The Residential Development Agents Society and charity partner Habitat for Humanity have returned from a global volunteering trip to Solola, Guatamala helping combat poverty and homelessness.
The 19-strong team, including representatives from Cushman & Wakefield, Savills, JLL, Knight Frank, Cala Homes and Croudace, helped build houses and fitted stoves and latrines for 16 needy families, whose average income is just $3 a day.
The group also raised £60,000.
Crate news from Colliers
Staff at Colliers International have transformed two shipping containers into new homes for homeless people in Bristol.
The metal crates, to be used by social enterprise Help Bristol’s Homeless, have a lounge/kitchen and fully fitted bathroom, and will provide accommodation for a rough sleeper for a year.
The team from Colliers in Bristol, led by senior surveyor Amy Bracey and director Nick Williams, worked in collaboration with Longcroft Building Services and Bracey Interiors.
The team was supported in converting the containers by Screwfix, Artistic Blinds, Britannia Windows, Howdens, Little Greene Paints and Mandarin Stone.
The container homes project was initiated by Jasper Thompson, restaurant owner and founder of Help Bristol’s Homeless.
He said: “I used to hand out sleeping bags and food to homeless people to help them, but I wanted to do something more.
“I came up with the idea of converting former shipping containers into temporary homes.”
Duo’s Atlantic race to raise cash
Jamie Gordon, a chartered surveyor at Boddy & Edwards in Guildford, and his crewmate, Alex Simpson of RKH Specialty, have embarked on a world record ocean rowing bid – the Hyperion Atlantic Challenge.
The duo are aiming to row across the Atlantic unsupported from Gran Canaria to Barbados, covering 4,800km in less than 37 days. Through the Million for Million Hyperion Foundation initiative, the challenge will be raising funds for mental illness charity Black Dog Institute, Cancer Research UK, educational charity InteRed and Plastic Ocean Foundation.
To donate, go to www.hyperionatlanticchallenge.com.
Night out with Beresfords
Brave the elements and help Essex estate agent Beresfords raise awareness and funds for homelessness charity Chess.
In partnership with Co-op East of England, the agent is holding a sleep-out on Saturday 2 March at 8pm at Chelmsford City Cathedral.
Chess is a local charity, which helps provide support services and temporary accommodation.
For more information and to make a donation, email Nicki Treffers on n.treffers@beresfords.co.uk or go to www.beresfords.co.uk.
Sior pledge to fund student place at spring conference
The European regional chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (Sior) is offering one student the opportunity to attend the Sior Spring World Conference in Washington DC, which runs from 10 to 13 April.
Funded by the Sior Foundation Student Real Estate Experience Program, the selected candidate will receive up to $2,000 of funding to cover his or her conference expenses, including registration, hotel, travel and meals.
Applications are now being accepted from all current undergraduate or postgraduate students over the age of 21 studying a real estate, finance or economics related discipline at a European higher education institution.
To find out more, visit https://sioreurope.com/students/ or email Matthew Leguen de Lacroix on matthew@sioreurope.com.
