Local agents crown 2015 with a 20/20 charity smash
It’s been a very happy ending to 2015 for a team of local property specialists who have helped achieve a milestone UK-wide charity campaign.
Throughout this year, the Belvoir office on Eld Lane in Colchester has been part of a huge fund raising effort to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the company’s national property lettings and management network.
The goal was to raise £20,000. But with one week to go before Christmas, Belvoir has smashed that target – and with money still coming in the total charity pot could raise a further few thousand pounds by the New Year.
Belvoir’s 160-office Group started life in 1995 when husband and wife team Mike and Stephanie Goddard spotted an opportunity to bring new levels of dynamism, training and professional standards to a sector which, they knew, had massive potential to grow.
Since then the company has figured consistently in prestigious national property awards – regularly scooping Gold. It has achieved solid, profitable growth and UK expansion, created over 1000 jobs through its exclusive franchise territories and also launched successfully on the London Stock Exchange.
Julie Davis who owns Belvoir Colchester says: “Over the years, Belvoir has created its very own business community by serving the varying, but specific needs of local property landlords, tenants and investors both in mainland UK and in Ireland.
“Whilst various individual offices throughout the country have always been active in supporting their own favourite charities and causes, at the beginning of this year all UK offices came together as a Group to set a ‘commemorative’ £20,000 charity target before the close of 2015.
“From individual cash donations through to scores of other initiatives, including charity golf days, sky dives, quiz nights, endurance trials and even cake baking events, the Belvoir family has rallied to the cause.”
Julie adds: “This week we learned that Belvoir has not only reached its £20k goal, but exceeded it. Donations and sponsor money is still flowing and is likely to push the final figure even further before the New Year chimes in.”
Dorian Gonsalves, Belvoir’s Commercial Director, adds: ”Since its inception, Belvoir has always put a huge emphasis on serving the professional property needs of its clients, and their many varied local communities – always with a desire to ‘put something back’ whenever the opportunity arises.
“ Julie and the team at Belvoir Colchester, alongside their national colleagues, have put energy, commitment and drive into making our 20th year in business one that will benefit a wide range of local, regional and national causes – from local air ambulance services to hospices, a cystic fibrosis charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, and many, many more.
“The ingenuity shown by individual staff members has been both illuminating and, often highly amusing. Whether being caked in mud, or by baking a cake, they have risen to the charity challenge and helped make our 20th year in business both memorable and worthwhile.”
“The team at Belvoir Colchester can take great satisfaction from knowing that 2016 will be a much brighter one for many needy and disadvantaged people – thanks to their tremendous efforts.”
