Esteemed senior leaders from across the property industry assembled on Tuesday 31 May in support of LandAid’s mission to end youth homelessness, signing-up to the charity’s new Patrons Programme at a networking event at CBRE’s newly renovated Henrietta House in London.
LandAid’s Patron Programme has been set up to unite and engage the industry’s top tier in the charity’s mission to provide relief and security to the most vulnerable across the country, as well as to amplify the impact of LandAid’s work across their networks.
Guests at the event were welcomed by LandAid CEO, Paul Morrish, together with Neil Slater, Global Head of Real Estate at abrdn and Rob Bould, of Bould Consulting Ltd., LandAid’s new and outgoing Chair of Trustees, respectively.
Addressing the room of the industry’s great and good, Rob Bould, who brought the idea of a Patrons Programme to LandAid in his time as Chair, said: ‘In its 36-year history, LandAid has developed and nurtured wide-reaching networks across the property industry and made a huge impact on youth homelessness in the process. The idea of the Patrons Network is to ask the most senior players in the industry, and those who have been such a major part of our history and evolution, to come together – as a new network with a special purpose.
‘Although financial support is always hugely appreciated by any charity, the focus of the Patrons Network is on promotion, advocacy and engagement. Patrons will be using their experience and influence to help spread the word about LandAid’s impact, make the case for support to new partners, and realise LandAid’s ambition of fostering a genuine social movement both across and through our industry.’
Neil Slater shared his excitement in taking on his new role as Chair at LandAid: ‘I am hugely impressed by the impact LandAid makes and the opportunity it has to make a difference in society. The number of young people experiencing homelessness is at a decades high level. The charities supporting these young people, and which LandAid supports through the industry’s generosity, face a perfect storm. Never has our industry’s support been needed more. LandAid’s Patrons Network brings a breadth of experience from across the industry from those who share LandAid’s aims – helping to promote the power and potential we have, both to do good ourselves, and to help shape, influence and focus the social impact our industry can have.’
Paul Morrish, CEO at LandAid concluded by saying: ‘Our ambition is to create a social movement that operates at every level of our industry, and we are grateful to be supported with this so magnificently by CBRE, who have welcomed us into their new space and generously sponsored this event.
‘Just as we have our Ambassadors Network, representing the rising stars of the industry, so we desperately need the support of our Patrons – those at the more senior and experienced end of the spectrum.
‘We need every Patron to help us raise awareness of our work, of the homelessness and employment challenges facing young people across our country, and of the need to come together as an industry-wide movement to achieve social change.’
Anyone wishing to find out more about LandAid’s Patrons Programme or to potentially get involved can contact patrons@landaid.org.