Agents Do Charity - the getting-close-to-Christmas edition

The election is over and there’s nothing on the agenda except the run-up to Christmas - although there’s still time for a little good work before we all break for the festivities.

Please remember, we have one more Agents Do Charity before the holidays, so email us at press@estateagenttoday.co.uk.

Right, that sounds like sleigh bells in the distance so here we go…

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Brent Food Bank: You may have seen Paramount Properties’ Christmas photos last week - well that was in aid of the Elves Take Over Paramount theme which the London agency has this year. 

There are two splendid events today (5:30 to 7:30 pm) and tomorrow (11 am to 1pm) where children can come to the West Hampstead office and help the elves prepare gifts for the big day.

This involves decorating cookies at Cookie Corner, writing letters to Santa, getting their faces festively painted and glittered by Leah at Neverland Events, and creating their very own Christmas tree decorations.

Collections will be for Brent food bank - a fantastic Christmas gesture.

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TDS Charitable Foundation: The TDS Charitable Foundation has published its 2018/2019 Annual Review, which revealed how the charity has distributed over £293,000 of grants to nine different organisations across England and Wales in the last financial year. 

The Foundation, which is funded by donations from The Dispute Service and operates in England and Wales, awards grants to encourage best practice in the management of private rented housing and education of landlords on their obligations.  It also seeks to promote the rights and responsibilities of tenants.

To date, the Foundation has awarded £753,375 of funds to a range of different ventures.

For those who wish to apply for a grant in the next round, the deadline for the submission of applications is 5pm on Monday January 20 2020. Funding will be capped at a maximum of £10,000 for each successful project, enabling the charity to maximise its support to deserving organisations around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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Agents Giving/Foodbanks: As winter sets in the demand on our local foodbanks will increase as they face a struggle to feed everyone who comes through their doors.  They need your help this winter.

Property industry charity Agents Giving is continuing its support of The Trussell Trust as well as the hundreds of independent foodbanks and centers and are asking the industry to support and help combat poverty this winter.

In the last five years’ foodbank use in The Trussell Trust network has increased by 73 per cent; 1.6m foodbank parcels were given in the last year ending March 2019, and more than half a million of these went to children.

Here are some of the ways you can take action against poverty and hunger this winter.

Not just food – they need volunteers: Foodbanks are in urgent need of people to volunteer to collect food donations, help sorting and packing the food or making the tea and having a friendly chat.

Fundraising and Donations: Organizing a fundraising challenge and donating the proceeds to your local foodbank to help towards the many other costs they incur to support their clients.

What food do they need? Each food bank will have a list available on their webpage of items they are in desperate need of, so please check before you start collecting.

Christmas Goody Boxes – an extra treat this Christmas time:  The Dorking Trussell Trust Foodbank in Surrey and many others will be putting together some nice Christmas treat items in goody boxes for their clients and the elderly this year.  Treats could consist of nice/luxury chocolates, biscuits, sweets, jams/spreads, chutneys and also mini Christmas puddings.  Treats to make people feel special.