Agents Do Charity - bikes, boats and Bond

Fundraising efforts featuring bikes, boats and James Bond all feature in this week's edition of Agents Do Charity.

Remember, if you have charitable exploits you want the rest of the industry to know about, email press@estateagenttoday.co.uk, or contact us on social media, and we’ll do the rest.

Agents Giving: Property professionals helped raised more than £22,000 at the Agents Giving annual Dragon Boat race last Sunday.

The event, sponsored by HomeLet and LetAlliance at Fairlop Waters Country Park in Essex, saw teams row 250m in each of three heats in a bid to reach the final race. 

The racing teams included, Boomin, Foxtons, Kerfuffle, Thomas Morris, TDS, Acaboom, The Depositary, Loop Software, Drivers & Norris, J P Gardner & Associates, Simply Conveyancing, Genmar, Caplen Estates, National Home Move and Propertymark.

The grand final consisted of Thomas Morris, Caplen Estates, Drivers and Norris and Acaboom to see the winners Caplen Estates coming in with a winning race time of 01.01.53, followed by Thomas Morris, Drivers & Norris and Acaboom

David Newnes, Agents Giving chairman, said: “We all enjoyed a fabulous day dragon boat racing and could not have asked for a better day, the sun came out and so did all our wonderful supporters. 

“We would like to thank everyone who took part to help make this such an amazing event.”

For more information and to reserve your team on the lake for next year’s event please contact Agents Giving info@agentsgiving.org or visit the website at www.agentsgiving.org

PROPS Awards: The PROPS Awards 2022 lunch, a fixture in the property industry’s calendar, has raised a £350,000 for children’s charity Variety. 

Celebrating its 30th year, the awards at the London Hilton on Park Lane were hosted by former England rugby union star and broadcaster Martin Bayfield.

Since 1992 the annual PROPS Awards have funded the purchase of more than 2,000 custom-built wheelchairs for disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK.

At the event, the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Ray Palmer, chairman of Fiera Real Estate. Ray was awarded in recognition of his significant impact on the British property industry - over the past five decades.

He said: “I am honoured to be recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 PROPS awards. 

“I am humbled to receive this honour and to be in the company of such an illustrious group of British property icons!"

Neil Sinclair, The PROPS chairman and chief executive of Palace Capital plc, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to all who attended this year’s PROPS awards and to our sponsors and donors. You are so generous. Many congratulations to the winners and those shortlisted too.

“The funds raised allow Variety to help disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK – support that in tough times is needed more than ever.”

Conrad Hollingsworth, chief executive of Variety, added: “To have raised £350,000 is a terrific achievement. 

“Thank you on behalf of all the children and young people who will receive life transforming wheelchairs. Please remember that your support is making a real difference to children and families today.”

Safeagent:  Industry body safeagent is donating all proceeds from subscriptions to its mental health awareness training course to mental health charity MIND this month.

This is being done to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, which ran from 9 to 15 May this year.
 
The safeagent course counts for two hours of formal Continued Professional Development (CPD), and will help agents understand the mental health challenges facing many of their tenants and landlords. 

Any agent can enrol at a cost of £36.00 (including VAT) and 100% of proceeds from subscriptions before 31 May will be donated to MIND.
  
Isobel Thomson, safeagent’s chief executive, said: “With one in four of us experiencing mental health issues at some point in our lifetime, all responsible businesses have a duty to help tackle the mental health epidemic.

“Agents are no different – they have a responsibility to enable open dialogue between their peers, landlords and tenants, so that no voice goes left unheard.

“We all saw the effects that Covid-19 had on mental health. With the cost of living crisis now really starting to bite, sensitive, empathetic customer service is essential to ensuring people feel secure and supported in their homes.”

“This mental health awareness week, why not take the time to learn about how best you can support those around you while donating to a vital cause.”

To find out more about safeagent’s professional development courses and to subscribe to this CPD course, visit: https://elearning.safeagents.co.uk/enrol/index.php?id=133

Hamptons has also this week announced a new charity partnership with MIND and will run fundraising and awareness events.

Lesley Cairns, managing director of Hamptons, said: “Here at Hamptons we have shown great determination when it comes to fundraising, and having reflected on the impact lockdown has had on mental health we have decided we would like to rally together as a business to raise funds for MIND.

“We felt it was important to choose a charity that shared similar values to us in striving to create respectful relationships with our clients and colleagues alike in listening to and supporting each other.

“With one in four people experiencing a mental health problem every year, we recognise the importance of the work that MIND does, and look forward to raising awareness and funds to help support the services they provide and ensure that no one has to face their mental health problem alone.

“Having raised more than £350,000 over the past 9 years for Cancer Research UK we now look forward to supporting MIND and raising money to support this charity that is close to our hearts in all our lives.”

Preston Baker:  A group of six colleagues from Preston Baker Estate Agents are in training to take part in the York 10K in August.

They are raising money for independent mental health charity York Mind.

The runners are Jenny Peacock, Megan Griffiths, Anna Greaves, Julia Pease, Honor Davage and Susan Preston.

Susan said: “We want to support the great work of York Mind in providing a wide range of services to help individuals as they recover from a variety of mental health conditions.

“Mental ill-health affects many people and anything that can be done to raise awareness and combat stigma is to be supported.

Find out more and donate at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/PrestonBaker10kfundraiser

My Property Box: North east England-based estate and lettings agent My Property Box has organised a number of charity initiatives to celebrate 10 years in business over the coming weeks and months.

Staff are lacing up their boots ready to scale England’s highest mountain in aid of north east heart charity, the Red Sky Foundation.

A 15-strong team representing the business are training hard to tackle the 3,209ft high Scafell Pike later this month.

They will be joined by three members of staff from Newcastle estate agent Groves, which was acquired by My Property Box last October.

It is also staging a fundraising ball in aid of the Red Sky Foundation on 9 September and is selling tickets for the 007-themed event, including a three course meal, at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield.

Ben Quaintrell, managing director of My Property Box, said: “It’s been a hugely positive 10 years for My Property Box, and everyone was keen to give something back to the communities we serve.

“I’ve been very impressed at how many of our staff have volunteered to climb Scafell Pike in aid of this fantastic charity, as I’m sure they haven’t been as high as that outside of a holiday jet.”

As well as the foundation, the business also intends to support other local good causes during the year.

Eddisons: A team of 22 colleagues from Eddisons’ building and project consultancy division completed the Harrogate Sprint Triathlon, raising £8,600 for the British Heart Foundation.

The charity was selected in support of a colleague whose father died this year due to a heart complication. 

Having beaten their £7,500 fundraising target, the team is now striving to smash their new goal of raising £10,000 for the charity.

This is the latest in a series of fundraising challenges by the Eddisons building and project consultancy team, which has seen them raise almost £35,000 for a number of charities over the past six years.

The triathlon challenge consisted of a gruelling 420m pool swim, a 24km cycle sprint and a 4.6km run in and around Harrogate.

Joseph Fitzsimmons, building and project consultancy director for Eddisons, said: “It was tough, but we did it.

“There are some sore legs in the office, but it was all worth it for this amazing cause. Having beaten our target of £7,500 we are now pushing to raise over £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation.”

Find out more and donate at www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/britishheartfoundation/eddisons

Three Peaks Challenge: A group of agents have raised more than £30,000 after completing the Three Peaks Challenge.

The challenge involves climbing the highest mountains in Scotland (Ben Nevis at 1,345m), England (Scafell Pike at 978m), and Wales (Snowdon at 1085m) within 24 hours.

Agents participated from brands including Savills, Cushman & Wakefield, Knight Frank, Levanter Developments, Aspen Homes, Stonebond, Grantley Estate Agents, FeatherStone and Inspired Villages.

The funds raised will be split equally between the Louis Thorold Foundation and the Sheldon Cancer Unit at the Good Hope Hospital.

Find out more and donate at https://gofund.me/6a404804