25 November 2015 - International Day for Eradication of Violence against Women

White Ribbon Campaign

Ever wondered what the white ribbon means?  Essentially, it highlights Men working to end violence against women.  Domestic violence in its many forms has never been acceptable, particularly in today’s society and the surveys carried out highlight:-

• 85% of forced marriage victims in the UK are women.
• A third of women are abused in some form by an intimate partner during the course of their lifetime.
• 70% of domestic violence results in injury.
• The financial impact, let alone the emotional aspect of domestic violence costs the State, tax payers,  victims and services £23 billion a year.

The campaign enables men to voice their support to the ongoing work being carried out to raise awareness and change behaviour.  In California during the ‘80’s, the campaign to “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” originated where men put on high heels and walked a mile to highlight their support.  Of course, wearing high heels does not appeal to everyone, but the wearing of a white ribbon shows awareness and a common wish!

If you have any questions about domestic violence or need help and support please contact Cindy Ervine by email by clicking here, calling 01380 722311 or alternatively visit www.awdrys.co.uk

Family Dispute Resolution Week (23-27 November 2015)

Putting Children First...

Cindy Ervine, a Collaborative lawyer and Family Solicitor at Awdry Bailey & Douglas, seeks to highlight awareness of Resolution week which takes place during the week of 23.11.15.  The message that family solicitors seek to promote and which goes to the heart of the support and advice they provide when there are problems within a relationship is - “Putting children first”.

Collaborative law offers separating parties the opportunity to meet with their respective solicitors and each other in the same room and work together to find solutions that are fair for the whole family.  The clients retain the control, and the dynamic works at their pace to meet their requirements.

Cindy seeks to ensure that agreements reached, take into consideration the parties’ children and their respective needs and wishes.  Research commissioned by Resolution (the National Organisation of Family Solicitors) has shown that children seek to have age appropriate information and wish to be kept informed.  By working together, this will minimise any impact to the children, and promote their stability and security.

If you seek further information about resolution week or collaborative law please email Cindy by clicking here or visit www.awdrys.co.uk

Carers Rights Day

Carers Rights Day

Friday 20 November 2015

Carers Rights Day takes place on Friday 20 November 2015 helping to bring organisations together across the UK in order to help carers find out about their rights and to get the help and support they may be entitled to...

Awdry Bailey & Douglas Solicitor Carina Kervin will be attending the Devizes Town Hall on behalf of one of the firm’s departments called abdcare to help answer any relevant legal issues surrounding carers rights. She will be part of a panel alongside other representatives from the council, CAB as well as local politicians who work with Carers Support Wiltshire to bring information and advice to carers in the local area.  Discussions and questions taking place will focus on;

Carers Rights
Help and Support for Carers
Raising awareness of the needs of Carers
Legal Assistance 
And more...

The audience will be able to ask the panel questions as well as have the opportunity to speak on a one to one basis.

Who are abdcare?

abdcare is a managed branded division of Awdry Bailey & Douglas Solicitors who specialises in fighting for the rights of victims. abdcare advises and assists people with elderly care issues.

What does abdcare do?

Recovers on your behalf wrongly paid care home fees
Protects your assets from the juggernaut which is care home funding
Advise you generally on understanding the care system for the purpose of allowing you to better prepare

For more information go to www.carersuk.org or www.abdcare.co.uk

ABD Teams up with Local Charities for Christmas Toy Appeal

Awdry Bailey and Douglas are delighted to offer their Devizes office as a collection point for the Christmas Toy Appeal 2015.

Staff and members of the public are able to donate new unwrapped toys to help make Christmas special for children and families who have little or nothing under their tree on Christmas morning.  The collection will support families and charities all across Devizes and Wiltshire such as Social Services, Sure Start, 4 Children and Contact a Family.

The appeal will be running until 14th December, the gifts will then be wrapped and distributed to those in need.

Suggested gift ideas;

• 0-3 years:  dolls, teddy bears, cot mobiles, baby clothes, bath toys, CDs of suitable music and nursery rhymes, puzzles
• 3-5 years: dolls and action figures, cars, lorries, DVDs and CDs (music and nursery rhymes), colouring sets, pencils, crayons, books, puzzles
• 5-9 years: educational games & toys, stationery (colouring sets, pencils, crayons, school sets), CDs & family friendly DVDs, books, puzzles, wordsearch, crosswords
• 9-12 years: games and toys, stationery, CDs, DVDs, books, T-Shirts, hair accessories, gloves, scarves, hats
• 13-16 years: CDs, DVDs, books, make-up and toiletries (please try to ensure non-allergic ingredients if possible), gloves, scarves, hats, T-Shirts, hair accessories

Donations can be made 8.30am to 5.30pm - Monday to Friday at Awdry Bailey & Douglas, 33 St Johns Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1BW.

For further information please call 01380 722311 or to email Stacey Jones click here.

Have you been misled as to the true value of your spouse’s assets? Mrs Sharland and Mrs Gohil have...

A recent Supreme Court ruling shows zero tolerance to fraudulent disclosure.

A recent divorce ruling by the Supreme Court has allowed appeals from Mrs Alison Sharland and Mrs Varsha Gohil, who felt that their husbands had failed to disclose the true value of their assets during their divorce settlement.

Sharland v Sharland

Mrs Sharland’s appeal considered the issue and impact of fraudulent non-disclosure upon her financial settlement. She argued that the Consent Order which had been drafted in line with an agreement reached between the parties should not be sealed by the Court, as the true value of the business of which her husband has a substantial shareholding, was much greater than the original value disclosed.  Lady Hale ruled that the Consent Order will not be sealed and Mrs Sharland’s application for financial relief will return to the Family Division of the High Court for further directions.

Landmark Ruling - No Lies...

This ruling is far reaching as it highlights the importance of the parties’ duty to provide full and frank financial disclosure of all relevant information to one another and the Court. This duty is ongoing and information must be updated if either party’s circumstances change throughout the course of the Proceedings.

Nobody can read a closed book...

At Awdry Bailey & Douglas we want to achieve the best possible outcome for clients once full, frank, open and honest disclosure has been provided.  In the absence of proper financial disclosure it is difficult to provide meaningful advice as to what could constitute a fair and reasonable settlement as nobody can read a closed book.

Contact Awdry Bailey & Douglas

If you are considering divorce or are in the midst of Divorce Proceedings, it is in your best interests to seek legal advice so that you can make an informed decision about your future.  Our experts are here to help you.

Contact us to arrange a FREE initial consultation at any one of our four offices.

Devizes 01380 722311
Marlborough 01672 518620
Royal Wootton Bassett 01793 853200
Chippenham 01249 478333

www.awdrys.co.uk

Awdry Bailey & Douglas and Strakers are “On Course” of course!!

For fair weather golfers the season is nearly coming to a close but not for ABD or Strakers team members! They were raring to go...

This year’s annual golf day event held between ABD and Strakers took place on Tuesday 29 September 2015 at the Chippenham Golf Club.  It was ABD’s turn to host the event now in its 5th year of running. 

The weather was a glorious sunny day as team members enjoyed their bacon butties before setting off to play. After a little practice, the game began.  STRAKERS v ABD Golf Day Challenge!

Along the way, there were winners...

The longest Drive Winner
The winner was Mark Hulse (Strakers)

Alexander David (ABD) with Mark Hulse (Strakers)

Nearest the Pin and the Straightest Drive Winner
The winner was Scott Windle (Strakers)

Alexander David (ABD) with Scott Windle (Strakers)

AND THE FINAL SCORE IS... AN ABD WIN
The score was drawn at two wins each which meant having to go to a count back whereby ABD won narrowly. It was a close one!

A fantastic day of golf which everyone enjoyed. This was followed by a lovely dinner, speeches and prize giving from Alexander David and Tim Hotchkiss ending with carriages home.

Strakers and ABD Teams, you know who you are!

Speeches from Alexander David (ABD)

Memorable moments

A misplaced shot from Andrew Douglas on the 6th tee nearly “sliced” Strakers in half! Oops!

Close matches all round – intense!

Tom Alford having to make the hazardous “walk of shame” in front of amused onlookers across the fairway of the previous hole to play his ball because he hit his shot sideways. Really?

Lewis Bulley forgetting his golf shoes! Surely not? 

The weather was great and a fantastic day was had by all! True.

A narrow win – it was a close one!

THE WINNING TEAM 2015... ABD

Awdry, Bailey & Douglas team from left to right; Tom Paget, Andrew Douglas, Matt Brewer, Tim Hotchkiss, Alexander David, Alistair Everett, Tony Awdry and Roger Chadwick.

THEY WILL BE BACK ...  TO TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE WIN THE CUP NEXT YEAR! STRAKERS

Strakers Team from Left to right; Tom Alford, Charlie Doel, Lewis Bulley, Scott Windle, Antony Bulley, Guy Straker, Stuart Collar-Brown and Mark Hulse.

Awdry Bailey & Douglas takes part in a Macmillan Coffee Morning!

Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity registered organisation, who has helped to improve the lives of people affected by cancer in assisting with emotional, financial and practical support.  Macmillan Cancer Support raise money through coffee mornings, sponsored events, marathons, and much more…

Did you have your cake and eat it?

Awdry Bailey and Douglas Devizes employees took part in supporting this event last Friday by making cakes and then eating them – for a donation of course!! As well as making cakes a raffle also took place – the prize was a tin of Celebration Chocolates. It’s the taking part that counts and for a great cause too. Macmillan has raised so far over £867,563.33 as a result of donations and coffee mornings held all over the UK.

Did you know?

In 1911, a young man called Douglas Macmillan saw his father die of cancer.  His father’s pain and suffering upset Douglas so much that he founded the ‘Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer’.

He did this because he wanted advice and information to be provided to all people who suffered with cancer, he wanted homes for patients at low or no cost, and voluntary nurses to attend to patients in their own homes.

Today, much of his legacy lives on. Macmillan is still a source of support for people living with cancer today and is a force for improving cancer care. 

Did you know?

The first National World’s Biggest Coffee Morning took place in 1991 when approx 2,600 people registered to hold coffee mornings across the country. Since then coffee mornings have raised over £138 million for Macmillan.

For more information, or if you would like to make a donation – 

www.macmillan.org.uk/Coffee_Morning