Olliers Solicitors has raised £3,199 for Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) after its team took on a 100ft charity abseil in the Peak District.
The Manchester-headquartered criminal defence specialists were joined by supporters and partners from GMYN for the challenge at Millers Dale Viaduct, where everyone taking part successfully completed the descent.
The event was held in support of the Seen, Heard, Diverted campaign, a three-year partnership between Olliers and GMYN aimed at keeping neurodivergent young people out of the criminal justice system.
With donations still open, Olliers is continuing to raise money towards its three-year partnership fundraising target of £30,000.
Olliers Managing Director Matthew Claughton was among those taking part in the abseil, which saw the team free-hang 100ft above the gorge at the Peak District landmark.
The event was held in warm and pleasant weather, with a strong turnout from colleagues, supporters and GMYN representatives who came along to support the team.
Matthew Claughton said: “It was a fantastic day and I’m incredibly proud of everyone who took part.
“Standing at the top of the viaduct is one thing – stepping over the edge is another. But seeing everyone complete their abseil and knowing we were doing it to support GMYN made it worthwhile.
“We’ve raised £3,199 so far, which is a brilliant result, but the fundraising doesn’t stop here. Every donation will help support the Seen, Heard, Diverted campaign and its work to improve outcomes for neurodivergent young people.”
The Seen, Heard, Diverted campaign aims to build a prevention pathway for neurodivergent children who come into contact with the youth justice system.
Research cited by GMYN and Olliers shows that around 80% of children cautioned or sentenced in UK courts are neurodivergent, despite neurodivergent people making up around 15% of the general population.
The campaign will fund a three-strand delivery model across all 10 Greater Manchester local authorities, providing rights-awareness training and safe activity spaces for young people, support toolkits and coaching for parents and carers, and training for police officers, solicitors and magistrates to help prevent behaviour being misread and de-escalate crisis points before they lead to criminalisation.
The abseil follows Olliers’ completion of the Tatton Park 10k in July and forms part of a wider programme of fundraising activity the firm has committed to over the life of the partnership, alongside financial support and time spent mentoring young people directly.
Donations to the Seen, Heard, Diverted campaign remain open through the Olliers fundraising page.
To support the campaign, visit the Olliers JustGiving page.