Agents Do Charity - marking a record breaking 2022

Agents are marking a record breaking 2022 for fundraising and are hoping to attract more funds for charitable causes during the year ahead.

Whatever the cause you are working for, at home or abroad, 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 - and perhaps win some more funds for you too.

Thomas Morris: Seven members of the Thomas Morris sales and lettings team, with support from Agents Giving and Relocation Agent Network, slept on the streets of St.Neots in Cambridgeshire on Wednesday night in aid of homeless charity 3 Pillars.

The team has helped raise more than £2,000 so far.

The agent said on its JustGiving fundraising page: “At Thomas Morris Sales & Lettings we are lucky enough to help people find a home as part of our everyday job. 

“However, we understand that not everyone is fortunate enough to be in the position of finding a home themselves for whatever reason and we want to show our support by experiencing what it must be like to sleep on the streets... just for one night.”

Assistant branch manager Francesca Hogben, said: “It was a real eye opener.

“One night was bad enough, but how some people live on the streets night after night is beyond me.”

> Find out more and donate

Connells Group: Connells Group  raised almost £70,000 for its charity partner Mind in 2022, the agency brand has revealed.

The group’s fundraising endeavours over the course of the year included colleague challenges such as golf days, marathons, a trek to Petra and a fundraising initiative to mark World Mental Health Day in October, which raised in excess of £12,000. 

The total also encompasses efforts from Connells Group’s subsidiaries from Hamptons and Lambert Smith Hampton.

David Livesey, chief executive of Connells Group, said: “We are extremely proud to have raised another significant amount for Mind in the second year of our partnership.
“Thank you to everyone who took part, organised, and supported all our charity efforts throughout the year.

“It has been great to see all our colleagues come together for this great cause and, we look forward to another year of supporting Mind and the vitally important work they do.”
Charlotte Porter, head of corporate partnerships at Mind, added: “We are so thankful to Connells Group for their fundraising efforts over the last year and their continued support throughout their partnership with us.

“The pandemic has taken a toll on the nation’s mental health, and the cost-of-living crisis is only making things worse. 

“The money raised by Connells Group will help us to support the one in four of us who experience a mental health problem every year through funding our Mind Infoline, information and advice services, and campaigning activities”

Fine & Country Foundation: The Fine & Country Foundation is marking a record year for fundraising.

The charitable arm of the upmarket agency brand raised £170,000 for charities tackling poverty and homelessness during 2022.

The Foundation awarded more than £165,000 to charities via two grant schemes and other programmes during the year, with a total of 40 global charities benefiting from donations.

In The Foundation’s latest autumn grant scheme, 27 charities from around the UK were awarded £49,793. 

In the spring of 2022, The Foundation awarded more than £31,000 in grants to 16 charities working across the UK and overseas. Applications for this year’s round of spring grants will be accepted from 1 March 2023.

The Fine & Country Foundation also worked hard as an organisation to understand how they could best help those who have been, and continue to be, affected by the conflict in Ukraine. 

The Foundation made an initial donation of £15,000 to Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which unites 15 member charities who are experts in humanitarian aid and disaster response. 

Subsequently, it continued to donate to the cause throughout 2022, with the help of pledges and fundraisers from Fine & Country agents and suppliers bringing the total donated to more than £55,000 by the end of the year on top of donations in the form of hygiene and baby products, as well as clothing and medical supplies to send to the devastated country.

Jon Cooke, Trustee of the Fine & Country Foundation, said: “We are very proud that we have been able to hit the £170,000 milestone this year. The donations and grants that The Foundation give play a part in providing essential financial support to many non-profit organisations fighting against homelessness and poverty. 

“Many of these organisations rely on donations to survive, and money they receive helps them to continue the vital work they are doing within their communities.”
 
He adds that The Foundation would not have been able to achieve the milestone without the Fine & Country network, adding: “While the Foundation organises fundraising events throughout the year, many of the agents within the network take it upon themselves to get creative and do a host of activities to raise money. 

“Without the amazing effort and support of the network and generosity of the public who donated money to their fundraising activities, The Foundation would not have been able to achieve this milestone.”

Agents Giving: Industry charity Agents Giving’s Dragon Boat Race is sailing back onto the fundraising calendar.

This year’s event will take place on 7 May at Fairlop Waters in Ilford, Essex and Agents Giving is inviting teams to take part.

If you are an estate agency, lettings agency or property industry supplier you can pull a team together and enter, you do not need to be super-fit because this is about having an enjoyable day of fundraising on the water for Agents Giving.

Teams signed up so far include, TDS, National Home Move, Acaboom, Drivers & Norris, J P Gardner & Associates, Simply Conveyancing, Genmar IT, Exp UK, LSL, Benjamin Stevens and last year’s winners - Caplen Estates battling to retain their title.

Each team can have up to 17 members, including “a drummer”, no fitness capabilities are required, you must be able to hold a paddle and sit upright in a boat. 

It is the ultimate water sports activity for ages 12+, where you will race in three heats, each being around 250m, with the winners going through to the final race.

David Newnes, chairman of Agents Giving, said: “We can’t wait to return to the water with you all again this year, this really is such a fun and memorable event, one that you won’t forget.”
Boats must be pre booked, secure your boat space today at: https://agentsgiving.org/event/dragon-boat-race

For more information, please contact Agents Giving info@agentsgiving.org or visit the website at www.agentsgiving.org