Agents Do Charity - and it’s a big one as the clocks go back…

Shorter days and darker nights deflate the spirits, especially in today’s challenging circumstances, but there’s some bright news - a large number of entries for today’s Agents Do Charity.

Thanks so much for sending them to press@estateagenttoday.co.uk and for doing such great work for good causes.

Remember, the clocks go back this Saturday night into Sunday morning - an extra hour to relax, so there’s no excuse for not spending time now reading about our heroic colleagues…

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Streets of London: One of the capital’s best known agencies, Marsh & Parsons, has named Streets of London as its new charity partner and it pledges to raise £25,000 through a series of Coronavirus-safe company-wide and individual fundraising initiatives.

Streets of London funds specialist support for people who are homeless in the capital, and raises awareness about homelessness. In 2019, Streets of London provided funding totalling £100,000 to projects which help people move away from life without a home.

The first fundraising event will be Streets of London’s annual Sleep-Out, this year taking place in peoples’ homes due to the pandemic. Marsh & Parsons employees will be swapping their bed for a sleeping bag in their gardens or on the floor.

Patrick Littlemore, Marsh & Parsons chief  executive, says: “Streets of London is doing an outstanding job in supporting people sleeping rough across the capital. It’s crucial that we help tackle this problem and even more so during these uncertain times with the coronavirus outbreak. The charity’s approach of offering dedicated services to help get people back on their feet such as career guidance and caring for their mental wellbeing is making a huge difference. We are committed to raising vital funds and awareness of homelessness and the Sleep-Out will be an opportunity to kick-off our fundraising as well as take time to reflect on the hardships of being homeless and demonstrate our support.”

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Stand Up To Cancer: Hamptons International is staging its ‘Relay around the World’ as a company-wide event with employees collectively travelling 24,091 miles – the same distance it would take to travel around the world – by the end of 2020.

In previous years employees have travelled from branch to branch using various modes of transport in its ‘Relay round the Regions’. 

But now employees have been asked to run, dog-walk, cycle, row, scoot, swim or anything they can think of to reach the collective goal of 24,091 miles by the end of the year.

Lesley Cairns, Hamptons’ managing director, says: “We are thrilled to announce our new fundraising initiative to help with this worthy cause. Here at Hamptons we have shown great determination when it comes to fundraising and we’re always keen to rally together as a business and help. 

“Following our previous success with ‘Relay round the Regions’ we decided this was the year to take it a step further and introduce ‘Relay around the World’. Furthermore, by adapting the concept we hope to make it a little easier for everyone to get involved whilst keeping a safe distance.”

To date Hamptons International has raised £370,000 for the charity and this year is more important than ever as CR UK are facing one of the biggest challenges in their history.

You can donate here.

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Martin House: A Yorkshire agency is aiming to go ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ to raise thousands for Martin House Hospice Care for Children and Young People.

Following in the footsteps of the Jules Verne characters Phileas Fogg and Passepartout, staff from Linley & Simpson, are attempting to cover the distance around the world, 24,901 miles on two feet and two wheels - and without travelling far from home.

To reach their target a combined daily distance of 311 miles needs to be covered by the participants, whose movements – be it walking, running, or cycling – are being recorded on a smartphone tracking app.

Martin House, based at Boston Spa, near Wetherby, supports families across West, North and East Yorkshire, providing support and palliative care for children and young people with life limiting conditions. 

Will Linley, Linley & Simpson chief executive, says: “Because Covid has denied us the opportunity of taking part in a series of planned fundraising activities for Martin House, we have now devised this challenge as our grand sponsored finale of 2020.

“With a combined workforce of 260 employees, we hope we can achieve what the characters in the classics Jules Verne novel did, when they went ‘Around the World in 80 Days’, but in our case without setting foot outside of the county!”

Agents Giving Acts of Kindness Awards Shortlist, 2020: It’s already almost awards season and this year, in light of some truly amazing acts of kindness shown by our industry, Agents Giving will be presenting special awards. 

At the Agents Giving virtual ceremony on Friday December 4, at 4pm, there will be an hour of celebration, fun, music, awards and a live charity auction held by Iam Sold.

Charity chairman Michael Stoop says: “We have viewed many Acts of Kindness, good deeds great and small.  We would like to thank all the agents and suppliers who have shared their Acts of Kindness with us this year. We have read about so many wonderful examples of truly heartwarming stories – well done to everyone”.

The event will be available to watch live to agents and suppliers for a suggested donation of £10 per person, which will go to NHS Charities Together. One lucky winner will receive a £200 Amazon voucher kindly donated by ToughRight Software.

The shortlist…

Best Team AOK Award – Sponsored by Homelet

- Paramount, X1 Lettings, Thomas Morris, VTUK, Dawsons, Thorgills,My Property Box and Leaders Romans;

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Best Company AOK Award – Sponsored by The Depositary;

- Lenwell, Reapit, Drivers & Norris, Woo Property, At Home Estate Agents, College & County, Thomas Morris and Spicerhaart;

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Best Individual AOK Award – Sponsored by Just Move In;

- Rachel Johnson of Stacks Property; Ed Mead of Viewber; Joe Elliott of Temme English; Godfrey Haire of Arun Estates; Murray Lee of Dreamview Estates; Suzzana Jupp of Northfields; Jamie Aspland of Pygott & Crone; and Paul Booker of Waterside Properties;

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Best Creative AOK Award – Sponsored by Moneypenny;

- X1 Lettings, Thomas Morris, Michael Jones, Dreamview Estates, My Property Box, Urban Patchwork, Robert Geering, Lennard Hill;

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Best Community AOK Award – Sponsored by Zoopla;

- Stacks Property; Nock Deighton; Thomas Morris; Thorgills; Nicol & Co; Dreamview Estates; Northfields; and Henry Simms;

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Best Industry Supplier AOK Award – Sponsored by Kerfuffle;

- Veco by Eurolink; Reapit; VTUK; Mio; TM Training;

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Best AOK Campaign – Sponsored by PayProp;

- Reapit, Thomas Morris, VTUK, Thorgills, Carter Geering, Northfields, Lennard Hill and Drivers & Norris;

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Special AOK Award – Sponsored by Foxtons;

- Jonathan Martin of Spicerhaart; Rachel Johnson of Stacks Property; Jim Brook of Michael Jones; Paul Saunders of Thomas Morris; Godfrey Haire of Arun Estates; Murray Lee of Dreamview Estates; Robert Geering of  Carter Geering; Julian O’Dell of TM Training;

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Social Media Award for Best AOK - Sponsored by J P Gardner & Associates;

- X1 Lettings; Thomas Morris; Godfrey Haire of Arun Estates; Chris Ellis of Harrisons; Murray Lee of Dreamview Estates; Tessa Gooding of Urban Patchwork; Jon Horton of Mio; Jonathan Martin of Spicerhaart.

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Overall AOK Award – Sponsored by The ESTAS.

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To find out more contact the Agents Giving team on info@agentsgiving.org or see agentsgiving.org.