Agents Do Charity - strong appeals...

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others.

If your agency is doing a little charitable something which we should bring to the attention of the industry, please email press@estateagenttoday.co.uk - and we’ll do the rest!

Agents Giving: The Agents Giving Winter Warmth campaign is continuing this month until 31 January and hundreds of items have already been donated to the many people experiencing homelessness across the UK this winter.

The industry charity has once again partnered with Only a Pavement Away to collect and distribute warm clothes such as coats, jumpers, as well as personal hygiene products to rough sleepers on the street at a time when many are starting to feel the effects of winter.

There is still time to collect and donate to support your local areas and communities by distributing on to local charities, hostels and homeless shelters.
David Newnes, chairman of Agents Giving, said: “The support you have shown for the Winter Warmth Campaign has been amazing to help vulnerable people on the streets this winter – all your donations are really making a big difference.”

David Wilson Homes: Housebuilder David Wilson Homes, which is building ‘The Poppies’ development in Aylesford, has recently donated £1,500 to local Maidstone charity 21 Together.
The donation was made as part of The Barratt Foundation’s Community Fund initiative, which sees the housebuilder donate £1,500 each month to a charity improving the lives of individuals in the areas close to its developments and offices. 

Based in Maidstone in Kent, 21 Together is a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people with Down’s Syndrome.

Natalie Perry, director of sales and marketing at David Wilson Kent, said: “We are proud to be supporting 21 Together’s incredible work to help people with Down’s Syndrome and their families. Their values to empower is truly inspiring and resonated with all of us at David Wilson Kent. Through our donation, we hope to uplift 21 Together by providing them the tools they need to empower their community and vital work here in Maidstone.” 

Johanna Aiyathurai, charity manager and co-founder of 21 Together, added: “We are so grateful to receive David Wilson Kent’s generous donation. This will directly contribute to our work and the success of our programmes as we grow.“It is so heartwarming to see businesses like David Wilson Kent not only recognising the importance of our community’s well-being, but actively investing in making a positive impact too. We look forward to putting the funds to good use and to kickstart 2024”. 

Location Location: Agency brand Location Location has wrapped up its 10th Annual Winter Toy Appeal, and according to the London based estate agency, it was their most challenging year yet.

With two weeks to go, it seemed unlikely that the appeal would reach the number of children on the list.

Not willing to accept that outcome, the team ramped up their efforts. Megan Eighteen, operations director at the agency, took to social media to reach out to the property industry - and the response was overwhelming. Within days, hundreds of new toys and donations flooded in.

More than 5,000 children, who would have likely gone without, received a brand new toy for Christmas.

Over the past decade, the appeal has amassed an incredible total of over 40,000 toys, equating to more than half a million pounds in donations.

Among some of the people who supported the appeal were Paloma Faith, an East London resident who regularly donates to the appeal, mentioned the appeal in a TimeOut Podcast called ‘Love Thy Neighbourhood’. The feature on Time Out’s Instagram, also went a long way in tipping the scale for the appeal.

Vicky Bibiris, managing director of Location Location, said: “I am so grateful to everyone who helped us make a positive impact on thousands of children. Waking up on Christmas morning was special, I knew there would be so many children smiling due to everyone's efforts."

Eighteen added: “Our community needs us more than ever, the Winter Toy Appeal is just one of many ways we can help. The appeal has grown over the last ten years and sadly the needs will continue. It was the difference between no gift, or a gift this Christmas. We recognise how important it is to support children's growth, development and feeling of worth from a very young age, Thank you so much to everyone who helped us.”

As the appeal concludes its 10th year, the team at Location Location is already looking towards the future, with plans to expand the reach and impact of the appeal in the coming years. More details about future initiatives will be announced in 2024.

Barratt David Wilson Homes: Local housebuilder Barratt David Wilson Homes has donated £1,500 to Kingsbrook View Primary Academy to open a new outdoor classroom, through the Barratt Foundation.

The funding will enable the school, which is nearby to its new Kingsbrook housing development in Aylesbury, to build an outdoor covered learning environment for sixty children.
Made of natural materials, the space will support the pupil’s wellbeing by providing access to the outdoors year-round, while simultaneously maintaining an environment conducive to successful learning.

Richard Jackson, assistant headteacher at Kingsbrook View Primary Academy, said: “We are grateful to have received this generous funding from Barratt David Wilson North Thames which will support our pupils in their educational journey.

“The outdoor classroom will be an invaluable resource for both our teachers and pupils, where children can get in touch with their creativity and the natural world around them. I would also like to thank Pentagon Play, who provided the space and installed the outdoor classroom for us.”

Marc Woolfe, director of sales and marketing at Barratt David Wilson Homes North Thames, added: “Donating to the school’s new classroom is the perfect opportunity for us to support teachers with hands on learning, improve pupil wellbeing and promote an appreciation for green spaces.

“Many pupils at Kingsbrook View Primary Academy live on our development, which is designed around nature and biodiversity, so we hope this outdoor classroom will give them even more opportunities to connect with the outdoors.” 