Agents Do Charity - warm hearts on colder days

There have been plenty of heart-warming examples of agents supporting their local communities and charities this week, from sleep-outs to donations.

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.

allAgents: The final touches are being put in place for the allAgents Customer Experience Awards and there is an important charity aspect to the evening.

The agency customer reviews website as teamed up with Agents Giving for an auction at the event, being held at the Kia Oval.

The evening’s host Martin Roberts has also been taking part in a CEO sleepout in the run up to the event to raise money for homeless charities.

He has raised more than £2,200 so far for the BillyChip charity.

Every agent on the customer reviews website is entered into the awards draw free of charge, which ensures that all winners have achieved award recognition based entirely on genuine feedback from their clients rating and service experiences.

Martin McKenzie of allAgents, said: “As we are coming up to the festive season, we are mindful of the cost of living crisis, so helping to raise money for good causes is something we are keen to be involved in.”

Event sponsors for tonight include Vouch, Simply Conveyancing, Your Lead In, Dwellant, Propertymark and ValPal.

Ludlowthompson:  Staff at Ludlowthompson last month showed their support for UK youth homelessness charity Centrepoint as part of its ‘Sleep Out’ campaign.

Participants swapped their beds for sleeping bags for the night to highlight the reality of the situation many homeless youth, find themselves in. 

The 'Sleep Out' isn’t intended to replicate the exact conditions of sleeping rough, but to give an idea of the plight the homeless go through and to raise awareness and much needed funds.

This year a passionate group of 15 ludlowthompson staff members managed to raise an impressive £7,923, which was 10% above our original target. 

Altogether, 217 supporters took part in the event, several of which were from the property industry, raising a total of £136,311 from over 4,000 donations.

The event this year was held on 17 November at the historic Oval Cricket Ground, and on the night as well as sleeping on the ground, participants had the opportunity to listen to some real helpline telephone calls as well as live talks from individuals who have directly benefited from some of the help and support Centrepoint provide.

Lettings partner Fabian Akinola, an ambassador for Centrepoint, said: “The Centrepoint annual 'Sleep Out' is a truly humbling experience, which we are very honored to be a part of year after year."

“Centrepoint does incredible work to help support thousands of young adults who have nowhere to go and no one to turn to."

"Knowing that the money we have raised means Centrepoint are able to provide shelter and support to those struggling on their own, is something I and everyone at ludlowthompson are extremely proud of." 
 

Agents Together:  A Cumbrian businesswoman has revealed that Location, Location, Location’s Phil Spencer has been helping grow her Lake District property finder business through industry charity and mentoring provider Agents Together.

Gemma Dawe, from Windermere, started her own business Lake District Relocation in 2020, which helps match people with new houses in The Lake District and Yorkshire Dales areas, everything from small family homes to properties worth millions.

Over the summer she has been working with a very special mentor in the form of Phil Spencer, who co-presents Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location alongside Kirstie Allsop.

Gemma made the connection through charity Agents Together.

She said: “I was very lucky that Phil volunteers with the charity and offered to take somebody under his wing and that was me.”

The pair have been getting together regularly online but met face to face for the first-time last month when Gemma attended the Propertymark Qualifications Awards, where she was a finalist in the Learner of the Year category.

Phil was hosting the awards which were held in the British Museum on 11 October.

Gemma added: “It was fantastic to finally meet Phil face to face because the mentorship he has been offering me has been so helpful.

"It's really helpful because you're talking to somebody who has been there and done everything you're doing before. He has obviously got a huge amount of experience and knowledge to share, and he's walked a day in my shoes. The conversations we're having are hugely beneficial."

As well as being mentored by Phil, Gemma is also mentoring another property finder through the charity who is starting out on their career in another part of the country.

She said: “It's great to be able to give back to somebody.

"It's a chance for him to learn from my experience and it helps me review and look back on my own career and learn as well.”

Mundys: Estate agency Mundys has raised more than £12,000 for end-of-life charity Marie Curie, following a pledge in 2021 to donate £20 for every house sold for 12 months.

The generous donation from the Lincoln-based business will support the Marie Curie Nursing Service and Rapid Response teams, which operates across the county and cared for over 2,400 patients in Lincolnshire last year.

Simon Bentley, partner of Mundys, said: “The partners and staff were keen to support a local charity and chose Marie Curie for the fantastic work they carry out and the vital support they give to families at the most difficult of times.”

Lauren Alexander, community fundraiser for Lincolnshire at Marie Curie, added:  “We are so grateful to Mundys for its support over this past year which has raised £12,272.10. Each £20 donation will fund an hour of nursing care and it was a great way for local people to support those with a terminal illness in Lincolnshire. 

“The partnership will enable us to provide a further 634 hours of care. Thank you to Mundys on behalf of all of the families and patients we care for here at Marie Curie.”
 

PTN Estates: West Midlands-based agent PTN Estates has highlighted some of its fundraising and community support accolades for 2022.

This includes donating 10% of its profits from every instruction to the Black Country foodbank. 

It sponsors the West Midlands fire services charity cricket match to help serving and retired fire fighters. A sponsorship led to its ongoing partnership with the fire service which conducts its fire safety and wellness checks for tenants 

The brand also sponsors the Wordsley Wasps’ girls under 10 football team, who recently were the mascots for the West Bromwich Albion women's game. 

Nicol & Co: Donations from a top Midlands estate agency Nicol & Co to St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester have now reached £10,000.

The contribution is one of scores that have been made to local charities, schools and groups from the company’s community fund.

Nicol & Co, which has three branches in Droitwich, Malvern and Worcester, launched the scheme in March 2021 by pledging £100 to each seller’s good cause of choice for every property sale it handles.

Matt Nicol, managing director of Nicol & Co, explained that by making its 100th donation of £100 to St Richard’s Hospice, it meant total donations had now reached £10,000.

He said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be responding to the 100th nomination for St Richard’s Hospice by sending them £100 on behalf of our customers Robert and Susan from Malvern.

“It’s obvious that the work of St Richard’s Hospice is very highly regarded by the homeowners of Worcestershire, and the charity has benefited from 30% of all the nominations we have ever received.

“This also means we are closing in on another community fund milestone with an overall total of £35,000 in our sights by the end of the year, which will be quite special.

“Everyone here at Nicol & Co appreciates being able to support so many wonderful community organisations, volunteers and good causes across the county.
 
“And we’re particularly pleased that so many of our clients have chosen St Richard's Hospice to benefit from the community fund.

“Our scheme is a small drop in the ocean for what the organisation needs to raise each year, but it's pleasing to play our part.”

The donation comes a year after Nicol & Co made its first community fund donation to the hospice, which was launched in 1984 and is based at Wildwood Drive.

Ria Simons, corporate fundraiser at St Richard’s Hospice, added: “This is absolutely amazing, and we’re so grateful for this incredible support from Nicol & Co.

“We want to send a massive congratulations to everyone at the company for organising such an incredibly successful community fundraising campaign, not just for our patients and their loved ones but for so many other worthy, local causes.”

Agents Giving: The Agents Giving Christmas Stocking campaign supporting local food banks is going full speed in the run up to Christmas to help those in our communities who could do with an extra helping hand this year.

Agents are being called on to help spread some Christmas cheer by filling a stocking or two with treats and goodies to donate to your local food bank.
This would mean that in addition to the basic food parcel those in need will receive the extras that everyone loves at Christmas.

Treat donations the food banks would love this festive season are:

• Boxes of chocolates

• Selection boxes

• Chocolate oranges

• Tubes of sweets

• Tree chocolates

• Christmas crackers

• Chocolate coins

• Christmas cakes

• Christmas biscuits

• Christmas puddings

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