RICS pledges to raise significant sum to help end youth homelessness in the North West

Matthew Howell, RICS Regional Managing Director, UK & Ireland

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a campaign with property industry charity LandAid to raise over £2 million in the biggest ever fundraising campaign for the charity. The funds will contribute to ending youth homelessness in the North West, and will provide secure and affordable bed spaces in the region.

As part of RICS’ 150th anniversary in 2018, the campaign - known as Pledge150 - will see the leading industry body partnering with LandAid to raise £2.25 million for the provision of 150 bed spaces across all 12 UK regions by December 2018, for young people at risk of homelessness.

RICS plans to raise funds at a variety of its annual events and through staff and partner university initiatives. Those working in the North West’s land, property and construction sectors will be encouraged to join in with the challenge and think big, in terms of their fundraising activities and in helping to publicise the campaign.

Matthew Howell, RICS Regional Managing Director, UK & Ireland, commented: “As part of our milestone birthday next year, we want to raise awareness of the vital role that chartered surveyors and other built environment professionals can play in solving youth homelessness in the North West.

“As part of this, we will be encouraging all those who work in the built environment sector in the region, to pledge their support for our campaign, and help us deliver secure accommodation for young homeless people in and around the area. Youth homelessness is a problem that can be solved, and the property industry can, and should, lead the way in terms of helping to solve it in every way they can.”

As part of the RICS Pledge150 campaign, those working in the North West’s built environment may also be given the opportunity to provide pro bono property advice to local charities supporting disadvantaged young people, families and communities, including those experiencing homelessness.

Paul Morrish, LandAid Chief Executive, added: “Over the last five years we have raised over £7.5m to fund 100 exceptional accommodation projects for young people at risk of becoming homeless.

“Let us not forget that at least 80,000 young people in the UK experience homelessness every year, and ‘homelessness’ doesn’t just mean sleeping on the streets, it can include those ‘sofa surfing’ or living in overcrowded and unsafe accommodation. So, we are delighted to be teaming up with RICS in what is the biggest ever single fundraising campaign in our history, to deliver safe and secure homes for young homeless people across all 12 UK regions.”

All firms that make a corporate donation to the RICS’ Pledge150 campaign will be highlighted on the organisation’s online pledge wall and will have the opportunity to say what they are actively doing to help end youth homelessness.

For more information on the RICS Pledge150 campaign – including the tools available to get you started - from brochures and posters along with suggestions of fundraising activities, visit:

www.rics.org/pledge150