Agents Do Charity - a bumper out-of-lockdown edition…

As last Friday was the VE Day Anniversary bank holiday we have a bumper bundle of fund-raising activities to report on today - and we hope you have time while returning to work to check them out.

These examples show that fund-raising even in these extraordinary times can still happen and be fun too, so if you are embarking on helping good causes do please let us know.

An email to press@estateagenttoday.co.uk is all that’s needed. Thanks, and here we go…

Virtual Doctors Charity: Industry supplier the Landmark Information Group, is pledging ongoing support for this charity which provides clinical officers in rural Africa with access to a network of doctors that volunteer, predominantly from the NHS, in the UK.

As a long-time supporter of the charity, members of Landmark’s development team - including chief technology officer Ian Clarke - volunteer time and technical expertise to continually develop and maintain the Virtual Doctors bespoke tele-medicine software app.

Via the software and smartphones, clinicians in rural Zambia have the ability to send electronic patient files with images to 132 volunteer doctors in the UK, who then provide diagnostic and treatment advice, using the software created by Landmark’s developers. 

With a SIM included for mobile connectivity, the app can be used at any time, in any location, and by using the integrated camera to capture photos of patients’ symptoms.

Now, in recognition that the Covid-19 virus may overwhelm rural health centres - and that health workers could themselves become infected and put out of action - in support of the Zambian Ministry of Health, the Virtual Doctors’ Response Plan focuses on infection prevention and response through Water Sanitation and Hygiene as well as simple diagnostic and education initiatives.

Ian Clarke says: “Our team in Exeter continues to support Virtual Doctors with its mobile and web app development. It’s such a valuable service and we are proud to provide the technology that is really helping to make a difference to some of the poorest communities in Africa. I would like to personally thank the team of willing volunteers who dedicate their own time to maintaining and enhancing the app.”

To donate, please check out this site. 

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Orsett Hospital and Thurrock Comunity Hospital: Brilliant work by Ron Lennard’s team at Lennard & Hill has seen the donation of around 100 nursing face visors to these two hospitals. 

Ron writes: “We are a small single office agency in Grays, Essex and have been successful since we opened in 2005. Although I have been in agency since 1987 and a member of NAEA from 1988 … Jeez I feel old! Its an extremely competitive town with about 20 agencies but this is one example of useful local support I give. We are respected and one of the most successful in the town. During these unprecedented times I like so many others appreciate and offer my gratitude to Our NHS and to my two frontline cousins.”

We couldn’t put it better ourselves Ron - thank you for sharing your experience and keep doing your excellent work.

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Central London Lockdown Support Group: Greater London Properties has been working hard with local people to keep up morale, including several live videos.

You can check them out here.

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Croydon NightWatch Charity: Streets Ahead Estate Agents is doing brilliant work with this organisation, which supplies food to people in need during the crisis.

This is what the agency has told us: “Right now, during the Covid-19 crisis, Dominic who works in the New Homes department, is working hard to locate unwanted food and is collecting from people’s doorsteps and local supermarkets.

Croydon’s NightWatch charity helps Croydon’s homeless people and people that are in their time of need.  If you want to help Dominic help others by donating food, contact him on dominic.modell@streetsahead.info or call him on 020 8655 1300. “

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Hounslow Foodbox: Thorgills - a Brentford-based single branch agency, has been putting  its energy into the local community over recent weeks. 

Firstly it’s helped Hounslow Foodbox, a foodbank, to relocate to larger premises within Brentford. Thorgills sales director Daniel Madden says: ”We usually donate around 200 items of food per month to Hounslow Foodbox, so we know the team and the cause they work for well. We were delighted to help them in these times by moving much of their stock to the new location, particularly as all it required was our cars and a bit of muscle!”

Thorgills' head of people and compliance, Henry Lane, has also coordinated a group of his neighbours to take turns in cooking for the homeless each week. “Our street has really come together over the last few weeks and our neighbours needed little persuasion to give their time, food, ovens and skills to help Thorgills support such an important local cause” says Henry.

Lastly, founder and managing director Ben Madden has discovered a hidden talent a children's entertainer. As a dad to two young children, he certainly knows what colour the Gruffalo's prickles are and his encyclopaedic knowledge of Disney princesses is impressive, so he's putting this to good use by presenting a twice-weekly quiz just for children. 

Fantastic work - well done Thorgills!

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NHS Charities: Temme English estate agency with offices in Essex has done fantastic work putting up over 100 boards across the patch - for every board it donated £10 and it’s still raising more - check this site to donate!

NHS Charities: Keller Williams’ London Bridge operating principle Chris Buckler (who’s also a regular contributor to Estate Agent Today) is taking part in a socially-distanced walking marathon from Bromley to London Bridge.

He’s doing it with his colleague, market centre director Alistair Harper. They've raised almost £1,500 so far, good luck!

Do please donate - details here. 

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Property Brands Unite For Charity: Several leading property brands have united for charity to support the LifeLine Phones 4 NHS campaign for Covid-19 wards and patients.

The campaign is appealing for Londoners and companies to donate new or second-hand smartphones and tablets to the NHS - once data wiped and sanitized they go to Coronavirus patients in wards so that they can have video links with loved ones  

The campaign is backed by Aston Chase, Avanton, Beauchamp Estates, Landhold Developments, LONRES and Wetherell.

Jeremy Gee, managing director of Beauchamp Estates, says: “We and the charity and non-profit organisations involved are delighted that so many firms from across the real estate industry have kindly given support to this initiative to help the NHS provide its patients with an alternative to face-to-face contact. This charity campaign will aim to help connect patients in wards cut off from their loved ones at precisely the time when they need them most.”