engagement between affiliate members, for example through quarterly virtual coffee or lunch catch ups and a WhatsApp group for sharing news and seeking views on engagement opportunities, and always be available to affiliate members.   

These are just some of the ideas I have for this role – I’d hope to get many more from you!

Link to Personal Statement – Claire Ward, Partner, Anthony Collins Solicitors