As measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic have been rolled out by government over the past few weeks, people, businesses and the industry have had to adapt quickly and manage the impact.
The implications have been challenging both logistically and financially, but the one overriding element that the crisis has fostered is the human compassion in our communities and the appreciation for the UK’s keyworkers.
Here are just some of the acts of kindness afforded by the industry.
British Land
British Land is offering free car parking to NHS staff at Regents Place, Paddington Central and across its retail sites. It is also diverting fresh food and cleaning products from offices that are not being used to local communities. And BL’s Community Investment Fund is to redeploy £230,000 in the FY20 budget directly to help communities affected by Covid-19. It has also donated £50,000 to Shelter to support the homelessness charity’s helpline.
Graying PR
Graying PR has requested its daily office fruit order be delivered to a local food bank rather than to the London office, to avoid any food waste and loss of business to Larry, its supplier.
SDL Auctions
Employees at SDL Auctions have been creating alternative ways to keep the young people in their local communities motivated while on lockdown. Birmingham valuer Neal Hume, who manages the junior cricket team at Four Oaks Saints Cricket Club, has been setting fun cricket-related challenges for members to complete and share on Twitter using #FOSCCcrazybat. Meanwhile, campaign launch manager Jessica Royce, who runs a youth theatre club in Nottingham, is setting up a community social media event with other local groups to showcase the talents of young performers across Nottinghamshire. #unitetheatre www.copperstudios.co.uk
Do Some Good
A team of property professionals has joined forces to create a central register for volunteering and resource support for the NHS and healthcare workers during the Covid-19 crisis. The Do Some Good initiative is backed by professionals from Greystar, SAY Consulting, deverellsmith, and Be original. The website acts as a one-stop shop for businesses to offer space, supplies, manpower and other resources to help the NHS. To find out how you or your company can help, go to https://do-some-good.co.uk
CBRE
CBRE’s call out for unoccupied or vacant property to be used by the NHS for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic has been “overwhelming”. The firm said the appeal had enabled it to provide NHS workers access to 195,000 car parking spaces near hospitals, 14.25m sq ft of storage, and 145,000 beds for hospital staff, many of whom are having to isolate from their families. CBRE has created a support group where notice of property space to help the NHS and its medical staff can be made. www.cbre.co.uk/covid-19
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