SA Law’s Joint Head of Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Tracy Lacey-Smith, has become a trustee at a local addiction recovery charity in St Albans.
Tracy decided to volunteer for The Living Room to give a little back into the community, reflecting SA Law’s own corporate social responsibility ethos.
The Living Room has centres in St Albans & Stevenage and provides free intensive and structured, abstinence-based day treatment for adults with substance addictions (alcohol and illicit and non-illicit drugs) and behavioural addictions (eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, self-harm, gambling, shoplifting, relationships, love and sex).
The charity also runs a free crèche for clients’ children and a free support group for family and friends.
The charity posts some incredible results:
• Each year 60% to 70% (approximately 120 people) of all service users achieve full abstinence recovery
• Each year approximately 60 family members and friends regain their quality of life
• During the past 15 years 46 children have been returned to their parents from “looked after care” status and many more have been removed from the Child Protection Register.
Tracy is hoping her legal knowledge, commercial experience and broad contact base will help the charity as demands on their services grow year on year.
SA Law is currently supporting two key fundraisers for the charity.
The first is a dragon boat race at Fairlands Park, Stevenage, on Saturday, May 13. All you need is a team of 10 rowers and a drummer. There will be training available on the day.
SA Law has already committed a team to take part and now, Tracy is appealing to other local businesses to take up the challenge.
She said: “You don’t need any previous experience, only a sense of fun and eagerness for a challenge!”
The second, rather more relaxing event, is a performance of “Love Song” by Abi Morgan in The Studio, at the Abbey Theatre, on Thursday, June 29. It will be an intimate evening as there are only 78 seats. The recommended ticket price is £12 and the charity will also be holding a raffle on the night. All money raised will go to The Living Room.
Love Song is the story of a couple, played by two sets of actors, as they were at the start of their relationship and at the end of their married life. Their lives and choices intertwine to create a beautiful depiction of marriage with all its romance, practicality and flaws.
Full details of both events can be obtained from Sophie Hudson at SA Law.
