Our Belfast office joined their long‑standing charity partner Aspire NI to celebrate the organisation’s 10th anniversary, marking a decade of impact supporting children and young people across Northern Ireland.

Since its incorporation in 2016, Aspire NI has worked to close the educational attainment gap for children living in poverty. The outcomes of this approach are clear. In 2025, 86% of pupils on the Aspire programme achieved more than five GCSEs at grade C or above, demonstrating the programme’s transformative impact on young lives.

We have partnered with Aspire since 2023, supporting the charity through pro bono legal advice, regular donation drives, and larger-scale fundraising initiatives, including Aspire’s annual business quiz, which raises thousands of pounds each year. This support helps strengthen the charity’s foundations and enable its work to continue reaching those most in need.

In addition, we have also sponsored Aspire NI’s ‘Camp Aspire’ for the last two years. The five-day retreat brings together more than 60 12-to-16-year-olds for a week of fun activities, guided discussions and the opportunity to explore shared experiences. Camp Aspire also gives the youngsters a safe space to explore diversity, embrace inclusion, and celebrate different cultures whilst working toward building a peaceful and optimistic vision for Northern Ireland’s future.

Alison Reid, partner and Belfast office head, said: “For the past decade, the work of the team at Aspire NI has been nothing short of phenomenal and we were honoured to celebrate their incredible achievements and the scale of the community impact at their anniversary ball.

“This partnership demonstrates that meaningful community impact comes from long-standing relationships and we look forward to continuing to support Aspire NI in their mission to close the attainment gap across Northern Ireland.”

Our long-term partnership with Aspire NI has helped creating lasting education opportunities, supporting young people not just to achieve, but to thrive. 

Group photo of all Gateley attendees at the Aspire Gala Ball