Agents Do Charity - for so many heart-breaking, heart-warming causes

These are undeniably darker days as news comes through of a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine - we have the first agency efforts towards helping this cause, amongst many other good works in our column this week.

If you want your work to be recognised by the industry, please let us know. Just email press@estateagenttoday.co.uk and we will do the rest. Thank you.

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British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal: Toby Martin from the lettings agency Reside Bath tells us: “We will be hosting a bake sale in our office on Tuesday March 8, with all of the bakes made by our staff and their families. All proceeds will go to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal. This follows an open discussion in our office about how best to cope with the unfolding atrocities in Ukraine, and the need to do something – no matter how small – to support efforts in the area.”

Congratulations on this initiative Tony - the first of many from our industry for this cause, we are sure.

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Arianna’s Campaign: David Astburys Estate Agents is fundraising for Arianna, a five-year-old girl who was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma in November. Her family are raising funds to pay for potentially life-saving treatment abroad, which will cost £250,000. 

The independent agency, based in Crouch End, has set a bold target of £50,000 and is determined to meet it by holding various fundraising events throughout 2022. This team of agents are hugely supportive of their local communities and passionate about helping those in need. 

Managing director Aaron Cox says: “I was devastated to hear someone so young was going through a terribly tough time and no child should ever have to experience such suffering.  Her story has touched the hearts and minds of our entire team at David Astburys.”

The agency is collecting donations here and the agency’s fundraising is being shown on Instagram @davidastburys

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The Nikki Waterhouse Trust: This charity, founded by the Hunters agency, has donated £20,000 to several children’s hospices throughout the UK, at a challenging time when over 80 per cent of hospice income comes from charitable support.

Donations of £5,000 each were sent to Martin House Wetherby, Acorn Children’s Hospice Birmingham, The Rainbow Trust Loughborough and The Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield. The funds were raised via various by Hunters franchisees and employee salary sacrifice donations.

The Nikki Waterhouse Trust was set up in February 2015 in memory of the 32-year-old 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.

Glynis Frew, managing director of Hunters and a trustee of the charity, comments: “We are thankful to everyone that has contributed and allowed us to make these important donations to hospices which provide end of life care to children and support families at extremely challenging times. 

“With little income support from government, it is vital that we continue to provide assistance and ensure that the work of the hospices can continue. We will actively continue to support as many new funding applications as we can across the country.”

Audio Active, Wadars Animal Rescue, Care For Veterans: Continuing the agency’s 30^th anniversary celebrations, over 30 members at Worthing firm Michael Jones have signed up to brave the Tough Mudder challenge for three local charity partners.

The 10km Tough Mudder is a fun-packed 20 obstacle event taking place in London on April 2. Though not a race, it’s famous for pushing the physical and mental limits of participants. 

Mike Jones, the company’s founder, loved the idea of everyone getting soaked in mud over 10km for a good cause, saying, “The Michael Jones staff are always up for a challenge, especially one which is tough, exhilarating and involves being outdoors. My team at Michael Jones have outdone themselves again, with many of them feeling out of their comfort zone signing up to do Tough Mudder, yet they are committed and determined to complete the whole trail and do it with our three fantastic charities in mind.”

Care for Veterans - For over 100 years, ex-servicemen and women from the RAF, Army, Royal Navy and auxiliary services with life-changing disabilities have received excellent long-term nursing, rehabilitation, respite and award-winning end of life care.

AudioActive - This is a ground-breaking music organisation whose charitable work involves giving young people the space and support for creative expression and talent development regardless of their wealth or background. 

Wadars Animal Rescue - It’s an animal welfare charity based in Ferring. Wadars rescues and rehomes around 400 cats, dogs and other companion animals every year. They work tirelessly to provide rehabilitation of wild animal casualties and their integration back into their natural environment plus a mobile animal rescue service, responding to distressed, injured and displaced animals in your community.

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Variety Props Awards - Variety the Children’s Charity: The Variety London Props Awards are the UK’s longest-standing property awards and recognise individuals and companies in the property industry who have excelled. 

Since 1992 The Props have raised over £10.5 million enabling Variety, the Children’s Charity, to support children and young people throughout the UK.

Now TV presenter and property expert Jonnie Irwin has been announced as host of the inaugural Midlands Props Awards, sponsored by Bond Wolfe, which take place at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham on April 28. 

Jonnie hails from the Midlands and is co-host of A Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country, alongside running a small property purchasing consultancy. 

You may nominate your company, yourself or someone you know for a Midlands Props award. Entry is free and you can enter any number of awards. More details here.