RICS’ Pledge150 can help end homelessness

RICS is celebrating its 150th anniversary year by pledging to raise £2.25m for LandAid. Chief executive Sean Tompkins explains why he believes fighting youth homelessness matters so much. Pledge150 aims to deliver at least 150 bed spaces across all 12 UK regions by December 2018 by uniting those working in the land, property and construction sectors and encouraging them to get involved with a programme of unique fundraising activities as well as create their own Pledge150 initiatives. Decades of failure to build affordable homes, fuelled by welfare reforms has led to devastating levels of homelessness across London, and in many other towns and cities across the UK, making homelessness an extremely tough challenge to overcome. But it is one that the property industry can, and should, lead the way in terms of helping to solve. Our 150th year is the ideal time to highlight our public interest responsibility and the value of the surveying profession in developing solutions to solve such challenges in society. [caption id="attachment_930360" align="aligncenter" width="847"] Somerset Care and Repair offers training and employment opportunities[/caption] Pledge150 aims to not only encourage surveyors and the wider property profession to use their skills and expertise for the greater good, but also to create a legacy of uniting all those who work in the land, property and construction sectors to help end homelessness. Since its launch at the end of last year, the campaign has attracted support from high profile property experts and TV personalities such as George Clarke and Phil Spencer, and we were delighted to have the Duke of Cambridge attend the fundraising launch event at our headquarters in London. The launch raised more than  £127,000 alone, through a charity cook-off, luxury auction and “Pledge a Bed” initiative. We’re hugely grateful for the overwhelming industry support we’ve had too, not just from RICS professionals, but also from others working in the built environment from all over the UK. Pledge150 aims to not only encourage surveyors and the wider property profession to use their skills and expertise for the greater good, but also to create a legacy of uniting all those who work in the land, property and construction sectors to help end homelessness. Together, they have raised funds through a variety of activities including city treasure hunts, abseiling down Belfast’s iconic Europa Hotel, Tough Mudder, marathons and charity tours of historic buildings and sites. It’s been inspiring to see many achieve personal accomplishments along the way too, for example Alex Holliday, a chartered building surveyor at Bowman Riley ran from Liverpool to Leeds across three days, totalling 90 miles. He managed to raise more than £4,700 and the mayor of Skipton, Cllr. Andrew Rankine, came out to support him along the way, which is just fantastic, and further demonstrates the importance of what Pledge150 aims to achieve. Get involved RICS has organised a programme of Pledge150 activities across all 12 regions in the UK. For further details on what Pledge150 fundraisers are taking place in your area, or to find out how you can get involved in creating your own Pledge150 initiatives – including the marketing tools to get you started – click here. Where is the money going? Thanks to the Pledge150 campaign, LandAid has already been able to award four separate grants to charities working with young homeless people. Some £60,000 has been granted to Somerset Care and Repair in Yeovil, which will create three one-double bed modular homes. The charity provides onsite training for unemployed people in modular construction and it will work with probation services to identify youth ex-offenders who can work on this project to gain construction skills for future employment. Another £51,000 will go to Nottinghamshire YMCA in Goole towards renovating their 19-bed hostel. A grant of £75,000 will go towards a LandAid’s modular construction housing scheme for young people. The £2.5m project will create 30 self-contained one-bed flats for young people who are ready to live more independently and enter employment. [caption id="attachment_930355" align="aligncenter" width="847"] James Jackson, YMCA Norfolk[/caption] In Great Yarmouth, a £24,000 grant has also been awarded to YMCA Norfolk. This is helping fund the renovation and conversion of a large run-down house in Great Yarmouth into shared flats for young people who are ready to move on from hostel accommodation. The project will provide a safe home for 14 young people, offering them a greater sense of stability, freedom and independence. It will also help free up bed spaces in the charity’s fully supported hostel Hall Quay, creating additional housing options for young people who are ready to move out. YMCA Norfolk will provide the young people living in flats with tenancy management support and access to life skills activities to help them develop their independent living skills and break the cycle of homelessness. The project will support young people like James, who became homeless aged just 16, after coming out to his dad. After sofa-surfing with friends for a while, he turned to YMCA Norfolk for help. Two years later, James is now living in YMCA Norfolk’s move-on accommodation in Norwich, which is just like the accommodation that will be created in Great Yarmouth. James is now working with his engagement worker as he prepares to move out into his own place. He says: “Without the YMCA, I am not sure I would even be here.”