Agents Do Charity - kindness towards the kids

Agents haven't let the festive season get in the way of supporting good causes, and there is a big focus on helping children and homeless people this week.

See some of the latest impressive and heartwarming charitable exploits among property professionals below. 

Whatever the cause you are working for, we would love to help.

Just send details (and images and videos too, please) to press@estateagenttoday.co.uk and we will let the industry know.

Redbrik: The Redbrik Foundation has donated more than £3,500 to organisations across Sheffield and Chesterfield. 

Established in 2020, by the South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire Redbrik estate agency brand, the foundation supports several charitable organisations each year, primarily seeking to enhance the lives of children and young people, the elderly or vulnerable and those with disabilities. 

The latest funds were presented to three organisations; Ashgate Hospice received a donation of £1,368, £1,000 was donated to The Sheffield Children’s Hospital snowflake appeal and the Foundation granted £1500 to Whirlow Hall Farm. 

Funds raised by Redbrik colleagues at the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k in October were donated exclusively to Ashgate Hospice in memory of colleague Kirstie Snape, as per the wishes of Kirstie’s family. 

In March 2021, Kirstie was sadly diagnosed with cancer, and after a brave fight with many highs and lows, she passed away in September this year. 

The Sheffield Children’s Hospital snowflake appeal will contribute to building a helipad at the hospital to save vital minutes when every second counts for patients. Whirlow Hall Farm’s grant will provide alternative education programmes for vulnerable children and young people who cannot attend mainstream education due to a variety of medical needs, mental health issues and learning disabilities. 

David Cooper, Redbrik director and trustee of the Redbrik Foundation, said: “We are delighted to provide support to all three incredible local charities, and we know first-hand the difference these donations will make in helping the organisations continue their work for the local community. 

“I am proud of each and every one of our Redbrik team who took part in the 10k to raise money for Ashgate Hospice in Kirstie’s memory, and I commend their dedication to fundraising during such a difficult time.”
 
 
Spicerhaart: The head office team at Spicerhaart in Colchester, Essex, have been bringing in pre-loved clothes for their colleagues. 

Staff can take home whatever outfits they would like in exchange for a donation to Magic Moments, the company’s in-house charity which supports children and their families that are going through the hospice journey with a magical trip to Disneyland Paris. 

Any items that remain unclaimed after a period of time will be donated to local homeless charity Beacon House. 

Pippa Major, a Magic Moments board member and business analyst to the group managing director at Spicerhaart, said: “Our Spicerhaart family have been donating preloved clothes, so that others can enjoy them, which is incredibly important for the sustainability of our planet. 

“We are helping the environment by reducing our carbon emissions, reducing unnecessary use of water and energy whilst both minimising our contributions to landfill and incinerators. It’s our way of educating and ensuring that our family are conscious consumers, while supporting our own charity at the same time."
“We’re also encouraging them to bring in other items, such as books, which people can enjoy in their breaks, and household groceries which may otherwise go to waste.” 

Spicerhaart is working on how to roll out similar initiatives to help staff working from home, or in branches up and down the country. 

Its group managing director Antony Lark added: “As a company we take our responsibilities to protect our environment seriously and I am delighted to see initiatives like this really come to life. 

“What’s particularly pleasing is how these ideas have been generated by individuals. 

“Pippa, as an example, has shown great passion for this and it is going to be a huge success in so many ways.” 

Arun Estates: Agents at Arun Estates, formed of Cubitt & West, Douglas Allen, Pittis, and Wards, have donated £1m to children’s charity, Barnardo’s to help support vulnerable children in their local area.

Since September, agents have been donating £100 for every property valuation they attend, and they have just completed their 10,000th valuation in just three months, raising an impressive £1m.

The donation made on behalf of their customers has been given to Barnardo’s children’s charity.

Working with Barnardo’s, Cubitt & West, Douglas Allen, Pittis, and Wards’ donation have already started helping vulnerable children in the local area in the Southeast, with food vouchers, clothing and supplying electrical appliances to those who are in need.

Group managing director Aldo Sotgiu said: “In times of financial crisis charities often suffer the most so we chose to help in the best way we could. 

“Donating such a huge amount with the help and support of our colleagues and customers is a great feeling, we just hope other people in more fortunate positions 

Cubitt & West, Douglas Allen, Pittis, and Wards are now looking to others in the industry to support local communities during the first months of 2023 and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Barratt David Wilson Homes: Developer Barratt David Wilson Homes, which is building its Ryebank Gate development in Yapton, has donated £2,500 to its local Trussell Trust branch. 

The donation will support the foodbank’s winter initiatives and help to boost food levels when stocks run low.

Since opening in 2006, Worthing Foodbank has worked with members of the local community through a voucher referral system to provide three-day emergency food parcels to individuals and families in crisis. 

This year the charity has supplied food to 1881 adults and 518 children which is an increase of 40% on the previous year.

Kimberley Benson, sales and marketing director at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties, said: “Foodbanks are already seeing unprecedented levels of usage so this winter we wanted to help those directly affected in the community and spread a little bit of Christmas joy. 

“We hope to alleviate some pressure on the foodbank, helping to boost supply levels and prepare for the next few months of demand.” 
 

Fine & Country Foundation: The Fine & Country Foundation has announced more than 25 charities around the country that will receive funding worth almost £50,000 from its most recent Autumn Grant Scheme.

The grants will go to several organisations and projects focused on alleviating the impacts of poverty and homelessness within their local communities.

Since the Foundation’s inception, more than £690,000 has been donated to worthy causes both in the UK and around the world, with £160,000 of that total being donated over the past 11 months. 

The Foundation hopes to continue building on this success, with the goal of raising £1m over the coming years for homeless charities. Applications for the Spring Grant Scheme will be accepted from 1st March 2023. 

Some of the charities around the country supported by the latest round of grants include, The Forge Project in North Lincolnshire, St Paul’s Hostel in Worcestershire, Vineyard Community in Surrey, Freedom Community Alliance in Devon and HCT in Wales.