Helix throws a steg party
Helix Property Advisors, the property management firm led and founded by Robin Fell, took over the Natural History Museum, SW7, on 2 March to celebrate the firm’s 20th anniversary.
With a guest list of clients from across the globe, Helix partied the night away, first welcoming guests with gentle classical music but then taking them back to the 1990s with some classic clubbing music, helped by a throng of breakdancing waiting staff.
Guests were also encouraged to take selfies by a stegosaurus skeleton, with mini chalkboards reading “property dinosaur” and “ancient predator”.
Restaurant serves anti-hunger cause
Leisure specialist Restaurant Property is supporting Action Against Hunger, the charity committed to ending child hunger.
As an official partner of the charity, which is the cause of choice for the food industry, the firm will be asking its restaurant and leisure clients for a £50 donation per invoice.
Restaurant Property will match every donation made.
Founder and agency director David Rawlinson said: “From our position at the centre of the restaurant trade, we hope to see the food and hospitality industry’s support and good work for Action Against Hunger continue and grow.”
The charity has more than 30 years of expertise in situations of conflict, natural disaster and chronic food shortages.
In 2015 it helped people affected by the Nepal earthquakes as well as the Syrian refugee crisis.
Trekkers aim for Annapurna
A 13-strong team of property professionals will be ditching their desks for the foothills of the Himalayas as they take part in a charity expedition next month.
The group will comprise teams from Citygrove and Legal & General Property, who will undertake a seven-day trek to the base camp of Annapurna, a chain of mountain peaks in Nepal, to raise money for children’s charity Variety.
Setting off on 29 April, the group will traverse the lower Himalayas, along mountain passes, up steep vertical climbs and through mountain villages, before making the long ascent to Annapurna base camp at 13,550 ft above sea level.
Help them up the mountain and support their cause by donating at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/annapurna2016.
Norwood patrons raise £230,000
Leading industry figures helped to raise £230,000 for Norwood at the charity’s Young Norwood Property Awards and Dinner.
Some 700 guests, including Facebook EMEA vice president Nicola Mendelsohn, helped celebrate the 10th annual event, which recognises the achievements of property professionals aged under 35.
Blackstone Group received a one-off Company of the Decade award, which was accepted by Anthony Myers, the firm’s European real estate group head, at the 25 February event held at the Lancaster London hotel, W2. Awards were also given for the best property developer, lawyer, commercial and residential agent, deal of the year, and for “one to watch”.
Norwood is a leading Jewish charity supporting vulnerable children, families and people with learning disabilities.
Speaking at the event, Prestbury Investment Holdings chairman Nick Leslau said: “It is easy to be generous when things are going well, but much harder when they are not, and yet outstanding charities such as Norwood, which so diligently looks after individuals whose welfare cannot depend upon financial cycles, have to keep going.
“To you and Young Norwood I offer my respect and gratitude for then and for now in supporting such a fantastic and worthy cause.”
Exile on Cannes’ streets
WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff and HLM have formed a band to perform two gigs at MIPIM to support LandAid.
The band of six is named Exile, in homage to the Rolling Stones album Exile on Main Street, which was recorded near Cannes in 1971.
It will be led by Chris Liddle, chairman of HLM, on guitar, and Bill Price, director of WSP – and founder of the annual Construction Rocks event – on bass.
They will be playing covers of rock, pop, blues and disco classics on the evening of 16 March at Morrisons Irish pub, 10 Rue Tessiere, until late.
The group’s second gig will be a more high-energy set at the St Patrick’s Day Street Party at Ma Nolans, 6 Rue Buttura, on 17 March from 5pm to 8pm.
You will need a wristband to attend the gigs, which can be exchanged for a modest donation to LandAid. Obtain them by e-mailing sandra.deamer@wspgroup.com or julia.hilton@hlmarchitects.com.
Train2rent aids PRS
The Residential Landlords Association and charitable foundation TDS have formed a partnership to help charities and other organisations offer free training on how to rent properties.
Housing associations, trusts and residents’ groups will receive training packs to help them deliver courses under the train2rent scheme.
The partners will supply separate packs for landlords and tenants. The landlord pack will include details of legal responsibilities, right to rent checks, protecting deposits and starting and ending a tenancy, while the tenant resource covers the legal rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, how to find a property and different types of tenancies.
The objective is for small organisations and groups to help raise standards and create better working relationships as the private rented sector grows.
See more at www.train2rent.co.uk
Sign up for LandAid 10k
The annual LandAid 10km fun run is now open for registration.
The event, sponsored by Bilfinger GVA, returns on 9 June and is moving to the new location of Clapham Common, SW4.
More than 1,000 property professionals of all abilities usually take part in the challenge, whether they are chasing a personal best time or making their running debut.
The new course is expected to be fast and a festival atmosphere has been promised by the organisers.
Entry costs £30 per person or £120 for a team of four. Last year’s 10K challenge sold out in record time. Enter at www.landaid.org/10k
