Agents Do Charity - just eight more sleeps before the big day…

With barely more than a week before Christmas, we’re delighted to bring you more heartwarming stories from agents.

Despite the difficulties of the pandemic (in fact, perhaps because of those difficulties) we’ve reported on a record number of good works done by our industry in 2021 - thank you.

If you want to keep us informed of your activities in 2022, don’t forget - just email press@estateagenttoday.co.uk.

We’ll be back again on Christmas Eve but for the moment, enjoy these lovely stories…

-

Teams4U: Each year Agency Express joins forces with international relief charity Teams4u for their Christmas Shoebox Appeal which helps bring much joy to children living in poverty across Eastern Europe.

In 2020, as difficult as the year was, Teams4U distributed 48,756 Christmas shoeboxes to vulnerable children and families across Romania, Bosnia and Belarus. While this year’s final figure is yet to be announced, Teams4u have been delighted at the response from donors and only a further 6,561 boxes would be needed to beat last year’s figure. 

Thanks to the generosity of Agency Express’ estate agency customers, industry colleagues, friends, and local communities they were able to donate 1097 Christmas shoeboxes. A record best for their East Anglian collection centre.

The first lorry containing 9,084 Christmas shoeboxes left the Evesham depot on 28th November and is on its way to Romania. Gifts will  be distributed through schools, nurseries, hospitals, and orphanages. Every shoebox will be gratefully received, bringing joy and excitement into an often-bleak existence.

Teams4U shared their thoughts on their partnership with Agency Express: “Teams4u are once again incredibly grateful to Agency Express for their support in this year’s shoebox appeal, which has proved to be quite a challenge. 1097 shoeboxes were delivered to the Teams4u Evesham Warehouse on Monday 29th November, and their boxes will be headed out on the next shipment. Thank you once again to Agency Express and to all that donated for helping make this possible!”

And Naomi Eaton, marketing manager of Agency Express, adds: “This is the fifth year that we have collaborated with Teams4u and we are delighted at the response from our donators and collections teams this year. The overall support and generosity have been overwhelming, and we’re really delighted with the ongoing success of the campaign. Exceeding 1,000 boxes is a real milestone, and we can’t wait to see what next year brings.”

-

Fine & Country Foundation: Earlier this month the foundation hosted a 'Carols by Candlelight' event at King's College in Cambridge raising over £10,500, which will be donated to homeless charities across the Cambridgeshire region.

The evening was a joyous affair with attendees ranging from Fine & Country clientele to local Cambridge folk, as well as family and friends from afar of those studying at the prestigious university. The event was staffed by volunteers from Fine & Country Head Office, eager to offer their Sunday evenings to the worthy charity event. With around 500 people seated in pews, well distributed to allow for Covid-safety measures to be in place, the service began with a warm welcome from the King’s College Chapel’s Dean, Stephen Cherry.

Thereafter followed the yuletide festivities! There were astonishing vocal displays from the King’s Voices mixed choir accompanying melodic chants from the audience of familiar Christmas carols, while the choir also performed incredible renditions of songs and hymns. There were also organ solos and readings by students of the college and advocates of the charities. The evening was followed by a mulled wine and mince pie reception enjoyed by many as an opportunity to get into the festive spirit in the magical atmosphere of the chapel at King's College.

Simon Leadbetter, Global CEO for Fine & Country spoke at the event and extended his sincere thanks to all the attendees: “Simply put, we could not achieve the extraordinary totals we reach at each fundraising event without the generosity and kindness of people wanting to make a difference to the lives of those less fortunate than themselves. Our friends, colleagues, families, and customers all come together to fundraise and donate time and money to these very worthy causes, and it is truly a privilege to be involved in events such as this one.”

The £10,500 raised by The Foundation at the carol concert will be divided between Emmaus Cambridge, Jimmy's Cambridge, Wintercomfort and Cambridge Cyrenians – four industrious and devoted charities offering vital services to homeless people in and around the city. Since the Foundation’s inception, over £600,000 has been donated to worthy causes both in the UK and around the world. The Foundation hopes to continue building on this success, with the goal of raising £1,000,000 over the coming years for homeless charities.

Essex Charities: The Christmas spirit is well and truly in the air as Beresfords Property Group prepare to support 12 Essex-based charities throughout December.

The initiative makes up an online advent calendar that will reveal a different cause and charity each day. Marketing executive Lizzy Drewett says: “Giving back and getting involved with the community is really important to Beresfords as a company. We aim to support as many causes as possible throughout the year, but we thought that it would be a really nice idea to do something during the Christmas period that would help more than just one charity. Our involvement has included volunteering, monetary donations as well as physical gifts and items requested by the charities.

“We have created a digital calendar that will be live on our website, whereby each day will reveal what we did and why. It’s truly heart-warming to work on such a worthwhile charitable project, that has helped such a variety of different causes.”

-

St Mungo’s and The Passage: The Chestertons Foundation, the charitable arm of Chestertons, has raised £80,000 in support of two  homelessness charities at its inaugural dinner.

Guest of Honour Lynn Cooper, High Sheriff of Greater London, spoke of how we can all work together to tackle homelessness and other social problems faced by Londoners. 

St Mungo’s and The Passage charities provide support for people recovering from experiences of homelessness, including providing tools that are vital for their long-term recovery such as skills training. Over the past year, St Mungo’s has supported more than 31,600 people.