Agents Do Charity - get ready to swing......

Thanks so much for keeping us informed of good work done by our industry for those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

We'll gladly publcise your efforts - just let us know what you are doing on press@estateagenttoday.co.uk.

Here are this week's heroes...

Agents Giving: Agents should start practicing their swing as the build-up commences to the annual Agents Giving Golf Day, taking place on May 14.

Now in its fifth year the event taking place at De Vere Wychwood Park in Weston, Cheshire, will involve a charity auction and a sumptuous three-course dinner following a fun-filled day of golfing.

Agents with a competitive streak can enjoy attempting to win prizes for longest drive and nearest the pin, as well as best dressed' which was taken last year by a very colourful Simon Whale from Reapit. The overall winning team at last year's events were Atlas Displays and Zoopla Property Group.

The last golf day in September 2014 was particularly successful, raising £4,500 for Agents Giving's supported charities and it is hoped that this year's day will raise even more.

Our golf days are always extremely popular and we hope this one will follow in the success of the last, perhaps even topping it. Due to high demand, agents should ensure to sign up early to avoid disappointment. Those who do sign up can certainly look forward to a fun-filled day of fundraising says Peter Knight, chairman of Agents Giving.

For information on www.agentsgiving.org.

Andrews Charitable Trust: Andrews & Partners, the property group with offices throughout the south of England, has announced its latest donation of over £593,000 to the three registered charitable trusts which it is wholly owned by - Andrews Charitable Trust (ACT), Christian Book Promotion Trust (CBPT), and Christian Initiative Trust (CIT).

Andrews is the only property group in the UK to be wholly owned in this way - a conscious decision made by founder Cecil Jackson Cole, a well-known philanthropist and humanitarian also known for being an original founder of Oxfam, Help the Aged, the Anchor Housing Trust and Action Aid.

One of the beneficiaries of funding from ACT has been Bristol Together, an organisation that works with ex-offenders to develop property which is then sold or leased to housing associations. In addition to a grant worth £70,000 over three years, Michael Robson (Andrews chief executive) and David Westgate (managing director of Andrews Lettings & Management) serve as ACT appointed Directors to Bristol Together.

Andrews and Partners became wholly owned by the three charitable trusts in 1986, and since 2000 some £5.8m worth of charitable donations have been made by Andrews to those charitable trusts.

St Giles Hospice: Sutton Coldfield estate agency Paul Carr is hoping to find the keys to fundraising success after nominating St Giles Hospice as its chosen charity for the second successive running. The firm - which has branches in Boldmere, Four Oaks, Walmley and Erdington - was sold on the idea of fund-raising for the leading charity again after collecting more than £5,500 for the cause last year.

Staff at the agency, will move in to support the work of the charity over the next 12 months and are now aiming to beat last year's total for the cause which is close to their hearts. Michael Carr, director of land and new homes, says: We're very pleased to be able to continue our support for such a valuable charity. We have had staff members with relatives and friends who have been cared for by St Giles and we know how much difference the hospice makes within our local community.

Walking With The Wounded: For most people running a marathon is a huge challenge but Robert Bartlett, the 49 year old chief executive of Chestertons, is setting a new standard by running the equivalent of six marathons in Morocco's Sahara Desert, in the notorious Marathon des Sables.

Taking place from April 3-13, Robert is hoping to raise £20,000 for Walking With The Wounded, a charity that supports the re-education and re-training of wounded servicemen and women. The race starts on Robert's 50th birthday.

Dubbed as the toughest footrace on earth by the Discovery Channel, with a dropout rate of over 50 per cent, the event is a six-day long 'ultra-marathon'. Furthermore, participants are required to carry everything they need for the duration of the race in their backpack, whilst exposing themselves to extreme weather conditions such as sand storms and temperatures of up to 50C.

To support Robert Bartlett and donate to his plea, please visit https://tinyurl.com/kv7a7sf.