Legal Legacy Comes Full Circle: Hegarty Champions Historic Former Law Office with 2025 Charity Partnership

Local solicitor firm, Hegarty, has announced significant early fundraising progress with Bourne Arts & Community Trust (BACT), which operates Wake House in Bourne, after selecting the cause as its 2025 charity partner.   The firm has already reached 50% of its 2025 fundraising target, setting a strong pace to exceed its goal by year-end.  Wake House, a Grade II Listed building, serves as a thriving community hub benefiting residents and organisations from Bourne and surrounding areas. The historic property currently houses numerous charities, local businesses, community clubs, support groups, and hosts Citizens Advice Bureau drop-in sessions three times weekly.  Earlier this month, a team of volunteers from Hegarty demonstrated their hands-on commitment by helping to transform the gardens at Wake House, improving the outdoor space for community members and visitors alike.   The Hegarty team weeded and cleared flower beds and then replanted them with flowers and bee friendly plants. They also planted some summer bulbs and wildflower seeds, so over the coming months many more blooms should appear.  The partnership also carries special historical significance. Wake House was originally a solicitor's office and the birthplace of Charles Frederick Worth (son of local solicitor William Worth), who founded the renowned Paris fashion house 'The House of Worth' and is widely regarded as the 'Father of Haute Couture’. This new connection between Hegarty and the building's legal heritage creates a meaningful full-circle moment in the property's storied history.  Kally Singh, Senior Partner at Hegarty, said: "Although Wake House has a fascinating legal history, we were drawn to support the cause primarily due to their vital work supporting the Bourne community today.”  “Wake House is truly a hub of the local community, supporting and housing many community groups and small businesses, which aligns perfectly with our own commitment to the communities we serve. We're thrilled with our progress in just the first few months of our partnership, reaching 50% of our fundraising target."  “Our recent volunteering day at the Wake House gardens was incredibly rewarding, seeing our team roll up their sleeves to make a tangible difference to this vital community space." added Singh.   Hegarty's support will extend beyond fundraising to include ongoing volunteer work throughout the year. The garden tidying initiative is just the first of several planned hands-on projects to help improve spaces that can then be used by additional community groups and support Wake House's facilities and services.  Adele Read of Wake House commented: "We're delighted to have been chosen as Hegarty’s charity of the year. Their impressive fundraising progress and recent volunteer work in our gardens have already made a noticeable difference. This partnership comes at a perfect time as we prepare for our bicentenary celebrations of Charles Worth while continuing to provide essential services to the Bourne community."  Hegarty Solicitors was established in 1974 and is one of the largest law firms in the region. It offers a wide range of legal expertise including property conveyancing, wills, trust and probate services, family law, dispute resolution, and corporate law from its offices in Market Deeping, Stamford, Oakham, Peterborough, and Bourne.