Agents Do Charity - and there’s a long weekend here at last…

You might be forgiven for thinking we’ve been cheated out of our Bank Holidays this year, as so many fell during the lockdown period. So at last we’re here with a three day weekend…but of course it’s the last one before (whisper it quietly) Christmas!

After we refresh this weekend there’s little doubt the industry will renew its love of fund-raising for good causes. If so, do please let us know on press@estateagenttoday.co.uk and we’ll let the industry know of your fantastic efforts.

In the meantime, here are more heroes below…and enjoy the long weekend!

Mind: The Federation of Independent Agents has announced its support for Mind, the leading mental health charity serving England and Wales.

FIA founder Graham Lock says: “Running a business can be mentally tough, I know from experience! The FIA consists of business owners who've all been through, and continue to experience the ups and downs that it brings. I'm pleased to say that we speak more about this than we used to.

“We cannot underestimate or ignore mental health in all walks of life, so I'm enormously proud to announce that the FIA are supporting Mind.” 

Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. It campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding and provides support directly to those who need it most. Mind has a network of over 140 local branches across England and Wales which offer specialised services based on the needs of the communities they support. 

“Mind will play a huge role in all future FIA events, we want to raise awareness as well as funds for this incredible charity” explains Graham. 

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Holding On, Letting Go: After being bitten by the cycling bug during lockdown, Ryan Dennis, - manager at Harrisons Residential in Sittingbourne - has set himself a challenge of cycling 150 miles around Kent's coastline for this excellent bereavement charity. 

“I have a young daughter myself, and the thought of her ever having to go through the grieving processes really brings home to me why charities such as Holding On Letting Go are needed to support our children during some of the darkest times of their lives" says Ryan, whose ride takes place tomorrow.

You can donate to his Just Giving page here. 

Southampton NHS Workers: These key workers from the front like  have saved over £675,000 thanks to the Barratt Developments NHS Deposit Contribution Scheme, which was launched in May. 

This means NHS employees receive a five per cent contribution towards a deposit on their new homes as a thank you for their hard work during the COVID-19 crisis.

Some 110 NHS workers purchased new Barratt and David Wilson homes in the southern region, and buyers in Southampton made up 54 of that figure, 40 of which were first timers. Overall, they have saved £677,825.70.

The NHS incentive can also be used in conjunction with the government Help to Buy scheme.

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Four Streets Project and Helping Hands: And finally, many thanks to Jamie Gray of Nexa Properties in Portsmouth: he’s well on the way to raising £2,000 to help provide support to the homeless and most vulnerable via The Four Streets Project in Chichester and Helping Hands in Portsmouth.

You can give here and you might be inspired to  donate a little more by seeing his burpee marathon over on Facebook. Keep it up Jamie!