This year has seen a significant demand for the amazing work which charities do across the country – but the housebuilding industry is doing a lot to contribute to the essential funds of the local and national organisations providing so much help to those who need it.
Here are just a few examples of housebuilders who have been raising and donating money to a wde range of beneficiaries.
A team of subcontractors and suppliers led by local partnerships homes developer, Lovell, and Broadland Housing Association have now completed the renovation of a dilapidated cottage into respite accommodation at the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (CSF) hub 'The Nest'. The scope of the Foundation's work is huge and includes helping people with disabilities and people in later life to stay active and connected, giving young people qualifications and raising their aspirations, and supporting people with their mental health.
Having learnt about the great work being done by the CSF, Lovell named them as their 'Charity of the Year' for 2019-2020 and set about identifying ways they could support their work.The company used The Nest to host their annual supply chain briefing and talked through what they were hoping to deliver for the CSF as well as detailing the important work being done by the CSF team. They received an overwhelming response from over 40 local companies as well as those further afield, together delivering a refurbishment worth over £50,000.
Lovell regional managing director for East Anglia, Simon Medler commented: “I'd like to personally thank each supplier and subcontractor involved for their hard work and commitment throughout. I've been blown away by the generosity of those involved, donating both materials and time, which has led to the fantastic end-result of this renovation.”
Barratt Developments, which includes both Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, is celebrating a record-breaking Christmas with its final Community Fund donations after its charitable efforts topped more than £46,000 in donations across Scotland, including £12,000 in the west of Scotland.
The charities are nominated and voted by employees of Barratt Homes with the focus of fund continuing to be on organisations that improve the quality of life for those living in the area and important issues which worsened due to the pandemic. Beneficiaries include Childline, the Salvation Army and numerus foodbanks.
Reflecting on the achievement, Douglas McLeod, Barratt Developments’ regional managing director for Scotland, said: “As the country’s leading housebuilder, we are committed to creating a positive legacy and making a genuine contribution towards the communities in which we build our homes. We’re looking forward to working with many more organisations and raising even more funds as we go into 2021 and beyond.”
Property development, investment and lettings company ALB Group, is marking the festive season by gifting £15,000 worth of presents to children who will be receiving hospital treatment over the Christmas period. This is the fourth year running that ALB has donated gifts to children in hospital – and donations this year will reach communities in which the developer has been particularly active; including Kings Mill in Mansfield, Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax, Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, Derbyshire Children’s Hospital and Arrowe Park Hospital in Birkenhead, Merseyside. As well as gifts, ALB is also donating a new television and Xbox to a local homeless shelter in Nottinghamshire.
Arran Bailey, managing director at ALB Group, said: “The festive season is usually such a joyful time, but given the uncertain year we’ve all experienced, it’s going to feel very different for many this year – especially for those who have been and are separated from their loved ones. We are so pleased and proud to be able to give some joy to children who are in hospital over the Christmas season, and we look forward to seeing the smiles on their faces once the gifts are delivered to the wards.”
Anwyl Homes has pledged £1,000 to a charity for adults with learning disabilities as part of the Xmas Party Heroes campaign where unused company funds set aside for festivities are donated to local projects. The funds will assist Time Out Group, based in Handforth, which provides a friendly and welcoming space at its Drop In centre in Handforth for adults with learning disabilities to meet up, make friends and take part in activities.
With Anwyl donating a total of £7,000 to five charities as part of the campaign, chairman Graham Anwyl said: “Charities have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and many of their funding streams have dried up so the Xmas Party Heroes campaign is a fantastic way for companies to support good causes at this time of need. While many of us may have initially felt sad that we can’t celebrate with our friends and colleagues this year, knowing that charities are benefitting from additional funds is so much more rewarding. We really hope many more companies will get involved in this wonderful campaign to support their charities of choice.”
Kingdom Housing Association and Campion Homes are supporting The Pantry project in Inverkeithing, Fife, with a joint donation of £500 to help local families in need during the festive season. It is part of their wider community benefit commitment being provided through the Phase 2 contract to enhance employability opportunities and to promote life chances in the area.
Founded in June 2020, the Pantry Project, part of the FareShare Scotland scheme, is managed by Inverkeithing Trust and supported by Fife Council community staff and aims to alleviate pressure on local foodbanks while encouraging community connections, preventing food surplus from local shops going to landfill.
Julie Watson, interim head of capital investment at Kingdom, said, “Demand for the services provided by The Pantry in Inverkeithing has been growing steadily over the last six months and shows no signs of slowing down.”
Pennyfarthing Homes has raised £1,100 for New Forest Basics Bank to help fund Christmas food parcels for vulnerable families in the southern part of the New Forest. This support follows Pennyfarthing Homes’ response to an appeal from New Forest Basics Bank earlier in the year when the first lockdown hit, whereby the property developer was able to provide a minivan and driver to transport the much-needed extra deliveries in response to the crisis.
Established in 2004, New Forest Basics Bank has provided food parcels for over 20,000 vulnerable people in Lymington, Pennington, East Boldre, Boldre, Brockenhurst, Sway, Burley, Milford-on-Sea, Everton, Bransgore, New Milton and Barton-on-Sea, and has received a huge £13,000 in donations this Christmas, allowing it to increase the number of Christmas food parcels it delivers from 500 to 622, helping even more vulnerable families.
Pennyfarthing Homes’ executive chairman, Mark Adams, added: “Food banks have been a vital resource for many families during this challenging year, so we’re delighted to continue our support to this great cause this festive season. We hope that the individuals receiving the parcels enjoy the much-deserved festive treats and have a wonderful Christmas.”
Mulberry Homes has brought festive cheer to the local community this Christmas by donating £200 each to The Olive Branch Network, The Salvation Army and Potton Hall for All. The donations come as part of the housebuilder’s Christmas Wish campaign, in which it is donating £200 to five charities local to its developments over the festive period.
The Olive Branch Network is a baby bank supporting parents and babies in difficult situations, by providing them with much-needed essential items. Potton Hall for All is working towards creating a brand new town hall, which will provide the local community with a great space in which a variety of activities can take place. The Salvation Army supports those suffering with homelessness, poverty and addiction, aiding local communities with issues such as unemployment and isolation.
Kerry Jones, sales director at Mulberry Homes, said: “We’re thrilled to have made these donations this Christmas. The pandemic has been especially challenging for charities and the vulnerable people they support, and the festive season itself brings along its own stresses and hardships. We hope these funds will offer a huge helping hand during this time where their work is more needed than ever.
David Wilson Homes South Midlands has donated £1,000 to a charity dedicated to making the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses come true. When You Wish Upon a Star was founded in 1990 by Barbara White, after she was inspired by a seriously ill four-year-old with a dream to meet Mickey Mouse.
The charity helps children in a variety of ways. For example, some children wish to be a fairy princess or soldier for the day, some want meet celebrities or sporting heroes. Others wish for a laptop to keep in contact with their friends and family whilst in hospital. One of the most popular wishes remains the exciting opportunity to swim with dolphins and meet all their favourite characters in Disney World, Florida.
John Dillon, managing director at David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “We are so pleased to be able to support When You Wish Upon a Star and the fantastic work they are doing.
A fundraising grandad and his young granddaughter are giving Father Christmas a run for his money – after taking on a charity Santa Dash in Bude. Rick Dean, 72, from Widmouth Bay, and eight-year-old Evelyn donned their best festive attire to run three miles through the streets of Bude, raising £536 for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) charity Little Bridge House. The route included RoyaleLife’s Meaowlands Court luxury bungalow development.
Robert Bull, CEO of RoyaleLife, said: “Rick continues to be an inspiration, not just to his fellow residents at Meadowlands Court, but to the people of Cornwall and beyond. Both he and Evelyn are shining examples of the importance of building positive, like-minded communities in fantastic locations. A core message that we, as a company, put at the forefront of all work we do.”
Regeneration specialist Compendium Living has donated £250 to the Hull Homeless Community Project, which supports those in marginalised and vulnerable groups affected by homelessness, modern slavery, family crisis, poverty, mental health and all forms of abuse and exploitation.
The charity supports at risk individuals with the guidance and tools they need to prevent or escape homelessness and avoid or recover from crisis.
In response to the current pandemic, the community project has been offering specific Covid-19 relief by providing vital face-to-face doorstep support, and delivering food parcels and distraction packs to adults and children to help them sustain independence while escaping crisis. Over the winter and into the New Year, they are continuing to provide emergency food and support parcels, gas and electric top-ups and essential items for children. The charity also run a move in project which supports people in crisis back into independent living by securing appropriate housing and helping them move into their new safe spaces with the things they need to make it a home.
Wendy Lister, project manager for Compendium Living, said: “During this challenging time, we wanted to do something to help support those in need. The pandemic has been especially difficult for charities and the vulnerable people they work with, and we’re proud to offer the Hull Homeless Community Project this donation to support the work they are doing across Hull this Christmas.”
Lovell Homes and Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group, have donated £500 to support the Weston Christmas Light Display in its fundraising efforts for The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice, which provides care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
Anne-Marie O’Doherty, regional sales director at Lovell Homes North West, said: “We’ve been on site at our 99-home development located in the heart of the village since August this year and the first residents have already moved in. However, we’ve been working and speaking with Weston residents, the schools, and Cheshire East Council members for a much longer time and wanted to give back to the community we now feel a part of in a meaningful way.”