Agents Do Charity - get your boxing gloves ready!

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry over the past week.

If there are charitable endeavours you think the rest of the industry should know about, please email us on press@estateagenttoday.co.uk, or get in touch via our social platforms, and we’ll do the rest.

Yopa: Online agent Yopa, has extended its partnership with Children in Scotland, providing crucial support for children and young people across Scotland.

The partnership, which began in September 2022 for an initial six-month period, has gone from strength to strength and by the end of the next phase, Yopa will have supported Children in Scotland’s work for 18 months, helping the organisation to fund its young people’s advisory group, Changing our World (CoW). Comprised of members aged eight to 25, CoW ensures that young voices are part of national decision-making campaigning on issues such as the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scot’s Law.
 
With an interest in improving children’s health and wellbeing in Scotland, Yopa has supported CoW’s recent work addressing the harms of vaping and the way it is marketed to young people. CoW members have had the opportunity to voice their concerns during ministerial meetings with Scottish Government and recently compiled an evidence paper on the use of vapes and other tobacco products in education settings. Both organisations welcome news of plans to ban single use vapes.
 
Yopa has also sponsored key Children in Scotland events, including its annual conference, mental health conference and 30th anniversary reception. These events have brought together representatives from across the children’s sector to push forward progress in areas such as mental health and wellbeing, learning and inclusivity and children’s rights.

Verona Frankish, chief executive of Yopa, said: “The Yopa Scotland team works at the heart of our local communities, and many of us are parents too; we all want the best for our young people and the places they grow up in, and we're delighted to be able to support an organisation working for the same goal. Like Children in Scotland, we believe that every young person should have equal access to art, culture, education and opportunities, and live in a world free from discrimination.”

Simon Massey, head of engagement and learning at Children in Scotland, added: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Yopa and to work with an organisation who shares our vision that all children in Scotland have an equal chance to flourish. Yopa’s contributions have already made an enormous difference to our work at such a critical time given the challenges children, young people and their families currently face in Scotland. We look forward to seeing the impact of Yopa’s support during this next stage of our partnership.”

Rumble With The Agents: Applications are now open for The Rumble With The Agents charity event, sponsored by Hamilton Fraser.

Now in its ninth year, the event promises an exhilarating evening of boxing, camaraderie, and philanthropy, while supporting this year’s charities of Legend on the Bench, a charity that helps combat Mental Health issues and Suicides, set up by former Spurs footballer Micky Hazzard, who will be a guest of honour at the event along with other ex-footballers attending.

Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, a dedicated boxing enthusiast and organiser of the event is calling for people to get involved.  With no prior boxing experience necessary, Rumble with the Agents is seeking 10 boxers, men and women willing to embark on a journey of fitness, skill development, and altruism. The programme includes compulsory group boxing sessions at Boxr Bootcamp in North London, supplemented by three months of individual training at local gyms.

The main event, scheduled for Thursday 27 June 2024, at  Holiday Inn, The Avenue Banqueting, 58 Regents Park Road, London, promises an unforgettable evening featuring five fights, a three-course meal with drinks, a lively auction, raffle, and post-event disco.

Shamplina said: "Knowing how competitive agents would be, I knew the idea would be met with keen interest; and here we are nine years later and having raised nearly £150,000 for local charities.”
 
Participants from all corners of the property industry, including agents, professionals, suppliers, and landlords, are encouraged to join in the action by securing a table of 10 to represent their company at the event. It's an opportunity to network, engage in friendly competition, and make a meaningful difference in the community.

> Find out more 

Barratt Foundation: Buckingham Primary School has unveiled its transformed playground for the new year, thanks to the support from The Barratt Foundation, the charity partnership of Buckinghamshire housebuilder Barratt Homes.

The housebuilder, which is selling new homes at the nearby St Rumbold’s Fields development in Buckingham, has donated £1,500 to the school to improve its outdoor facilities for students.

The donation has contributed to new equipment and a refresh of the existing play area, providing more opportunities for the children of Buckingham Primary School to socialise and learn outdoors.

The donation comes from The Barratt Foundation, the housebuilder’s charity partnership, which supports children, young people and disadvantaged groups wherever Barratt Developments PLC operates across the UK.

Marc Woolfe, director of sales at Barratt Homes North Thames, added: “The playground at Buckingham Primary School has been loved by students over the years, and we wanted to ensure the fun does not stop anytime soon. We can see how committed the teachers are to the development of their pupils, and we hope our donation supports outdoor learning further.”

Kelly Brookes, assistant headteacher at Buckingham Primary School, added: “The art of outdoor play is essential to children’s learning and development. We are so grateful to Barratt North Thames for this generous donation, as well as their previous support to improve our playground. Our biggest challenge is now getting our pupils back inside due to just how much they love the refreshed space.”

It comes after Barratt Homes kickstarted the year with a donation of £1,500 to the Paediatric and Neonatal Decision Support and Retrieval Service, based at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridgeshire (PaNDR).

The housebuilder’s donation will help Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) fund state of the art medical equipment, as well as continuing to provide critical ambulance care for newborn infants and children requiring transfers across the East of England.

Agents Giving: Industry charity Agents Giving is once again on hand to support with your fundraising this year with their Grant Fund supported by The Guild of Property Professionals.
This fund exists to help towards the costs of any fundraising challenge or event that you might be organising this year, meaning more of the money you raise goes to your own chosen charities.

If you are organising any fundraising Agents Giving could help with a grant of up to £350, dependant on your anticipated fundraising target.

An industry fundraiser who has set himself a huge task of completing 10 marathons in 10 weekends is Ian Macbeth, managing partner of Avocado Property. 

He received a grant form Agents Giving to help towards his challenge.

Ian said: “Throughout the first 10 weeks of 2024 I have committed to run a marathon every weekend for The Computers for Schools initiative set up by Stephen J Brow n of Stephen J Brown Consultancy in a bid to help get more computers in schools, last weekend I managed to beat my personal best by completing a marathon in under four hours.”

“As a father with two young daughters I know the importance of education moving with the times, and the restrictions many schools face with their budgets. This is a way we can hopefully raise money towards the fund. I have spoken to a few local head teachers, and they all stressed how desperate they are for this type of help.

“I’m thankful for the support of my family, business network, friends and hopefully the wider estate agency industry. Let’s make this happen and help get Stephen closer towards his amazing target of £200,000 for Computers for Schools.”

Ian’s personal target is £2,000.

> Donate and find out more

If you are planning your next charity fundraiser you can apply for a grant, and you will also get support promoting your event. Requests can be made via the Agents Giving website; http://agentsgiving.org/the-agents-giving-grant-fund