Celebrating a year of giving: Our 2024 charity highlights

December 2024

At Beresfords, giving back to the communities we serve is not just a commitment - it's a core part of who we are. We've reflected on a year of charitable giving, in which our team’s collective efforts have raised £27,000 for local initiatives!

An annual property dinner, held at the Down Hall Hotel & Spa, brought together over 180 guests for an evening of fundraising and celebration. Together, significant funds for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) were raised, adding to the £100,000 total contributed over the past decade by Beresfords.

EHAAT provides a critical lifeline to communities in Essex and Hertfordshire, delivering advanced medical care via helicopters and rapid response vehicles, 24 hours a day. Guests enjoyed auctions, raffles, and exclusive prizes, all in support of this life-saving cause.

Jane Gurney, EHAAT CEO, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Beresfords Estate Agents for their unwavering support over the past decade. Through our partnership, they have helped raise over £100,000 for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance since the start, enabling us to continue our life-saving work.

“A special thank you goes to everyone who attended this autumn’s Property Dinner. Without the generosity of the Beresfords team and all of our supporters, we couldn’t keep our helicopters in the air, our Rapid Response Cars on the road, or our HEMS team responding to life-threatening emergencies across Essex and Hertfordshire."

This year, Beresfords partnered with local charity, SNAP, donating £10 for every property completion in the Brentwood Borough. SNAP supports families of children and young people with additional needs or disabilities, offering access to facilities such as a multi-sensory room, specialist IT suite, and training resources. The charity’s support is accessible to families with children aged 0 to 25, regardless of a formal diagnosis or professional referral.

SNAP’s mission is to inform, encourage, and empower parents to better support their children through compassion, guidance and practical resources.

Karen Boath, CEO of SNAP, said: “Beresfords’ support this year has been invaluable. Their generous donation allows us to continue offering resources and compassion to families who need us most. With partners like Beresfords, we can expand our reach and make an even greater impact.”

In an evening filled with bravery and camaraderie, the Beresfords team took on the fire walk challenge for Mind (Mid and North East Essex), a charity dedicated to mental health support. The fiery evening brought together the Colchester sales team, marketing department and senior leadership to walk barefoot across burning embers to support this vital cause.

Mind works tirelessly to provide mental health resources, advocacy, and support to those in need.

From creative bakes to friendly competitions, this year’s Macmillan Coffee Morning involved teams coming together to bake, share recipes and enjoy homemade treats - all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, which provides care and assistance to individuals and families affected by cancer.

Earlier this year, marketing and new business director, Nicki Treffers, embarked on a 5-day, 586km bike ride across Botswana. The journey took Nicki through the country’s diverse scenery, encountering local wildlife in the day and star-filled skies at night.

At the start of December, Luke Taylor and Sophie Eden volunteered on behalf of Beresfords at the Romford Salvation Army Church, assisting them with the packing of over 100 Christmas hampers and gift packages for families in need. The gift packages will provide a touch of Christmas magic for adults and children of all ages.

Reflecting on the year’s overall achievements, Nicki, who has been instrumental in organising events and maintaining relationships with charities, emphasised the importance of Beresfords’ community focus: “Our communities are at the heart of everything we do. We don’t just operate within these areas—we live, work, and grow here too. That’s why giving back is so important to us. From supporting vital emergency services to empowering local families, we are so proud to make a meaningful difference. Thank you for helping us do that.”

2024 has been an extraordinary year for our charity initiatives, and we couldn’t have done it without the unwavering support of you: our team; our partners; and our community. Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year—your generosity and enthusiasm drive our success. Here’s to another year of making a difference in the communities we’re proud to call home.