Agents do Charity - walking the walk

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.

Fine & Country Foundation: After a gruelling five-day journey, Jon Cooke, chief executive of nurtur.group, Sean Newman of Fine & Country Midlands, and Craig Dyce, world and European duathlon champion, have completed their ambitious running/walking challenge along the Grand Union Canal Towpath. They raised £6,800 for the Fine & Country Foundation.

Despite facing the physical toll of sore legs and strapped up ankles, Cooke, Newman, and Dyce persevered through 154 miles, beginning at Gas Street Basin in Birmingham and concluding at Fine & Country's Park Lane office in London. Covering an ultra-marathon distance of approximately 30 miles per day, their journey spanned the picturesque countryside of Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, and the Chilterns, showcasing both their endurance and commitment to the cause.

Cooke and Dyce took on the challenge as runners, while Newman opted to walk the route. Their dedication was matched by an outpouring of support from the community through donations and joining them on various legs of the journey, walking, running, or biking alongside them.

Commenting on their achievement, Cooke said: "Completing this challenge was incredibly demanding, but knowing that our efforts are helping those in need made every step worthwhile. We're deeply grateful for the support we've received and thrilled to have raised over £6,800 for the Fine & Country Foundation."

Newman added, "This journey was about more than just reaching London; it was about raising awareness and funds for homelessness and poverty. Seeing people along the way who were sleeping under some of the canal bridges, really brought home why we were doing this challenge. The support from everyone who joined us and donated is truly heartwarming."

Dyce, whose athletic prowess was a source of inspiration throughout the challenge, stated, "It was an honour to be part of this initiative. The funds raised will make a significant difference, and I'm proud of what we've accomplished together."

Find out more: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/grandunionchallenge

Houseful: The parent company of Zoopla, Houseful, has raised more than £70,000 for Crisis, resulting in over 2,000 of the charity’s members leaving homelessness.

Zoopla’s joint research with Crisis supported efforts to encourage the Government to increase local housing allowance in line with inflation. These changes were announced in the Autumn Statement last year and have helped 1.6m households. 

The figure was revealed in Houseful’s latest report on its brand’s environment, social and governance work.

Houseful’s employees also delivered more than 750 hours of career and skill development support to children from low-income families through its partnership with education charity Future Frontiers. 

Commenting on the report, Charlie Bryant, chief executive at Houseful said: “We recognise that as a group of well-known brands, Houseful has a responsibility to drive forward positive change in the property industry. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made as a business in 2023 to move the dial positively, with the results our joint research with Crisis delivered being a particular highlight.”

Matt Downie, chief executive at Crisis, added: “We are really grateful for the generosity of Houseful staff in supporting Crisis and proud of the work we’ve conducted together.

“A three-year freeze on housing benefit had devastating consequences, with thousands of people on the lowest incomes priced out of renting. Many households were forced into homelessness.

“Our joint research was critical in demonstrating the positive impact of raising housing benefit levels – and the UK Government’s subsequent decision to do this in the short term will prevent and end homelessness for tens of thousands of households. We will continue to make the case alongside Houseful for the sustained investment needed to maintain housing benefit to cover the cost of rents.”

Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties: Developer Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties has raised more than £24,400 for Andy’s Man Club by taking on the 106km Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge.

Last year, 4,500 men lost their lives to suicide and to help end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, Andy’s Man Club offers free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the UK to encourage men to speak up.

The Ultra Challenge saw Julian Hodder, Ben Woolman, Andrew Withey, Rob Dabbs, Craige Burden and Conor Edwards from Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties walk 106km over two days across the Isle of Wight.

The route included a walk across the southern cliffs, past the iconic Needles and up to the historic Cowes with a 900m climb. The team from Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties completed the challenge in 23 hours.

The funds raised will support Andy’s Man Club in reaching more men with the opening of new clubs across the region, providing vital and free support for those who need it.

Tanya French, from Andy’s Man Club, said: “It is fantastic to see such commitment from Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties in raising awareness for the work that we do up and down the UK.

“The money raised will make a huge difference to our clubs across the region and it means that we can open even more over the next 12 months, to get the support directly to men who really need. Thanks again to the team that took on this incredible challenge.”
 
Julian Hodder, managing director at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties, added: “Last year, 566 people in the construction industry lost their lives to suicide. This is a cause incredibly close to our hearts and as our Charity of the Year, we were proud to embark on the Ultra Challenge to raise awareness and donations to support its vital work.
 
“We are looking forward to a full calendar of fundraising efforts this year and seeing just how much we can raise for this charity that has touched the lives of thousands of men across the county.”
 
To find out more or to donate to Andy’s Man Club, visit: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/

Hat and Home:  Fourteen thrill-seekers from across the property industry joined forces earlier this week to take on the Hat and Home Wing-Walk Challenge to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK. 

Organised by Ben Gee, founder of Hat and Home, the fundraiser took place at AeroSuperBatics in Cirencester, a Wing-Walk specialist airfield. Participants strapped themselves to a 1942 bi-plane and travelled at 140mph at just 800ft for what is described as a thrilling and “frankly, gut-churning experience.”

With the help of family, friends and industry colleagues Hat and Home has raised almost £100,000 to go towards supporting people living with the condition and funding research for better treatment and ultimately a cure. On this recent adrenaline fuelled event, Ben was joined by adrenaline junkies from Reapit (Harriet Jordan, Shaun Crowe and Carly Sullivan), Savills (Tom Waltham), Footprints powered by ExP (Scott Gunn), ExP (Alex Pelosi Buchanan), Lynne Bird (Churchill Retirement Living), Myles White (Crux Careers) as well as Paul Price, Dylan Jay and Jack Farnon from Hat and Home. 

Hat and Home has also  recently launched The Parkinson’s Promise; an industry-wide initiative to promote transactional giving across the sector. 
Gee said: “It’s fantastic to work in collaboration with so many people from our sector, proving once again how generous and compassionate the property industry is.”

PROPS Awards: Children’s charity Variety has announced the shortlist for the 32nd PROPS Awards.

The event celebrates individuals and companies who have excelled in the sector, whilst raising vital funds for the children and young people that Variety support.

Awards will be up for grabs in 15 categories, in addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award which has this year been awarded to founders of Topland Group (one of the UK’s largest privately owned investment groups), Sol, and Eddie Zakay – and they will be honoured at the PROPS Awards Lunch in June.

Amongst the awards up for grabs is the hotly contested Developer of the Year whereby the judges are looking for companies that have developed groundbreaking initiatives that embodied a well-defined strategic approach and visionary outlook. The companies who manage to stand out in the UK’s crowded residential and commercial sector will also be celebrated with awards ‘Residential Agent of the Year’ and ‘Commercial Agent of the Year’.

Individual awards for some of the most influential individuals in the property space are also on offer – Entrepreneur of the Year recognises individuals who have ‘done it their way’ by founding and running their own company, achieving significant results in the property sector. Additioanlly, Young Property Person of the Year celebrates the ‘individuals to watch’, the next generation of extraordinary property professionals. 

It promises to be an exciting evening, celebrating some of the best in the sector. The full shortlist can be found in the Notes to Editors.

This year’s winners will be announced at the PROPS Awards Lunch taking place from 1145am on 27 June, at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London.

Candice Sammeroff, chair of The Props, said: “We are thrilled to announce our impressive list of finalists for the 32nd PROPS Awards in June. There has been some incredible achievements from both companies and individuals in the property sector over the last year, and we’re excited to recognise and celebrate this work whilst raising vital funds to support disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK.”

Find out more: www.variety.org.uk/event/the-32nd-props-awards/

Agents Giving: Industry charity Agents Giving is bringing back its adrenaline pumping Dragon Boat Race on Sunday 8 September at Fairlop Waters, Ilford, Essex. 

This year’s event is sponsored by Landmark Estate Agency Services.

If you are an estate agency, lettings agency or industry supplier you can enter your team to have a wonderful day of fundraising on the water in aid of The Agents Giving Grant Fund which supports you with your fundraising and Magic Moments – the children’s charity dedicated to helping children suffering with life limiting illnesses.

Ben Robinson, managing director of Landmark Estate Agency Services, said: “The team at Landmark are thrilled to be working with Agents Giving on the famous Dragon Boat Race. It really is one of the best charity events of the year and we can’t wait to experience the day’s activities with you all and to support these two amazing charities.”

Emma Barber, chair of Magic Moments, added: “We are delighted to team up with Agents Giving and Landmark for what is going to be a massive event for our wonderful charities to show just how generous our industry can be. 

“At Magic Moments, we have always been so appreciative of the support and recognition that Agents Giving provides charities like ours and it is a privilege to be teaming up with them as one of their chosen charities for 2024.”