Please see below letter from Quartet Community Foundation to local firms.
I wrote to local firms two years ago on the subject of donating unclaimed client assets to local good causes, since when more than £325,000 has been donated by firms like yours for Quartet Community Foundation (Quartet) to help local people.
Quartet (Registered Charity Number: 1080418) supports small local charities and good causes across Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. You may know our Chairman, Robert Bourns of TLT Solicitors. We manage over £26 million in endowed funds and last year we awarded £2.87 million in grants to more than 950 charities and organisations. We’re quality accredited and carry out thorough due diligence on grant applicants.
For 30 years we’ve been helping disadvantaged local people. Right now needs are growing just when public sector funding has been cut so we really need your help to support more people like the Easton community. The grants we give to local good causes range from £50 to more than £60,000 so everything you donate really does change local lives.
When you choose to transfer unclaimed client balances to Quartet we will provide you with the indemnity required to enable you to meet your obligations under Rule 20 of the SRA Accounts Rules. As balances are held within a permanent endowment, we would be able to repay clients’ monies should that become appropriate.
You and those working in your firm can play a role in the allocation of these funds to local community causes. The use of these funds in this way provides a powerful developmental opportunity for members of the firm to learn more about the community of which you and they are part as well as to evidence the firm’s values.
If you would like to discuss how we might help ensure the unclaimed client balances in your client accounts transform people’s lives, please get in touch.
Yours sincerely
Sue Turner
Chief Executive
0797 007 8277
sue.turner@quartetcf.org.uk