Agents at Daniels volunteer at Wembley Park’s Covid vaccine centre

Estate agents working at Daniels in north London are doing “their bit” by volunteering to help at Wembley Park’s new vaccination centre.

Daniels Estate Agents, which has offices in Wembley, Neasden, Sudbury, Kensal Rise and Willesden Green, has put forward eight employees, including director Francis Henry, to volunteer at the vaccination centre in Fulton Road twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Henry said: “As a company Daniels have obviously been affected by the virus, however with good planning over health and safety and a bit of fortune on our side, we have been lucky that no one who works for Daniels has been infected with Covid-19.

“This being said, we all know of someone who has so when the opportunity arose, we were more than happy to do our bit to help.”

Lillicrap Chilcott donates £10k to the Cornwall Community Foundation 

Cornwall estate agent Lillicrap Chilcott has has made a second annual donation of £10,000 to the Cornwall Community Foundation’s Community Fund and committed to donate the same amount annually.

Ian Lillicrap, director of Lillicrap Chilcott, said “We are once again delighted to support the Cornwall Community Foundation and to give something back to the community in this way.

“The foundation awards grants to vital community projects which we would not otherwise know about and it is heartwarming to know that our donation will reach some of those who really need help during the lockdown crisis.”

Groups such as Noah’s Ark Family Project, a community group based at Mount Hawke, near Truro, that works with young people aged 10-25, have benefited from Cornwall Community Foundation funding.

Lillicrap recently presented Jane Hartley, chair of the foundation, and Kate Holborow, High Sheriff of Cornwall, with the cheque for their donation.

Hartley commented: “We are very grateful to Lillicrap Chilcott for this continued support, especially in these times that are very challenging for many people. The funding is being used to support a range of community groups and charities who support those most in need across the county and it will make a real difference to the lives of the people helped.”

Retired estate agent takes on important volunteering roles 

Hats off to Steve Moir, chairman of the Experts in Property (tEiP) South West network, who is helping out in his community with not one, but two extremely valuable causes.

Moir has ridden motorcycles for several years and has been interested in becoming a Cornwall Blood Biker for a while. Over the last year, he has undertaken the advanced motorcycling course and test, then was able – between lockdowns – to attend an induction and become a Cornwall Blood Biker.

Established in 2012, Cornwall Blood Bikes is a registered, self-funded charity providing a free delivery service to Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust outside the normal operating hours of regular NHS transport services. The service, which has recently expanded to include Covid-19 tests, provides urgent transportation of blood, drugs, samples, specimens and other medical requirements between NHS hospitals and hospices, clinics and laboratories for midwives, nurses, doctors and other NHS specialists.

Moir said: “Since I retired as an active estate agent over a year ago, I have wanted to do something to help others, and I enjoy riding motorbikes so volunteering for Cornwall Blood Bikes was a no-brainer for me.

“The advanced course and the training were extremely worthwhile – even after riding for years, I learned so much. Being entirely self-funded without much opportunity for fundraising lately, it’s a crucial time for all charities and I’m pleased to be able to help.”

Moir’s other new role is as a volunteer at his local NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre. Based in the community centre building in Pensilva, East Cornwall, the vaccination centre covers the patients of seven doctors’ surgeries and in the last few weeks has inoculated up to 700 people per day.

He added: “The vaccination centre is in full flow. The speed in which it was rolled out and the sheer scale of it is phenomenal, and despite the strain they are all under, the NHS vaccination staff are all so cheerful. It’s an impressive and very slick operation. The elderly people arriving for their vaccines come in very nervous, but it’s certainly rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when they leave having had their first vaccine.”

VTUK sign up to squat 2,800 times in February

The team at VTUK have each signed up to squat 2800 times throughout the month of February.

Those working at the property software suppliers will be squatting 100 times a day, all for a charity close to their heart, the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The team at VTUK have been busy preparing for the challenge which commences on the 1st February 2021.

VTUK hope to help Teenage Cancer Trust as they face severe strain due to the coronavirus pandemic. Like many charities, the charity has struggled to find ways people can fundraise, due to the change in social contact and so, their “Squat Challenge” is something that people can do from the comfort of their own home.

With VTUK’s staff all working from home, VTUK thought it was a good opportunity to help the charity they have long supported, whilst also, helping their own physical and mental health.

Peter Grant, chairman of VTUK, commented: “Whilst we continue to operate from home, we thought it was the perfect time, to focus on our own teamwork and health, and at the same time raise vital funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

“Like many companies in the tech sector, we have very bright but young staff and the effects of the pandemic have been challenging. We all agreed that focussing on “gratitude as an attitude” was really helpful and exercise, a great diversion from negative thoughts.

“Seeing the vital work of the Teenage Cancer Trust first hand has helped the whole team to re-appraise our situation and put our disappointments at lockdown into perspective.”