GPE’s lockdown board pay cuts raise £280,000 for charity

Great Portland Estates has given £325,000 to charity through its Covid-19 Community Fund, which was seeded with £280,000 raised from top-level salary cuts for three months during the lockdown. The initial amount was raised through a combination of board director bonus reductions and fee waivers equalling at least 20% of salary or fees for three months, alongside contributions from all other GPE executive committee members. The remainder was donated by GPE employees, which was matched by the company. The funds went towards 28 charities with a particular focus on homelessness, mental health, vulnerable groups and education. Key beneficiaries included the National Literacy Trust, Hestia – The Phoenix Project, Young Westminster Foundation and the London Wildlife Trust. Janine Cole, director of sustainability and community at GPE, said: “It has never been so important to support community causes in their work to reach the most vulnerable.” Laura Dowson, deputy director for innovation and partnerships at Hestia, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has hit everybody hard, but none more so that the highly vulnerable victims of modern slavery in our services. “Their fragile networks are destroyed, and many are at high risk of homelessness, re-traumatisation, chronic isolation, and re-trafficking. “GPE’s generous donation means Hestia can be there for these individuals. Their contribution will support the work of our award-winning Phoenix Project; a pioneering volunteer-led project to help adults (and their children) recovering from immense trauma to rebuild their lives.”   To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@egi.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @estatesgazette