Muckle solicitor appointed trustee at young women’s educational charity

Real estate lawyer Lydia Stewart has become a trustee of Choysez, an alternative education charity for disadvantaged and vulnerable young women in Northumberland.

Lydia visited Choysez in Bedlington to find out more about the charity's work, which has been providing alternative classroom provisions to young women aged 9 to 16 for over two decades.

She was so impressed by the work of Choysez, its team and the young women it helps that she has now become a trustee. Sharing the charity’s vision and ethos for care and kindness, Lydia will support the future development of Choysez and boost its drive to help more disadvantaged young women over the next 20 years. 

Improving self-esteem

Choysez teaches young women from across Northumberland outside the mainstream system, putting their educational and emotional needs first. The charity aims to improve its students’ self-esteem and support them to achieve GCSE and other nationally recognised Key Stage 3 qualifications.

We've supported Choysez for several years and since 2023 and have provided the charity with £8,000 in grants from our Community Fund, which has awarded over £720,000 to good causes across the North East and Cumbria over the last 22 years.

We give 1% of our annual profits to the fund, which supports charities and organisations that help young people, tackle disadvantage, improve social mobility and champion causes close to the hearts of our people.

We award all employees two days every year to volunteer at charities and community organisations, and it actively encourages its young lawyers to take on trusteeships.

In 2023, we became the first law firm in the North East to be awarded B Corporation® status, joining a global community of business as a force for good. 

Supporting expansion

Chris Conroy, Centre Manager at Choysez, said: “We are delighted to welcome Lydia to the Board and I’m sure she will bring with her some new ideas and real experience to support our charity expansion.

“We are all very proud of our project and of the young people in our care who are thriving despite the disadvantages and challenges they face. Kindness and care are at the heart of everything we do. Lydia and her Muckle colleagues just get who we are and what we do. It’s obvious Lydia and Muckle really care about our project. This means everything to us, and we’re delighted to strengthen our relationship further and work together to do more.”

Lydia said: “When I visited Choysez along with a number of colleagues, I was blown away by the amazing work that the charity team does – but especially by the young women we met.

“It inspired me to do more, and I’m so proud to be a trustee at this charity, which is truly changing the lives of so many young women. I’m committed to ensuring that both the charity and Muckle do more to help many more young women over the next few years.

For more information about the work we do, download our B Corp report.