Agents Do Charity - some cracking charitable endeavours

A variety of charities have received support from the property industry this 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.

Barratt Homes: Local housebuilder Barratt Homes has raised £43,654.47 for children’s charity, Playskill, thanks to staff fundraising efforts throughout 2023. 

Playskill, Barratt North Thames’ charity of the year, supports pre-school children in Hertfordshire with physical disabilities and delays to develop their communication, movement and key life skills.  

This is achieved through playgroups providing specialist physical therapies, alongside training, advice and support for families in the area.  

Barratt North Thames raised the money through an organised Charity Gala Dinner Evening, that was packed full of entertainment for their guests and to raise money for this great cause.

Barratt North Thames is currently building a range of new homes across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire. In locations such as Leighton Buzzard, Aylesbury, Houghton Regis, Sawbridgeworth and Buckingham.   

Niki Michale, chief executive of Playskill, said: “The support of Barratt North Thames this last year has been incredible, and the donations have enabled us to open up our services to more families in Hertfordshire. 

“Playskill receives no Government funding and relies entirely on donations to provide this vital service free to local families. Without the support and generosity from businesses like Barratts, we simply could not offer this lifeline free to families.” 
We are extremely grateful for any funding that we are given and to have long term support from businesses such as this one really allows us to make a difference throughout the year.”  

Marc Woolfe, sales and marketing director for Barratt North Thames, added: “Supporting Playskill this past year as a local housebuilder in Hertfordshire has been a privilege, and we are so proud to have raised over £40,000. 

“Charities like Playskill make all the difference to local families and transforms the lives of physically disabled children. We wish Playskill all the best and hope that our 2023 fundraising efforts will allow them to keep progressing vital work within our community.” 

Bond Wolfe:  Young patients in the A&E department at Birmingham Children’s Hospital enjoyed more than 100 Easter eggs between them, as part of a new relationship with the Bond Wolfe Charitable Trust.

The eggs were donated by staff at Bond Wolfe, CBGA, Watling Real Estate and REI plc and were handed out to children visiting the A&E department over the Easter Break. 

The eggs donation marked the start of a new relationship with Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which is Bond Wolfe’s chosen charity for 2024.
 

One of the other initiatives the Bond Wolfe Charitable Trust is supporting is the hospital’s Stuff2help project.

This was founded by Dr Vicki Currie at the A&E department and helps patients and their families by providing them with backpacks filled with basic essentials.

Katie Harris, corporate partnerships officer at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Thank you to Bond Wolfe for organising this special Easter eggs treat, and to everyone who donated.

“I am sure these eggs have put so many smiles on the faces of children visiting the A&E department over the Easter Holidays.”

She added: “We’re thrilled by our new partnership with Bond Wolfe and so excited to see what the year ahead of fundraising holds.

“Every penny raised will helps us to go above and beyond for our patients and families, so that they’re not only receiving world-class treatment while with us, but also the best care and experience.”

Birmingham Children’s Hospital provides a full range of general and specialist services for children and young people from across the West Midlands and beyond.

It has the largest paediatric emergency department in the UK, serving over 63,000 patients each year.

Lisa Worrall, director – agency at Bond Wolfe, added: “The primary focus of the Bond Wolfe Charitable Trust is to raise funds for a range of worthy causes that help people from all walks of life.

“In 2024, we are proud to announce our support for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and are hoping to raise plenty of funds through various company activities.”

Propertmark: Agency trade body Propertymark is sponsoring The Anna Wilkinson Mockingbird Trust as its chosen charity of the year.  

The Mockingbird Trust was started by Anna’s family who tragically lost their daughter, Anna, to an inoperable brain tumour.    

She was diagnosed in 2014, and despite remaining strong and brave until the end, she passed away on 22nd January 2016 at the age of 16.    

Ever since The Mockingbird Trust was set up in October 2016, the charity has hosted many fundraising events such as an Australia Skydive on 14th June 2018, a Hadrian’s Wall Walk in July 2017, and they held a Mockingbird Ball twice in 2017 and 2022 to commemorate Anna’s 18th and 21st birthdays respectively, though the latter ball was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID lockdowns.    

To raise awareness about brain tumours, an initiative called Brain Tumour Awareness Month was created by various organisations to relentlessly advocate for research and support in the field of neuro-oncology. March has become a focal point for raising awareness about this condition.  

Nathan Emerson, chief executive at Propertymark, said: “We are so pleased that Propertymark is supporting The Anna Wilkinson Mockingbird Trust, especially during Brain Tumour Awareness Month, a great initiative to advocate for research in neuro-oncology. 

“The Anna Wilkinson Mockingbird Trust is a brilliant charity that has done so much work to help the families of children suffering from cancer to make lasting memories. We are all excited about raising money for this wonderful charity.”