Overwhelming response to Grenfell Tower tragedy

None of us will forget what we saw. An entire tower block, in the heart of London, ablaze – an appalling inferno, writes Paul Morrish, chief executive LandAid. And we watched, horror-struck and helpless, unable to do anything and knowing that, as we watched, lives were being lost. The community response has been astounding. Hundreds of volunteers opened their doors to the victims and turned up with food, clothes, toys and water. People across the country gave to appeals set up in the immediate aftermath. We have seen an extraordinary outpouring of generosity and compassion. This extends to the property industry as a whole, which has responded fully and generously to the emergency appeal we launched on Monday. In the 48 hours since launch (at the time of writing), more than £120,000 has been pledged to our appeal. We will be donating the money directly to the British Red Cross’s London Fire Relief Fund, ensuring those funds go to those most in need. With the support of the BPF, WPA & CPA, HBF, Revo and RICS, and through our principal media partners Estates Gazette, CoStar and Property Week, we put an industry-wide call out for help. Businesses, as well as individuals, have answered the call. Alongside our campaign, the BPF has been working closely with its residential members to coordinate offers of suitable accommodation from the industry to those who lost their homes last week. Flats and apartments have been offered to RBK&C for anywhere between three to six months – and in some cases longer. We have heard of companies, large and small, who have offered accommodation directly to the borough, as well as volunteers, storage space, technical and logistical support. The breadth and extent of support from the industry has been immediate and heartfelt. While our focus at LandAid will soon return to our core mission to end youth homelessness, the questions for all those involved in the property and construction industries remain. Whether in the private, public or third sectors, whether in retail, industrial, commercial or residential, we have to work together to solve the crisis we face about housing our people. As an industry used to putting buildings up, not seeing them so easily destroyed, our reaction has an added dimension – the importance of ensuring the quality and safety of all housing. Our united commitment to address the issues of poor-quality housing and lack of supply must last beyond the news cycle and for generations to come. With our collective focus on the longer-term, both at LandAid and right across the property industry, we are determined to continue working together with our partners towards lasting and real change. LandAid’s Grenfell Tower Appeal runs until Friday, 30 June. If your company wishes to donate to the appeal, please give here. If you want to make an individual donation, please give here.