Estate agents and housebuilders have been using their marketing skills while working from home during lockdown to raise funds for good causes.

Response to a leaflet drop by Hurst’s estate agency in Wycombe town centre when the country emerged from the first of the three Covid-19 lockdowns in the past year exceeded expectations.

For each property sold as a direct result of a potential home buyer responding to the offer on the leaflet, the Crendon Street-based company promised to donate £100 to the local NHS trust responsible for the medical services in the area.

So far the fund has raised £2,600. And that’s not the end of it.

The firm also found enough in the kitty to buy big bags of sweets for staff at care homes in the district.

Hurst’s Kate Goodwin who was responsible for liaising with the local NHS Trust throughout the project says the sweets were a thank you to carers whose services have been crucial to maintaining a semblance of normality for hundreds of families.

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At last count a total of 60,000 leaflets have been delivered to homes in the district since last July.

Most properties have received a reminder more than once.

“I think the result is pretty good considering the campaign has been run when we couldn’t meet local residents to explain the purpose of our mission.

“We couldn’t shake hands,” she says.

At the outset, she didn’t hold out much hope for the response to the leaflet drop.

“People don’t usually look closely at unsolicited mail that lands on the doormat. They drop it in the bin. I do.

“For the response to be as good as it has been under lockdown conditions was very encouraging. We’re continuing the scheme till the end of this year.”

Dr Nelson Garcia-Narvaez, the charitable funds head of finance governance for the local NHS Trust received the cheque from the estate agent with both sides maintaining a safe distance at all times.

“He had to pick it up from a table, we couldn’t just hand it to him. The doctor was an absolute delight to deal with,” Kate reports.

Estate agents and developers are always keen to foster good relations with the communities they serve.

Housebuilders Barratt and sister company David Wilson Homes have donated £100,000 to become the first patron of a charitable fund set up to provide financial aid for cash-strapped Armed Forces veterans as well as homes, jobs and mental health support for victims of the pandemic.

The new charity called the Tommy Club comes under the aegis of the Royal British Legion Institutes.

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The presence of a Tommy dressed in World War I battle dress draws attention to new developments built by Barratt and David Wilson all over the country.

Look out for Tommys on parade in gardens surrounding show homes and sales offices.

The developer’s regional managing director John Dillon for Bucks “Not only will the funding help the fantastic work they are doing, the figures will also encourage our staff and residents to take a moment of reflection for those who served for our freedom.”

Currently there are Tommys on the alert to catch the eye of buyers outside super stylish new houses designed and built by Barratt and David Wilson Homes at three sites in Milton Keynes.