When the going gets tough, the tough get muddy!

Associates and agents from the Fine & Country network are coming together on 24th April to partake in the East Midlands Tough Mudder event, all in the name of charity.

Raising funds for the Fine & Country Foundation, the event will support local, national and international homeless charities, in their plight to end poverty.

There are 13 people completing 5km worth of course, littered with fun but challenging obstacles varying from mud-slicked walls, cargo nets and rope swings.

Participants include Fine & Country Midlands Director, Jonathan Handford, associates Jayson Mayer, Nick Kendrick, Alun Graham, Marie-Pier Frizt, Alex Strafford and Freya Melling, partner Clara McDonagh as well as members of the marketing and support teams, Georgie Lower, Nick Martin and Matt Strafford.

When asked why so many of his colleagues wanted to get involved, Graham Howell, a Fine & Country associate in Coventry and surrounding areas, said:

“So many of us are keen to be involved in this Tough Mudder in April 2022, as we understand how important it is when you are able to send the elevator back downstairs to support people in situations less fortunate than ourselves – it really is the culture of Fine & Country, encouraging charitable acts such as this one. I cannot wait for the day, less looking forward to the days after and the sore legs though!”

With the pledge to have fun and raise money despite the promise of achy muscles post-run, the team hope to reach their £1,000 target in April and have set up a JustGiving page to collect donations which can be found here

The proceeds of these charitable efforts will go directly to The Foundation to be distributed to charities through the Grant Programme. In October 2021, the latest Autumn Grant Programme awarded over £45,000 to 20 charities across the UK and internationally.

Gloucestershire charity benefits from agent’s extended fund-raising

In early 2020 staff at Moore Allen & Innocent chose local charity, Gloucestershire Young Carers, as their Charity of the Year and began planning a variety of fundraising events. These included a 175km cycle ride around the local area on an 8 person circular bike. The 175km distance was significant as the firm were celebrating their 175th year.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 had other ideas and their grand plans had to be put on hold for several months.

Undeterred, in June 2020 they kick-started their planning again by holding their annual “Big Brekkie”, a cycle ride, an in-house Bake Off competition judged by local baker “Cakes by Aggie” and a bauble decorating competition.

With the problems faced in 2020 it was decided to continue with Gloucestershire Young Carers as their charity of the year for 2021.

Their spring challenge was travelling over 175km by various methods being running, horse riding, canoeing, walking and cycling.

In the autumn they then hosted a Pop-Up Shop upcycling ladies’ clothes, shoes and accessories.

They finished 2021 holding a Race Night at The Golden Cross in Cirencester.

The result of their superb efforts is that the charity has now received £26,893.62

Partner Roy Bowyer said: “We were delighted to support Gloucestershire Young Carers who undertake such an important role. The final figure was quite astonishing and our thanks go to all of our clients, friends and family who have been so generous in supporting our many charitable endeavours over the past two years. We are delighted to have made a difference to those many beneficiaries of the charity”.

Yorkshire estate agency staff face thrills and spills as they support regional hospice 

A Yorkshire estate agency has embarked on a year of fund-raising challenges in aid of the region’s leading children’s and young people’s hospice.

Linley & Simpson, which operates 21 branches across Yorkshire and The Humber, is marking its own 25th anniversary by aiming to raise £25,000 for Martin House, based at Boston Spa.

On June 8th, Leah Nanji, Acquisitions Project Manager, and Jacqueline Kilpatrick, Head of Acquisitions will take an adrenaline-filled 50ft abseil down the iconic Cow and Calf rocks at Ilkley Moor.

Then a week later no fewer than 40 colleagues will face 25 punishing obstacles, 10 tons of ice and 100 tons of mud over a 12k course at the Total Warrior challenge at Bramham Park, near Wetherby. They hope to raise £4,000 between them for the hospice.

As part of its “25 in 25” challenge, the Linley & Simpson team is also repeating the Mini convoy it staged a few years ago, when the company’s fleet of branded cars collected textiles, toys, books, DVDs and bric-a-brac across its branch network and took the stock to the Martin House warehouse for future sale in hospice shops.

All people need to do is to drop unwanted items into any of its High Street branches before May 13 and the Linley & Simpson staff will transport them.

They can be found at Beverley, Bingley, Chapel Allerton, Harrogate, Headingley, Holmfirth, Horsforth, Hull, Ilkley, Leeds city centre, Pudsey, Ripon, Roundhay, Sheffield, Skipton, Wakefield, Wetherby and York. Donations can also be made to the branches of its sister company, Dale Eddison, in Ilkley, Otley and Skipton.

The agency is also doubling up its support for Martin House as part of Children’s Hospice Week. For any valuations – sales or lettings – booked between 20 and 26 June 2022, it will donate £10 to Martin House. If the property is then listed with Linley & Simpson it will multiply this by 25, to mark its anniversary, and increase its donation to £250.

Since the agency launched its charity partnership with Martin House Children’s Hospice six years ago, its big-hearted team has raised more than £100,000.