Duo takes on Thames pedolothon challenge
A daring duo from the property world are preparing to paddle 125 miles down the River Thames in a pedalothon – 30 years after they previously completed the epic journey.
Roger Saper and Andrew Shaw, former employees of Jones Lang LaSalle, plan to travel roughly 20 miles a day, over six days, beginning on 2 September, for children’s charity Variety.
The pair first paddled the Thames route in a pedalothon in 1988, raising £16,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital. The money raised helped fund the cost of a new wing of the hospital, opened by Princess Diana in 1994.
Click here to help the pair raise their £20,000 target.
Quintain-led fund awards community project grants in Brent
The Wembley Park Community Fund has awarded more than £116,000 in grants to community projects in the London Borough of Brent, in its second round of bursaries.
The fund, led by developer Quintain, and in partnership with the London Borough of Brent, and key contractors at Wembley Park – Wates, McLaren, John Sisk & Son, and McAleer & Rushe – aims to help make a difference for local residents by encouraging community engagement, participation and place-making through funding a variety of community-led activities.
Funding was awarded to local projects that would help address local needs under the key themes Better Places – making Brent a great place to live, work and visit; Better Lives – supporting education, employment and good health; and Better Locally – ensuring local networks and services work effectively.
This year six out of the 13 applicants each received a donation of £10,000, the highest possible amount available. The beneficiaries included AQ Arts CIC, Musicus CIC, Global Skills Centre, Unique Community, Work Rights Centre, Learning Through the Arts and Track Academy.
James Saunders, chief operating officer at Quintain, said: “Following last year’s successful distribution of grants to Brent residents and community organisations, we’re delighted to announce the recipients of this second round of funding.
“From youth theatre and the arts to athletics, education, and mentoring activities, it’s fantastic to be able to support the Brent and Wembley Park communities in creating a great place to live, work and visit.”
Daniel Connal Partnership advocates careers in construction
Daniel Connal Partnership is helping to inspire children to embark on a career in construction by supporting Writtle Junior School’s Junior Hard Hats initiative.
The project’s pilot scheme involves the construction of an innovative technology learning pod to be built in the school grounds. Students will take part in all aspects of planning, designing and construction of the pod as part of the school curriculum.
Supported and mentored by the project’s trustees, the children have been involved in the whole process. Future activities will include pitching the scheme to sponsors and devising a marketing strategy.
Jonathan Dennis, partner, at Daniel Connal Partnership, said: “This is an extremely exciting project and one that we are thrilled to be involved in. Inspiring youngsters into construction by addressing the perception of the industry as dirty, dangerous, low paid and male dominated is extremely worthwhile.
“By doing so, we can hopefully introduce the idea of a career in the construction sector as a credible option for those who may not have considered it before.”
Construction firms set out to build equality and diversity
Building Equality, an alliance of North West construction companies, will be present at Manchester Pride festival this weekend for the second year, celebrating equality, diversity and inclusion in the industry.
With more than 100 representatives from 18 different organisations taking part, Building Equality will showcase its work to build on LGBT+ inclusion in the construction sector at an awareness event at Exchange Square in Manchester on 24 August, part of the four-day celebrations.
