"KN CReW" supports anti-racism education charity Show Racism The Red Card through virtual sporting event

During the weekend of 31 July to 2 August,  75 staff from across all teams at Kingsley Napley LLP took part in a virtual "KN CReW" sporting event, which was a joint Diversity & Inclusion, BAME, Charities & Community and Wellbeing committees initiative. As well as the event being an opportunity to enhance everyone's physical and mental wellbeing, its  purpose was also to raise funds for Show Racism the Red Card, the UK's leading anti-racism educational charity, and to help promote awareness around the #BlackLivesMatter  movement. We exceeded our original £3k fundraising target by reaching over £5k to date.

Activities for the 75 people who took part over the course of the KN CReW weekend ranged from team yoga sessions to horse riding, sea and lake swims, kayaking, press-ups, paddle boarding, bike rides, spinning sessions, runs, walks, hikes, triathlons, duathlons and various workout classes. It was an inclusive event to enable everyone taking part, with individual choices of activity, distance and location. Many completed their challenges together with colleagues, friends and family members.

We are grateful to everyone who took part in the event and those who sponsored it to help support Show Racism the Red Card, including participants, colleagues, friends and family members.

Reflecting on the KN CReW event, Shannett Thompson (Chair of the BAME & Allies Network), Linzi McDonald (Responsible Business Manager), Jemim​ah Cook (Chair of the Wellbeing Committee) and Helle Asquith (lead organiser and member of the Wellbeing Committee) said:

KN CReW will forever have a special place in my heart.​ The events of 2020 have been difficult for me to process, but the resurgence of the BLM movement has given me hope. Seeing people from all different backgrounds standing together in unison is nothing short of uplifting - KN CReW was our way of supporting the movement in the UK. I am so proud of the efforts the participants and the firm as a whole went to to support this event, it just shows what we can do when we come together – "united we stand, divided we fall". "

Shannett Thompson, Partner and Chair of the BAME & Allies Network

From a Charities & Community perspective one of our main aims is to be able to involve as many staff as possible to raise money and to do it for small, local charities that are of a size where our donation actually makes a big difference to them. This event hit every button!  75 people took part not to mention members of family, friends, pets etc. The number of kilometres walked, jogged, cycled, paddled, swam, danced, yoagaed, hacked must be in the 1000s!  And as the Responsible Business Manager I can say that this event was a perfect example of who we are as a firm and what we do well – come together when needed and help people less fortunate than ourselves. Kingsley Napley stands very firmly against racism and is keen to ensure that we support our BAME network colleagues. To quote our Senior Partner Stephen Parkinson in a recent blog about being a BAME ally he said – "If we do not talk about race, it stunts progress, openness and inclusion. Open conversations challenge misconceptions, create solutions and improves culture. This open culture is what we strive for at Kingsley Napley." I am sure this event has helped us all along that road." 

Linzi MacDonald, Responsible Business Manager

Ensuring the wellbeing of our people is at the heart of our HR strategy and staying healthy both physically and mentally is an important part of that.  We know from our surveys and feedback from members of the firm that due to COVID-19 and especially throughout the lockdown period, which has led to significant changes to the way we live and work, it has negatively affected our regular routines. For many, it has felt harder to find the time to get out and exercise, which is impacting on our overall wellbeing.  Supporting the KN CReW event encouraged us all to get active, set ourselves a motivating challenge and support each other.  We are all also very proud to raise money for Show Racism the Red Card, an excellent charity in support of the anti-racism movement.  It was so amazing to see the firm come together in all corners of the country carrying out a variety of activities!" 

Jemimah Cook, Director of HR and Chair of the Wellbeing Committee

With our initial concept for the KN CReW event, we didn't envisage just how much everyone would embrace it and come together as individuals, colleagues and the firm in support of the BLM movement and Show Racism the Red Card to raise awareness and £5k for anti-racism education. I found it incredibly inspirational and moving to witness everyone take part and seeing photos from the many and wide ranging challenges  – and also seeing people doing it together with colleagues and family members all across the country, whether on foot, bike, kayak, paddleboard, horseback, yoga mat, at sea, in lakes, fields and cross-country etc. We truly felt united over the KN CReW weekend and I should have known that you can take "KNers" out of Farringdon but even lockdown cannot take the spirit or values out of "KNers! ". " 

Helle Asquith, Head of Marketing & Communications and member of the Wellbeing Committee

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