Agents Do Charity - running, biking, tennis, golf and affordable artists' studios

We may be getting an extended summer but agents haven’t just been basking in the heatwave.

There has been plenty of goodwill going round in between the ice creams.

Here is this week’s Agents Do Charity - another edition of good will and cheer generated by the industry’s fund-raising heroes.

There is plenty of sporting prowess this week from tennis to golf and running, all for a range of good causes. If you are fund-raising this autumn, please email us details, picture and videos and we’ll share with the industry. You can contact us at press@estateagenttoday.co.uk.

JOHNS&CO: Staff at JOHNS&CO made a bit of a racket (get it?) at the agency’s inaugural charity tennis tournament in Lyle Park, London.

Players and attendees had an ace time and raised £1,000 for the Richard House Children’s Hospice at a raffle during the event.

The agency partnered with local businesses and the Belgravia-based celebrity hair salon, Errol Douglas to offer an array of attractive raffle prizes.

Clynton Nel, residential director at JOHNS&CO, said: “We have supported the Richard House Children’s Hospice for several years now and it is always a joy to get together as a team in support of this important and worthy cause.

“It was great to see the team dust off their tennis whites and bring their fierce competitiveness to the tennis court in support of this great charitable initiative.”

Katy Scales, corporate partnerships fundraiser at Richard House Children’s Hospice, added: “We are so grateful to JOHNS&CO for organising their own tennis tournament which has raised vital funds for the community that we serve.

“The ongoing support from JOHNS&CO helps Richard House to be there for those who have been hit hardest by the pandemic and allows us to reach more families, in order to support them whenever, and wherever they need us.”

Iceberg Digital: The agency software company’s head of transformation Rob Brady raised £2,500 for mental health charity Mind after running the Brighton Marathon last weekend.

But he isn’t putting his feet up.

Brady is already preparing for the London Marathon in a couple of weeks, where he is again raising money for Mind and also the Mental Health Foundation.

He is completing it under his Fight Train brand, which is a community interest company setup to raise money for the mental health community following the death of his friend to suicide in 2016.

You can donate here: Virgin Money Giving | London Marathon 2021.

He has also launched a team that anyone can join for the World Mental Health Day Virtual Challenge and run, walk or jog any distance to raise awareness. Distances accepted: include 1k, 5k, 10k, 10 miles, half marathon, full marathon, ultra. You can even do it on a treadmill.

Find out how to join the Fight Train team here: Team Fight Train fundraising for Mental Health Foundation on JustGiving

The Lowe Group: Property services company The Lowe Group has announced a partnership with arts charity Set to turn disused buildings into affordable artists’ studios.

Creating affordable studio space helps landlords who are looking to create social impact through their vacant space, whilst artists benefit from affordable creative spaces, as well as access to a community for collaborating and networking.

Tim Lowe, founder of The Lowe Group, said: “We want to breathe fresh life into vacant buildings and create positive social impact by doing so.

“Artists have a great way of bringing buildings back into the heart of the community, and so we’re excited to partner with Set to house artists and creatives who contribute to the vitality of the local community, and who would otherwise be unable to afford normal commercial rents.”

Victorstone Property Consultants: Fokrul Islam, managing director of London agent Victorstone Property Consultants, is getting on his bike tomorrow as part of a 155-plus mile ride to raise £5,000 for human rights charity Restless Beings, which supports unrepresented groups.

The 156.9m Ultra challenge sets off early on Saturday morning (25 September) from the Lee Valley Showground, taking in famous London landmarks before leaving the urban cityscape and venturing into the green fields and testing climbs of the North Wessex Downs.

Once through Windsor, it is onto the Chilterns to conquer more incredible countryside before winding way back through Epping forest and back across the finish line in Lee Valley.

Find out more and donate here: CHARITY BIKE RIDE - DULUX LONDON REVOLUTION 2021 - Restless Beings

Hunters: The annual Hunters Golf Day took place at Easingwold Golf Club in York, raising £12,000 for The Nikki Waterhouse Trust.

The charity was set up in February 2015 in memory of the 32-year-old estate agent who worked for Hunters and was tragically taken away from her family and friends in October 2013. Nikki loved children, so it felt right to create a trust in her name to help make a difference to their lives.

The Nikki Waterhouse Trust was established to help children under the age 18 who are victims of war, natural disaster or catastrophe. The Trust also aims to help children who suffer from life threatening or terminal illnesses or those who have suffered trauma or injury that has had a catastrophic effect on their and their family’s lives.

The event, which also included an auction, was organised by Hunters’ head of marketing Adam Graver and hosted by national sales director Martin Robinson.

Robinson said: “This is a cause close to our hearts and we are thankful to everyone for their support so that we can continue to assist a range of charities, such as Martin House Hospice and York Hospital which have been regular recipients of the Trust’s assistance. We will actively continue to support as many new funding applications as we can across the country.”

The Nikki Waterhouse Trust welcomes applications for funds from all over the United Kingdom. https://www.thenikkiwaterhousetrust.com/

Fine & Country: Prominent property figure in Warwickshire, Jon Handford and his team at Fine & Country Leamington Spa are hosting a golf tournament to raise money for the agency network’s charitable foundation.

The Fine & Country Open Golf Tournament will take place on 12 October on the Kings Course at the Warwickshire Gold & Country Club, with money raised going to support the Fine & Country Foundation, a charity that fights the causes of homelessness.

Handford said: “The Foundation does some amazing work in supporting charities and people struggling with homelessness and poverty.

“It is only through donations and fund-raising that the Foundation has been able to carry out the work that they do, and we would like to contribute by organising and hosting an event that will aid a great cause and bring people together to have some fun and a bit of competition.”

Tickets have been selling fast but there are still some left for avid golfing philanthropists.

Handford added: “Tickets are £100 per golfer, which includes breakfast and coffee on arrival. While the aim of the day is having fun, prizes will be presented at the end and given that most agents are competitive by nature, it could get interesting.

If you would like to take part in the Fine & Country Open Golf Tournament, contact Jon Handford to secure your place by phone 07813 78747 or email Jonathan.h@fineandcountry.com.