The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has pledged to raise £2.25m for LandAid in 2018 to help end youth homelessness.
As part of RICS’ 150th anniversary next year, the campaign – known as Pledge150 – will see the industry body fund 150 beds by December 2018, for young people at risk of homelessness.
RICS plans to raise funds at a variety of its annual events and through staff and partner university initiatives. Those working in the land, property and construction sectors will be encouraged to join in with the challenge and think big, in terms of their fundraising activities and in helping to publicise the campaign.
Matthew Howell, RICS managing director UK & Ireland said: “As part of our milestone birthday next year, we want to raise awareness of the vital role that chartered surveyors and other built environment professionals can play in solving youth homelessness.
“As part of this, we will be encouraging all those who work in the built environment sector to pledge their support for our campaign, and help us deliver secure accommodation for young homeless people. Youth homelessness is a problem that can be solved, and the property industry can, and should, lead the way in terms of helping to solve it in every way they can.”
As part of the RICS Pledge150 campaign, those working in the built environment may also be able to provide pro bono property advice to local charities supporting disadvantaged young people, families and communities, including those experiencing homelessness.
LandAid chief executive Paul Morrish said: “Over the past five years we have raised more than £7.5m to fund 100 exceptional accommodation projects for young people at risk of becoming homeless.
“But let’s not forget that at least 80,000 young people in the UK experience homelessness every year, and ‘homelessness’ doesn’t just mean sleeping on the streets, it can include those ‘sofa surfing’ or living in overcrowded and unsafe accommodation. So, we are delighted to be teaming up with RICS in what is the biggest single fundraising campaign in our history, to deliver a substantial number of homes for young homeless people across all 12 UK regions.”
All firms that make a corporate donation to the RICS’ Pledge150 campaign will be highlighted on the organisation’s online pledge wall and will have the opportunity to say what they are actively doing to help end youth homelessness.
For more information on the RICS Pledge150 campaign – including the tools available to get you started – from brochures and posters along with suggestions of fundraising activities – visit www.rics.org/pledge150.
The mydonate page is as follows: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/pledge150london/447332
Further details on RICS’ other 150th anniversary activities can be found at www.rics.org/150 – including the launch of its ‘Pride in the Profession’ initiative to showcase the significant and positive impact surveyors have made to society.
To send feedback, e-mail Louisa.Clarence-Smith@egi.co.uk or tweet @LouisaClarence or @estatesgazette
