Agents Do Charity - singing superheroes

From singing to dressing as superheroes, there are plenty of inspirational examples of agents raising money for good causes this week.

Whatever the cause you are working for, we would love to help.

Just send details (and images and videos too, please) to press@estateagenttoday.co.uk and we will let the industry know.

Fine & Country Foundation: The Fine & Country Foundation raised more than £17,000 in one festive evening last week with its 'Carols by Candlelight' event at King's College in Cambridge.

The funds will be donated to homeless charities across the Cambridgeshire region.

More than 550 attendees were at the evening, ranging from Fine & Country clientele to local Cambridge folk, as well as family and friends from afar of those studying at the prestigious university. 

The event was staffed by volunteers from Fine & Country head office and hosted by Stephen Cherry, King’s College Chapel’s Dean, who began the evening with a warm welcome before proceedings started.

The evening consisted of astonishing vocal displays from the King’s Voices mixed choir accompanying melodic chants from the audience of familiar Christmas carols. 
Attendees were treated to several incredible renditions of songs and hymns performed by the choir, as well as organ solos and readings by both students and advocates of the charities. 

A particular highlight was the premier performance of ‘There did an angel sing’, which was written by a Cambridge alumni, Annabel Rooney. The evening was followed by a mulled wine and mince pie reception enjoyed by many as an opportunity to get into the festive spirit in the magical atmosphere of the chapel at King's College.

Jon Cooke, trustee of the Fine & Country Foundation, said: “The carol concert is a very special event on The Foundation’s calendar, providing an opportunity for people to get into the Christmas spirit with friends and family, while supporting some amazing charities that are doing great work for the local community. 

“Every year we are taken back by the amount of support the event receives and the generosity of those who attend. The Foundation would not be able to make as big of an impact without the kindness of those who donate their time and money in support of the organisation and its causes.”

The £17,000 raised by The Foundation at the carol concert will be divided between Emmaus Cambridge, Jimmy's Cambridge, Wintercomfort and Cambridge Cyrenians – four industrious and devoted charities offering vital services to homeless people in and around the city. Since the Foundation’s inception, over £694,000 has been donated to worthy causes both in the UK and around the world. 

The Foundation has a goal of raising £1,000,000 over the coming years for homeless charities.

David Wilson Homes: Housebuilder David Wilson Homes has collected an impressive 111 gift-filled shoeboxes at its Ashridge Grange development in Wokingham for Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child initiative. 

Donated by members of the local community between 14 and 20 November, the shoeboxes consisted of toys, hygiene items and clothing, and will now be processed at a local Samaritans Purse volunteer centre.

Once processed, the shoeboxes will be distributed to children both in the UK and abroad for Christmas, and over the 2022 donation week the charity collected its 200 millionth shoebox.

Across the housebuilder’s three participating sites, including Ecclesden Park in Angmering and Meadowburne Place in Eastbourne, local communities donated 240 shoeboxes to the campaign.

Nick Cole, director of Operation Christmas Child UK, said: “We would like to extend our gratitude once again to the organisations that have volunteered their space to become drop off points for our campaign this year. 

“We would also like to thank those who have thoughtfully put together a shoebox this month and these will be processed at our regional centre before being dispatched to children in need in time for Christmas.”

Kimberley Benson, sales and marketing director for David Wilson Southern Counties, added: “We have been overwhelmed by the local support for this cause once again and are proud to have been able to be a key point in Wokingham for communities to drop off their shoeboxes. 

“We are committed to helping those local to our developments in the coming months and hope these gifts spark some joy this Christmas and beyond. Once again, we would like to thank our local residents for their continued generosity.”
 

Bradley Hall: Property and estate agency brand Bradley Hall has raised £75,000 for three local charities at its annual fundraiser.

Bradley Hall held its sixth annual fundraising event, the BH Festive Fundraiser Bingo Bonanza at The Fed, Gateshead, in aid of three worthy local charities; Marie Curie Newcastle’s Hospice, Heel & Toe Children’s Charity, and NE Youth.

Since the launch of its annual fundraiser, Bradley Hall has raised and donated almost £300,000 to local charities, community action projects and grassroot sports clubs. 

The firm has contributed to helping over 30 different regional charities and sporting groups including NE Youth, Marie Curie Newcastle’s Hospice, Heel & Toe Children’s Charity, Morpeth Rugby Club, ABF The Soldier’s Charity, Glendale Agricultural Society, as well as local food and toy banks across the region.

Neil Hart, chief executive of Bradley Hall, said: “This year’s festive fundraiser has been our biggest fundraising success yet and I am incredibly proud that we have been able to make a positive impact to local causes. Thank you to the 700 people who attended the event, purchased tables, donated and took part in our auctions.

“I would also like to say a huge thank you to our sponsors for the event; The Inn Collection Group, Smart Vision Screens, Smart Outdoor, Strata and Portfolio North. Their support further added to the donations to Marie Curie’s Newcastle Hospice, Heel and Toe Children’s Charity and NE Youth and will make a huge difference to service users and their families. 

“As a firm we aim to support local economy, business, and communities with a full-service approach to residential and commercial property. Our vision is to work together with key organisations and people to make the North a consistently better place to live, work, and socialise – which is at the heart of our community efforts.” 
 

Arun Estates: Agents across branches of Arun Estates held a superhero day last week to support its charity partners at The Children’s Trust.

Staff from Cubitt & West, Douglas Allen, Pittis and Wards assembled in an array of costumers for a day of games, cakes and raising money and awareness for the charity.

Agents also volunteered in three Children’s Trust shops.

The brand has also hit the £1mn mark for its Barnardo’s campaign.

It has been donating £100 to Barnardo’s for every property valuation it attended since September.

Henigman: Development and investment real estate company Henigman, together with The Pollen Estate has launched a Pop-Up at the Cop Shop, a Christmas charity fundraiser hosted at the decommissioned police station on Savile Row.
It is selling brand new donated womenswear, menswear, accessories and gifts with all proceeds going to Crisis, the national charity for people experiencing homelessness in Britain.

Curated by fashion editor Tom Stubbs and Anda Rowland of iconic Savile Row tailors Anderson and Sheppard, this is the third year of the pop-up, opening just ahead of Crisis at Christmas 2022. 

The pair are setting sights high for 2022, hoping to smash 2019's incredible £100,000 achievement and raise £125,000. 

Running until 14 December, garments include old season stock, flawed stock and samples from luxury brands and press.

New donations hit the floor daily, with donations already confirmed from a large roster of supporters including the likes of Jimmy Choo, Edward Sexton and YMC. 

Dean Main, managing director of Henigman, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with The Pollen Estate to support this important charity and very much hope that this year’s event will reach and perhaps even exceed its target.”