Agents Do Charity - moving tales of fundraising

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week.

Hamptons: Agency brand Hamptons has announced it will launch its new Move & Give initiative in support of Earth Day on 22 April and in partnership with removals partner Doree Bonner International, and charity partner Mind.

The agent will be offering its customers who use the Doree Bonner International removals service the opportunity to donate unwanted clothes, homeware, entertainment, electronics, and non-perishable foods, to local foodbanks and Mind charity shops as part of the same service. 

Not only will this give their customers a convenient and free way of removing unwanted items from their home when they move, but it will also benefit local communities through the sharing of food items and the rehoming of unwanted goods.

Hamptons is the first estate agent to offer this service to customers through removal partner Doree Bonner International.

Lesley Cairns, managing director at Hamptons, said: “At Hamptons we are committed to improving the lives of our customers. We recognise that at times moving can be stressful and we want to make every stage of this process as easy as possible. 

“Move and Give will enable us to offer our customers a hassle free way of disposing of unwanted household items accumulated when moving home, whilst also helping to protect the planet by reducing waste. We are thrilled to announce this new initiative, not only because of what it offers our customers and what it can do for our environment but because it also allows us to come together to help local communities across our network.

“We have been working closely with both Doree Bonner International and Mind for some time and we are delighted to be able to expand these relationships and work together to have a positive impact on our customers’ moving journey, our environment, and those in need of support during difficult times.

“Since May 2022, Hamptons has raised more than £37,000 for Mind through fundraisers across Hamptons branches and colleagues taking on physical challenges. This year, alongside continued colleague fundraising, a team from Hamptons will be taking on the National Three Peaks challenge in aid of Mind.”

Jason Herbert, group managing director at Doree Bonner International, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Hamptons and Mind, and to have found a solution to our customer’s problems of easily disposing of items they no longer need, by putting these to such good use.

“We have worked in partnership with Hamptons for many years now, with hundreds of their clients being quoted and using our services each year, meaning there is massive potential to generate donations for such a deserving charity.

“To kick start the initiative we have also asked our staff across the UK to donate their unwanted items, which has attracted an outpouring of donations already! Our customers have also responded very positively and over the next few months we will be striving to maximise the donations and look forward to seeing how much they will raise in pursuit of a good cause.”
 
Charlotte Porter, head of corporate partnerships at Mind, said:  “We are thrilled to be a part of the Move & Give initiative and are so thankful to both Hamptons and Doree Bonner for their support.

“We have 160 Mind shops embedded in the heart of local communities across England and Wales and are so grateful for all of the donations we receive. The pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis has taken a brutal toll on the nation’s mental health, and we are in the midst of a mental health crisis. That’s why donations are needed now more than ever, so we can be there for as many people who need us as possible. By purchasing donations in one of our Mind shops, you are helping to support our services, and the campaigning we do to ensure that the one in four of us who experience a mental health problem each year, do not face it alone.”

Find out more and donate: https://www.hamptons.co.uk/moveandgive#/

Fine & Country: The Fine & Country Foundation has chosen 28 charities, with 27 of them based in the UK and one in South Africa, to receive a total of £45,488 in grants in its Spring Grant scheme.

The Grant Scheme is designed to financially support non-profit organisations and charities that specifically focus on combating homelessness and poverty. 

The Foundation aims to provide some financial aid to these organisations, as they rely heavily on donations and have been significantly impacted by the increasing cost of living. 

The grants are awarded twice a year in the Spring and Autumn, with Fine & Country offices around the world encouraged to submit applications nominating a charity of their choice to receive a donation of up to £3,000. These proposals are then reviewed by The Foundation board and successful projects are awarded with grants.

Jon Cooke, trustee of the Fine & Country Foundation, said: “Many organisations have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and require financial assistance to continue doing the remarkable work they do within their local communities. 

“We hope that the grants that have been awarded will make a positive impact and will help support these organisations on their vital missions to make a difference in people’s lives. The fundraising efforts of the network and donations we have received have made it possible for The Foundation to be able to support so many amazing charities and non-profit organisations through the grant schemes over the years.”

In addition to the Spring grants, so far this year The Foundation has donated £10,000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Turkey-Syria earthquake appeal, with a further £2,600 donated by offices within the network directly to charities in their region.

The Foundation said it hopes to continue building on this success, with the goal of raising £1,000,000 over the coming years for homeless charities.

Find out more and donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fineand-country

Barratt David Wilson Homes: Aylesbury-based Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity recently received a £1,500 boost from Barratt David Wilson Homes, to allow it to continue providing vital care for patients with life-limiting illnesses. 

The housebuilder, currently building its Kingsbrook development just 2.3 miles from the charity’s head office, provided the donation as part of its Community Fund initiative.

Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity helps patients with life-limiting illnesses across Buckinghamshire to access the best possible care. It provides services to improve patients’ physical and mental wellbeing through clinical support, therapies and spiritual care on site and in patients’ homes.

Tony White, corporate fundraising manager at Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, said: “As a charity our work relies on the generosity of our supporters. Donations such as this allow us to continue providing much-needed services which make a huge difference to our patients’ lives. 

“Every patient has different needs, and requires a varied level of care. Thanks to this donation we can continue to offer an individual service to every one of our patients ensuring we meet their unique needs.”

The donation was made as part of The Barratt Foundation’s Community Fund initiative, which sees the housebuilder donate £1,500 each month to a local charity to improve the quality of life for those living in the local area.

Marc Woolfe, head of sales at Barratt David Wilson North Thames, added: “I’m very glad that our community fund scheme gives us the opportunity to donate to invaluable charities like the Florence Nightingale Hospice. 

“The care its nurses offer their patients is second to none, and its crucial that those facing life-limiting illnesses have access this level of support at the time when they need it most.”