News

Property's rising stars were yesterday recognised for their contributions to charity at the annual LandAid Ambassadors' Awards.

It is often said that the health of an economy can be measured by the numbers of cranes that appear in the skyline of a city. Well, I want to propose to you tonight that the health of the nation can also be measured by the way in which your sense of social responsibility as an industry is brought to bear on the subject of youth homelessness.

It’s a view close to our hearts here at LandAid. A year ago we set out to achieve lasting change with a clear goal in mind: to end youth homelessness. This in itself had us concentrating our efforts on one pressing issue. But over the year, we recognised the need to focus even further.

LandAid yesterday raised £266,000 for youth homelessness projects at a gala dinner to celebrate our 30th anniversary. The event, held at London's Guildhall and supported by Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, was attended by HRH The Duke of Cambridge and 500 of the industry's senior figures.

In the most recent Housing White Paper, the government announced plans to provide public money and land for new modular housing in the quest for solutions to the housing crisis. To find out more about how alternative housing solutions can help young people with nowhere safe to live, I visited QED Property at the Bordars Walk site, where they are working on a scheme, designed to deliver emergency accommodation for local people who have been, or are about to be made homeless.

LandAid has announced a £100,000 grant for Depaul UK to help create a new day centre for young homeless people in South London. With youth homelessness on the rise, daytime support and shelter are urgently needed in the area.

2016 presented quite a few challenges for the property industry, but in spite of everything, they showed an incredible energy and enthusiasm for helping vulnerable young people. Here's our list of 10 amazing things LandAid achieved with your help.

UK property companies Palmer Capital and Shaftesbury have each donated £30,000 to LandAid, the property industry charity, to sponsor the transformation of derelict properties in Leeds and Newcastle into homes for young people facing homelessness.

One of the reasons we're so determined to tackle youth homelessness is the sheer amount of waste we see every day - the wasted talent of young people who because they have nowhere to live, struggle to fulfil their potential.