The DPS donates £20,000 to The Big Issue

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) has donated £20,000 from its Charity Donations Fund to The Big Issue to help support its vendors.

The DPS said that it wanted to support magazine vendors following the significant impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on the ability of street homeless or vulnerably housed people to generate an independent income – and after public health restrictions created by the pandemic in March prevented vendors from working.

The DPS said vendors returned to the streets following the government’s relaxation of restrictions in July.

Chris Falchi-Stead, director of sales and operations at The Big Issue, said: “The DPS’ enormous generosity during this crisis demonstrates just how committed it is to tackling poverty.

“Its support helps to ensure that we’re able to be there for the many vulnerable people who rely on us, both now and in the future – so on behalf of everyone at The Big Issue I’d like to say a huge thank you.”

In mid-March, the Big Issue, which offers street homeless and vulnerably housed people across the UK a means by which to earn a self-created income, took the difficult decision to safeguard its network of vendors and the public by asking that they stopped working on streets across the UK, leaving those who rely on selling the publication in need of greater support.

Matt Trevett, managing director at The DPS, commented: “This year has clearly proven very disruptive for anyone who needs support with housing, and Big Issue vendors were unable to work for more than three months as a result of the pandemic.

“We’re proud to assist The Big Issue as it continues to help vendors across the country bring in income and gain greater independence.”

Paramount donate over 500 items to local Food Hub

Paramount in North West London raised more than £350 by selling old office furniture and donated the proceeds to buy over 500 items for a local foodbank, as part of Agents Giving Day.

The local Food Hub, based at Sidings Community Centre in West Hampstead, provides food parcels for hundreds of people each week.

Danielle Lanthier, Marketing & Project Manager, said: “We’ve all faced challenges this year. For some people, the most urgent challenge continues to be feeding themselves and their families. It’s a truly heartbreaking position to be in, to be facing an empty fridge and cupboard and not knowing where the next meal will come from. With unemployment on the rise, more and more people are finding themselves in this situation.

“We anticipate that help with food support this year will be needed by more people than we’ve ever seen in our years in West Hampstead. This was on our minds when we fundraised within our team for Agents Giving Day this year. We even got creative and sold some office furniture to donate the proceeds.

“We decided this year that we’d be fundraising for the Food Hub, which is based out of Sidings Community Centre. Only a short walk away from our office, it helps to support some of our closest neighbours.”

Marsh & Parsons names Streets of London as its charity partner

Marsh & Parsons has pledged its support for the homeless by announcing that Streets of London will be its new charity partner.

The London-based estate agency has set a target of raising £25,000 through a series of coronavirus-safe company-wide and individual fundraising initiatives.

Streets of London funds specialist support for people who are homeless in the capital, and raises awareness about homelessness. Last year, Streets of London provided funding totalling £100,000 to projects which help people move away from life without a home.

Patrick Littlemore, CEO at Marsh & Parsons, said: “Streets of London is doing an outstanding job in supporting people sleeping rough across the capital. It’s crucial that we help tackle this problem and even more so during these uncertain times with the coronavirus outbreak.

“The charity’s approach of offering dedicated services to help get people back on their feet such as career guidance and caring for their mental wellbeing is making a huge difference. We are committed to raising vital funds and awareness of homelessness and the Sleep-Out will be an opportunity to kick-off our fundraising as well as take time to reflect on the hardships of being homeless and demonstrate our support.”

Industry partner spreading good Karma

An industry partner has continued its charitable donations this month to the tune of £550 to community groups across England.

Through its social responsibility arm called The Karma Club, The Estate Agent Content Club has now donated more than £5,000 this year to good causes, community clubs and charities.

The club provides 12 articles a month as well as other marketing services to non-competing independent estate agencies.

Its founder, Jerry Lyons, explained the thinking behind the donations: “We take £5 from each of our members’ monthly subscription and put it into a Karma Club community pot. Then we ask our members if they have any local groups or charities, they would like to donate £100 to, and if they do, we match-fund it with £100 from the community pot. Lots of our members are hugely active in their communities, so it’s a great way of paying it forward.”

In October, the club supported the following groups and causes.

£100 to support a campaign to help provide Christmas Decorations for the Royal Marsden Hospital in partnership with Sacha Scott Estate Agents in Nork, Surrey.

£100 matched funded by Butler Residential in St Neots to pay for a shelter for a grassroots football club.

£100 to Grantham Amateur Boxing Club.

£150 to buy equipment for a youth and women’s football team in East Sussex.

£100 match funding to support an additional donation by Storeys of Cheshire to the Joshua Tree Charity in Northwich, which helps children with cancer and their families.

£100 towards a campaign by Seaford Town Football Club to provide free meals for kids who needed them during half-term.

Lyons added: “Estate agencies are the most community-minded businesses I’ve ever worked with and have embraced this idea. We’re introducing more social giving in the next few months as our mantra is ‘estate agency content with a social conscience.”