Property people from across the sector will be pitting their wits against each other at a unique challenge event on 16 September, the London TowerAthlon. Organised by LandAid and the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors, the event sees hundreds of professionals complete an assault course on and around the Broadgate Tower, London’s 11th highest skyscraper. Why? Well, aside from the adrenaline rush of dangling off a 500ft building and the bragging rights after running up all 877 stairs, there’s a serious reason.
The number of young people who are homeless in London has more than doubled since 2011. With no shelter or family support, these young people often find themselves sleeping on friends’ sofas, in crowded B&Bs or worse still, on the streets. Waiting lists for supported accommodation such as City YMCA London, who’ve been helping the capital’s young homeless for 40 years, are vastly oversubscribed. Investment in these projects is more vital than ever.
And that’s where you come in.
We want you, the property industry, to get involved in our London TowerAthlon event and raise £50,000 to help City YMCA London create new accommodation for young Londoners who would otherwise be homeless.
The design for a new 146-bedroom accommodation block near Old Street has received planning permission and now, we need your help to bring it to life. The building will provide shelter and wrap-around support for vulnerable Londoners aged 16-24, many of whom have left care, have poor mental health, have suffered abuse or have been excluded from mainstream education.
Despite traumatic backgrounds, these young people still nurture strong aspirations. They still have a vision for what they want to do. They still have a need to be heard, to belong and be healthy. And they still feel the need to contribute to their community.
With the right care, advice and encouragement, young people are able to achieve so much more. The City YMCA London support workers and the new building will play an important role in helping isolated young people build their self-confidence and turn their lives around.
We want you to be a part of this life-changing project. By lacing up your trainers for the London TowerAthlon on 16 September and collecting sponsorship money from your friends and colleagues, you’ll be supporting hundreds of young people experiencing homelessness in our capital.
Join us and be part of something amazing. Sign up today.