Building job prospects for the future
Some 100 young Londoners will be offered help into employment by a new National Skills Academy for construction, launched by Mount Anvil in London with the support of housing minister Brandon Lewis.
The scheme aims to help young Londoners into jobs and reduce the growing skills gap in the industry.
The programme will take place at Keybridge in Vauxhall, SW8, on the former site of the BT telephone exchange, where Mount Anvil is developing 441 new homes as well as offices.
The developer will provide 100 apprenticeships, work placement and work experience opportunities to youngsters, as well as 500 on-site learning opportunities for local schools and colleges to help encourage the next generation of talent into the industry.
Mount Anvil has been awarded National Skills Academy status by the Construction Industry Training Board, and has invested around £600,000 in developing youth skills.
Shanly supports children’s hospice
Housing developer the Shanly Group has donated £100,000 to children’s charity Alexander Devine for building
a children’s hospice in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The hospice has a planned opening in spring 2017.
Through its charitable arm, the Shanly Foundation, the propco has donated more than £5m over the past five years to youth clubs, schools, woodland projects and centres for adults with physical and learning disabilities.
Thrings goes above and beyond
It is on with the Lycra as lawyers from law firm Thrings cycle from Bristol to Paris to raise money for the charity Above & Beyond in April.
Colin Stratton, Naomi Butler, Natalia Sokolov, Richard Price and Rosalyn Trotman form part of a team of 80 businesses, clinicians and patients’ families who are cycling 430km to help raise £150,000 for a state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound at Bristol children’s hospital.
Stratton said: “Everyone is committed to making a difference to the lives of the 350 children from across Bristol and the South West who have life-limiting heart conditions and need life-saving surgery at Bristol children’s hospital every year.”
Carricks’ cancer research work honoured with Points of Light award
Savills’ marketing director Steve Carrick and his wife Arlene have been honoured with a Points of Light Award, which recognises the work of people in the UK who make a difference in their community.
The accolade was presented by prime minister David Cameron in recognition of their work for the Josh Carrick Foundation, a testicular cancer research charity they set up in memory of their son.
In 2010, the Carricks’ son Josh was diagnosed with testicular cancer aged 22, and passed away 12 months later.
The charity was established in 2012 with their son Dominic, Josh’s girlfriend and nine of his friends.
In partnership with Cancer Research UK, IBM and the University of Nottingham, the charity has become a force in the fight against cancer, raising more than £300,000 to date.
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Double decker to help London youth
Cushman & Wakefield has funded youth charity XLP’s latest venture – a double decker bus modified for special use on outreach projects targeting young people living on deprived London estates.
The bus is equipped with computers for homework, a support and resource area, plus a communal space. It is a mobile facility and aims to help young people recognise their full potential by nurturing and encouraging better lifestyle choices, and setting positive goals.
C&W staff raised money for the bus by completing the 7 Towers challenge in London and cycling from London to Paris in under 24 hours.
Digby Flower, C&W’s chair of UK & Ireland and head of London markets, said: “London is the most exciting and diverse city in the world but it is impossible to ignore the fact that many young people are growing up in very challenging environments. We wanted to support the vital work XLP does to tackle these challenges.”
XLP works in 28 estates in eight inner-London boroughs, supporting young people in challenging situations.
A league of their own
Staff at agents SDL Bigwood have rallied to raise around £50,000 for charities in the West Midlands.
Associate partner Gurpreet Bassi raised more than £20,000 for Cancer Research UK by travelling to 20 Premier League football grounds in 24 hours. Another £20,000 will go to Macmillan Cancer Support and Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Bigwood head of PR, Sue Randell, said: “Helping those less fortunate is really important to our staff. It is important that we do our bit.”
