Matheson LLP is proud to announce that we have been named Disability Advocacy Programme of the Year, Ireland winner at the Legal Benchmarking Group Social Impact Awards 2025 for the neurodivergent-friendly music camp at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) as part of Matheson’s partnership through the RIAM Holistic Programme.
The firm was also shortlisted for the Community Impact Award, Ireland for the Matheson Creativity Hub in memory of Tim Scanlon, and for the Social Mobility Programme of the Year Award, Ireland, in recognition of Matheson’s Career First Programme.
The Disability Advocacy Programme award highlights the collaborative effort between Matheson and the RIAM, as part of the Holistic Programme – an initiative designed to equip musicians with a wide-ranging set of skills to thrive in today’s music world. Matheson also funded three student awards as part of the Programme – Environmental Creativity; Music Composition; and the Diversity and Inclusion Creative Project Award, which was awarded to RIAM student, Adam Buttimer, for establishing the summer camp for neurodiverse children, adults, and their families. Named “Exploring the Orchestra”, the camp has hosted sessions in 2023, 2024, 2025 and will continue in 2026, offering concerts and participatory experiences with classical music in an autism-friendly environment.
Commenting on the award, Michael Jackson, Managing Partner, Matheson said:
“Matheson has been a proud supporter of the arts over many decades, and this recognition reflects our commitment to practical, inclusive impact within our communities. Our Arts Committee now operates as one of the key pillars of our Impactful Business Programme, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to encouraging all talent to thrive and to making a positive social impact. We extend our warmest congratulations to Adam for creating this innovative music camp, and to the RIAM for their leadership in making music education more inclusive.”
Deborah Kelleher, Director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, commented:
“We are thrilled to see Matheson recognised for its outstanding commitment to inclusion through the Disability Advocacy Programme of the Year award. The RIAM neurodivergent-friendly music camp is a project very close to our hearts, and this partnership demonstrates the transformative power of music in creating spaces where every child and family can live in music and belong. We are deeply grateful to Matheson for championing this initiative and to Academy student Adam Buttimer, his tutors, and his fellow students, for making the camp a reality.”
Founder of the neurodivergent-friendly music camp, “Exploring the Orchestra”, Adam Buttimer, said:
“This programme began from a personal wish to create a space where both my neurotypical and neurodivergent family members could enjoy music together; a space that didn’t exist when my family needed it. Seeing how much the Exploring the Orchestra summer camp has come to mean to families across Ireland has been incredibly moving and this would not have been possible without the support from Matheson and the RIAM. My greatest hope is that this work continues to grow for many years to come, and I wish all involved continued success as we strive to make music a place for everyone.”
The RIAM partnership is just one of Matheson’s many Impactful Business Programme initiatives, which are delivered strategically across four key pillars comprising diversity and inclusion, the arts, environmental sustainability, and corporate social responsibility, and supplemented by the firm’s pro bono and employee wellbeing activities. Find out more in our online brochure.
About the LBG Social Impact Awards
The LBG Social Impact Awards programme honours firms and individuals from across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region driving measurable progress across a broad range of social impact areas. From inclusive hiring/development and equitable workplace culture to community investment and sustainability, the programme is designed to spotlight the people and practices setting new standards for the industry.