Agents Do Charity - showing support for good causes

Check out some of the latest charitable endeavours from agency and property brands this week.

If you have a charitable event or donations 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.

Wards: Wards branches in Kent have raised money for its 2023 charity partner The Children’s Trust. 

From dog drawing competitions to cake sales, its teams have raised more than £4,000.

This was done alongside its 2023 foodbank campaign that has raised more than £600,000.

Tom Ross-Bason, operations director of Wards, said: “A truly magical day made even more special by the effort and energy put into making it our most successful one yet.

“More than £4,000 raised on the day for our charity partner The Children's Trust. For me the biggest win, was seeing all staff simply having fun, which you can see by the smile of the faces of so many.”

Fine & Country Foundation: The Fine & Country Foundation’s spring grant programme has opened, offering charities both in the UK and overseas much-needed grants to aid projects in the fight against homelessness and poverty. 

The Foundation’s Spring Grant Programme opens on 1st March each year, offering chosen charities both in the UK and overseas much needed grants worth up to £3,000 o aid projects in the fight against homelessness and poverty. 

The foundation raised £170,000 towards homeless causes in the past year, with a total of 40 global charities benefiting from donations. 

At the turn of 2023, the running total raised by the foundation since its inception has reached over 800,000.

In the foundation’s latest autumn grant scheme, 27 charities from around the UK were awarded almost £50,000 in total. These grants go towards funding projects focused on alleviating the impacts of poverty and homelessness within their local communities.

Applying for a grant is simple, with Fine & Country agents filling out a document to nominate their chosen charity to receive a grant of up to £3,000. 

Grant applications are being accepted from Wednesday 1 March until Friday 31 March 2023. 

The foundation’s board will then review all applications and decide on the successful projects. They will be notified in April, with funds donated in May.

Donate to The Foundation at www.justgiving.com/fineand-country

David Wilson Homes: Angmering housebuilder David Wilson Homes has donated £1,500 to the Home-Start charity, enabling volunteers to give one-to-one practical and emotional support to 15 families with children under five in their homes for a month.

It comes as the charity has recorded a 25% increase in referrals, with almost all the parents they support struggling with their mental health, loneliness and isolation

Founded in 1973, Home-Start volunteers support parents directly in their own homes, to help them cope with various challenges from family budgeting, how to stay warm, sourcing foodbank vouchers and providing a vital listening ear to ease loneliness. 

Kimberley Benson, sales and marketing director for David Wilson Southern Counties, said: “Home-Start Arun is a trusted organisation in the local area that actively works with families in their own homes to provide personal and effective support during incredibly challenging times. 

“Winter is a very tough period for families to juggle work, holidays and financial extras, so we are pleased to know our donation has supported these 15 families and hope this will help as a turning point as they look to 2023.”

Bridget Richardson, chief executive of Home-Start Arun, Worthing and Adur, added: "We are so grateful to David Wilson Southern Counties for its generous donation towards our first ever Winter Appeal. Not only will it be a lifeline to 15 local families, but it will also be so heart-warming for them to hear that their community cares."

The donation is part of the housebuilder’s Community Fund initiative, funded by the Barratt Foundation, which supports a local organisation each month with a donation, celebrating their efforts in the local area. 

 
Barratt Homes: Guildford-based charity halow project has ended a year of fundraising on a high, receiving a record donation of £124,481 from Barratt Homes. 

The charity, based near the housebuilder’s headquarters in Guildford, was chosen as Barratt Southern Counties’ 2022 Charity of the Year.

The halow project supports more than 200 adults aged 16 and older with learning disabilities each year, encouraging them to build their confidence and independence through social activities, skills and vocational sessions and learning programmes

Staff at Barratt Southern Counties took part in several fundraising activities, kicking off their work for the charity last May with a 100-kilometre hike along the coast in Dorset, raising over £19,000 for the charity. 

The £124,481 will help the charity to continue its work in supporting people with learning disabilities to live life as independently as they choose.

Rachelle Barnett, head of fundraising and communications at halow project, said: “Barratt Southern Counties’ donation will help change the lives of the adults we support at halow. It is a fantastic boost to the funding for our diverse services for young people in and around Guildford and Woking, benefitting people across Surrey. We are so grateful to the team at Barratt’s for their incredible efforts and all the energy they have put into some highly imaginative fundraising this year; we can’t thank them enough.”

Julian Hodder, managing director for Barratt Southern Counties, added: “We are incredibly proud of the hard work that Barratt Southern Counties has put in to raising nearly £125,000 for our neighbour, halow project. 

“This organisation is very close to our hearts, and is the centre of a crucial network of support and opportunities for local young people with learning disabilities, helping them to take independent steps in their adulthood.”
 

Crest Nicholson: Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has made a donation to purchase much needed tea urns and mugs for Bradley Stoke Town Council’s Warm Spaces Initiative. 
The gifted items have been donated on behalf of the community at its developments Highbrook View & Brooklands Park, both based in Stoke Gifford.

The Warm Spaces Initiative has been set up by Bradley Stoke Town Council, to offer a friendly welcome to members of the community. 

Games, chat, hot drinks and biscuits are provided all free of charge for local residents, a much needed service as the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact many families and individuals. The three sites are based at Jubilee Centre, Baileys Court Activity Centre and Brook Way Activity Centre.

Clare Brimble, sales and marketing director at Crest Nicholson South West, said: “The Warm Spaces initiative is vital in creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for local people and integral in developing strong neighbour relations, especially when times are tough We’re delighted to be able to support Bradley Stoke Town Council with our donation of tea urns and mugs to ensure visitors to the sites can have a much needed cuppa and chance to meet their community.”

Philip Francis, activity centres manager at Bradley Stoke Town Council, added: “Thank you to Crest Nicholson for the donation to purchase these items, the new tea urns and mugs will ensure that we are able to support the warm spaces initiative in the colder months. 

“The initiative has continued to pick up traction each week with more and more people attending them as time goes on – the items donated will help us to keep the project running smoothly, with much needed resources for this free service we run.”