News

I arrived at Newcastle YMCA after an invigorating cycle from Newcastle's Central Station - east along the Tyne and then uphill through Byker to Walker - to find a site in the final stages of construction.

Our teams are furiously training for their assault on the Broadgate Tower, and here is a round up of how they are getting on with their fundraising.

After a summer of crunching numbers, reviewing targets and drawing up graphs, LandAid can now proudly announce the launch of its 2013/14 Financial Review. A detailed summary of the charity's performance over the 12 months from April 2013 to March 2014 can be found in the document below, but for starters, here's a selection of our highlights:

On Thursday, Elise, Elizabeth and Alex boarded a train bound for West Byfleet to join Chairman Robin Broadhurst on a visit to our Surrey-based, grant-funded project Eikon.

Last night, 150 LandAid supporters were treated to an outdoor film screening of the cult classic Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels at the foot of the iconic Battersea Power Station.

Last night saw the official launch of LandAid's pro bono campaign at our annual summer party. On the night, we asked the property and construction sectors to donate over £200,000 worth of vital time and expertise to support our projects. We want each of our corporate supporters to commit at least 10 days of free professional advice in 2014-15, acting as a catalyst social objectives and the resources of businesses to drive change. The overall aim is to get 40 companies to donate 10 days each.

Child poverty is one of the greatest challenges facing the UK today. It affects every area of a child's development - social, educational and personal - and places families and communities under incredible strain. It's also bad for the economy. It is estimated that every year £29 billion is lost in costs to the Exchequer and reduced GDP. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) the consequences of child poverty include reduced productivity, lower educational attainment and poor health.

Surveyors across the country got their fundraising kit on for LandAid this summer with two fantastic football focused challenges. The RICS World Cup Fantasy Football tournament saw over 3,500 people sign up, raising £1,750 for LandAid. Harvey Gill of Telereal Trillium won with his team - inaptly titled Murder on Zidane's Floor - leading the way from start to finish. Chartered surveyors CS2 invited clients to lace up their boots for their World Cup 5-a-side football tournament at Goals, Wembley, on the 15 July

On a beautifully sunny day in June, Liz Potts, Elise Austin and I travelled south west to Jamie's Farm in Wiltshire. A number of students from a south west London secondary school were half way through their five day residential visit. Aged 11 to 16 years, they had various emotional and behavioural problems - the type of young people who benefit from the holistic approach of Jamie's Farm.