Agents Do Charity - from front doors to wild gardens...

Hello and welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity - and just because it’s half term, don’t think the industry has been taking time off from doing great work.

If you want to share the efforts of your firm, your branch or even your good self, just drop up a line at press@estateagenttoday.co.uk and we’ll tell our readers.

Now, on with the show...

Rob Lewis, FNEA (Honoured): Thanks to the support from the Arbon Trust, the charitable arm of Propertymark for members, staff and families, Rob from Swansea can now get in and out of his own house.

Rob who has been a member for 35 years suffered a massive stroke last October and was in hospital for over four months, only coming out of hospital recently.

He was provided with a wheelchair by the NHS, however when he got home he found that the wheelchair would not go through his front door, meaning he required assistance to get in or out. 

The Arbon Trust heard about his difficulties and agreed to pay for alterations and a new front door and now Rob can go out independently.

Additionally the Trust has agreed to fund additional specialist physiotherapy  for Rob to add to that provided by the NHS in the hope that this will improve his mobility enabling him to get back to work as soon as possible. 

John Oakley one of the trustees of the Arbon Trust presented Rob with a cheque to assist with the cost of the physiotherapy outside his new front door.

Rob and his wife Andrea together with Rob’s father Michael, said that the support they have had from the Arbon Trust has been invaluable, not only for the alterations and the funding for physiotherapy, but for the fact that the profession that he has spent his life working in have been there for him during these difficult times.

The Arbon Trust has also indicated that, where appropriate, they would be prepared to support him further if necessary.

And the Trust says: “If you need a sympathetic ear, practical help or financial assistance, please get in touch. Rest assured if you contact us, any information you provide will be treated in complete confidence. Contact John Oakley on email  john@johnoakley.co.uk or visit www.Propertymark.co.uk/arbon-trust

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Food Banks: Agents Giving is continuing its support of the Trussell Trust with a nationwide campaign on Agents Giving Day, June 21, to encourage all agents and suppliers to donate a food parcel and help combat poverty. 

Agents Giving wants YOUR help to tackle hunger in local communities by preparing a simple food parcel to donate to your local food bank.  

Please check with your food bank the items they are in most need of, collect them up and make the donation. Your office could also act as a collection point for any food donations.

Peter Knight, chairman of Agents Giving, says; “We’e encouraging everyone to support their food bank this Agents Giving Day, 21st June. By simply donating a food parcel it can help make such a difference to those living and going hungry in our local communities”.

Find your local food bank on this site - https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/ - and for more information on how to get involved with this initiative, please visit the Agents Giving website agentsgiving.org.

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Norwood Property Lunch: Well-respected buying agency Black Brick is supporting this year’s Norwood Property Lunch. 

Taking place on June 29 the annual event plays host to some of the most influential property experts, developers, estate agents, influencers and professionals, who attend to show their support for Norwood.

Boasting an impressive line-up of sponsors including Savills, Howard Kennedy and Derwent London, attendees will enjoy the networking opportunities, awards and a raffle with some fabulous prizes up for grabs.

Those who have already secured their table include Foxtons, Coutts, Ronson Capital Partners, Cain Hoy Enterprises, Beauchamp Estates, Aston Chase, Galliard Homes, JLL, Savills, Regal London, Howard Kennedy Llp, Make Architects and Mischon De Reya Llp.

“We’re so proud to support Norwood and this year’s annual property lunch is set to be one of the best yet. Some of the top names in the property industry will be in attendance to give their support. The event is not only a fantastic networking opportunity and a fun afternoon but is also an important way to showcase the exceptional work that the charity does to support vulnerable children and their families” explains Camilla Dell, managing partner at Black Brick.

Norwood is the largest Jewish charity in the UK supporting vulnerable children and their families, children with special educational needs and people with learning disabilities. Founded in 1795, Norwood is one of the UK’s oldest charities and the only Jewish charity to enjoy the Patronage of Her Majesty The Queen.

To reserve a table please visit: www.norwood.org.uk/Events/Detail/Property-Lunch-2018#.Wvw_HS-ZMdV or contact Black Brick on 020 3141 9861.

TDS Charitable Foundation: The Charitable Foundation of TDS, the deposit protection scheme, has invited applications for funding to be submitted by June 14.

The foundation awarded £41,881 in its last round of funding and has given over £460,000 to organisations since it started in 2012.

The TDS Charitable Foundation has invited organisations working to advance education about housing rights and obligations in the private rented sector to apply this time round. 

There are three bands of funding for which groups can apply for; a national project with national impact, an innovation fund for new projects to be created, and a community level for local initiatives.

Martin Partington CBE QC, chairman of the TDS Charitable Foundation, says: “The PRS is often difficult to navigate, which is why we are committed to supporting projects, people and groups who aim to make a positive difference to the sector. It’s vital that both landlords and tenants across the country know their rights and responsibilities if we want to raise standards.”

Applications for funding can be made online and must be submitted before 5pm on Tuesday June 14. For more details visit www.tdsfoundation.org.uk.

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Martin House Children’s Hospice: Children with life-limiting illnesses have a new ‘escape’ from their hospice care to look forward to, after a jungle adventure garden was created by staff from a Yorkshire agency.

Part of the grounds of Martin House Children’s Hospice now resemble Borneo more than its base at Boston Spa, near Wetherby, after volunteers from Linley & Simpson transformed the area.

The residential sales and letting agents teamed up with its maintenance partners The Garden Keepers to revamp part of the rural estate that had become overgrown and neglected.

In just one day, a team of seven rolled up their sleeves for their mission ahead – creating a jungle garden for all the children and their family and friends who are supported by the hospice.

All the materials were donated and everyone involved in the makeover volunteered their time for free. 

Emily Wilkinson, who coordinates Linley & Simpson’s programme of community support says: “Martin House is now our staff’s long-term charity of choice, its work inspiring all of us to help in whatever way we can. The type of relationship enables us to better understand the future goals of the charity and contribute to its success in achieving them. Everyone on both sides of the partnership gets to know each other better and feels a sense of ownership of what we are all doing.”