Solicitors take on Peak District abseil

Olliers Solicitors is gearing up for an exhilarating 100ft charity abseil in support of Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN). This daring venture forms part of a landmark three-year partnership aimed at aiding neurodivergent young individuals and keeping them out of the criminal justice system. Scheduled for September 5, the event will see Olliers’ managing director, Matthew Claughton, lead his team and partners from GMYN as they dangle free-hanging above the picturesque gorge at Millers Dale Viaduct in the Peak District.

The team is embarking on one of the country's most dramatic abseils to raise funds for the Seen, Heard, Diverted campaign, which has a goal of raising £30,000 over three years. This campaign aims to create a prevention pathway for neurodivergent children who might otherwise come into contact with the youth justice system. Research indicates that approximately 80% of children who are cautioned or sentenced in UK courts are neurodivergent, contrasting starkly with the 15% of the general population that they represent.

Matthew Claughton highlighted the urgency of this initiative: “Every day, our team sees vulnerable young people fall foul of a system that simply doesn’t understand them - sensory meltdowns mistaken for aggression, difficulty with eye contact read as defiance rather than what it actually is.” He emphasised that the current situation is not a youth crime wave, but rather “a systemic failure to understand neurodivergence, and it's criminalising vulnerability instead of addressing it.”

Claughton believes that while “the abseil is a small thing compared to what these young people go through,” every pound raised contributes to building something impactful that can change their futures. The Seen, Heard, Diverted campaign will implement a three-strand delivery model within all ten Greater Manchester local authorities. Initiatives include rights-awareness training and safe activity spaces for young people, as well as support toolkits and coaching for parents and carers. Furthermore, training programmes will be offered to police officers, solicitors, and magistrates to prevent misinterpretation of behaviour and to de-escalate potential crises before they lead to criminalisation.

This abseil event follows Olliers’ team successfully completing the Tatton Park 10k in July, marking another vital step in their ongoing commitment to fundraising. This initiative is part of a broader programme of efforts that Olliers has pledged throughout the partnership, which includes providing funds and direct mentoring for young individuals in need. Supporters eager to contribute to this worthy cause can do so by visiting the JustGiving page at justgiving.com/page/olliers-1