LandAid, the property industry charity, launches its pro bono campaign to encourage its supporter network to give vital time and expertise to help disadvantaged young people in the UK.
LandAid is asking for companies to commit at least 10 days of free professional advice in 2014-15, making the intrinsic link between social objectives and the resources of businesses to drive change. The overall aim is to get 40 companies to donate 10 days each, an estimated value of £200,000.
With over 75 corporate partners LandAid has the connections to successfully broker relationships between pro bono providers and charities to make a difference to vulnerable children and young people in the UK. A specialist team has been set up within LandAid that will work to match available expertise with the right projects.
So far 16 companies have already committed over 160 days in total, equating to 1,350 hours and more than £120,000 of pro bono property advice to LandAid’s charity partners. Many of these lack the time, expertise and experience to cope with some of the issues that inevitably arise with their buildings.
The campaign has already been backed by Chancerygate, Cushman & Wakefield, Gerald Eve, Greenside Real Estate Solutions, Grosvenor, GVA, Hawkins\Brown, Irwin Mitchell, JLL, John Robertson Architects, Knight Frank, Land Securities, LDA Design, MACE, MAKE and Telereal Trillium.
Joanna Averley, Chief Executive of LandAid, said:
“Our pro bono campaign is the product of huge demand, both from the charity partners we work with, and from our industry who are keen to give something back. People are looking to business – as their employer, customer, client or supplier – to demonstrate how they are giving back to society and community. LandAid and its pro bono programme is how an entire industry can give back and thereby have a greater and more meaningful impact. This is a hugely exciting time for LandAid and a great opportunity to be part of the next phase of our journey.”
Ewan Graham, Architect, Hawkins\Brown, said:
“Pro bono work is always very rewarding. Hawkins\Brown provided pro-bono professional advice to the East End Community Foundation at a LandAid-coordinated workshop session in 2014. The workshop gave the charity a real understanding of what was likely to happen with their asset. It focussed them on what they needed to do and the risks they faced if they did nothing. Personally and professionally, the pro bono work created a new set of connections and relationships from working with the charity and as part of the pro bono team.”
The bono programme will enable charities to reshape, sustain and grow their vital services with free expertise including: asset management, property searches, lease negotiation and purchase, architectural services, building surveys, cost estimates, tender evaluations, construction, project management and property legal advice.