Staff at Convey Group raised over £100 with celebrations, cake and fundraising activities to mark the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning last Friday (September 30).
Convey Group also donated an additional £1000 through funds raised by the Conveyancing Foundation’s Charity Lotto to Macmillan, with a total of £1108.93 now donated to the charity event which does so much to support cancer sufferers and their families.
The office was decorated with balloons and Macmillan bunting as staff really got into the spirit of the nationwide fundraiser in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support with competitions including ‘cartoon a colleague’.
Remote working staff were also able to take part online to support the event.
Staff in the Newport and Swansea offices baked and brought along a selection of delicious cakes with donations made by their colleagues to sample their home baking.
Every single penny raised will now help Macmillan which relies on the generosity of those fundraising for an incredible 97% of its funding.
Convey Group Managing Director Lloyd Davies said:
“Charity fundraising is at the heart of everything we do at Convey Group and our staff have a long tradition of taking part and raising funds for many charities, both national and regional and sometimes even international.
“We are always extremely proud to support Macmillan Coffee Morning as Macmillan does so much in providing services for thousands of people nationwide who are living with cancer.”
In this special episode of the Today’s Conveyancer Podcast host David Opie discusses the ins and outs of the announcement by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to cut Stamp Duty rates in the mini-budget on Friday 23rd September.
David is joined by conveyancing industry veteran Lloyd Davies, Managing Director of Convey Group.
Lloyd lends his years of experience in the industry to the discussion, providing his thoughts on the rate cuts, alongside the overall package of tax cuts, as well as considering the current state of play with the continued war in Ukraine, interest rate rises, relaxation of mortgage rules, inflation, recession and supply and demand.
Are we heading for recession? Or will the SDLT cut “over-stimulate an already stimulated market” and create further capacity issues for the property market? And what does that mean for conveyancers up and down the country?
Listen in to hear Lloyd’s thoughts.
It was back to school for Newport-based Your Conveyancing Services’s Director of IT when he returned to his old school in Pontypool to donate 40 much-needed laptops.
Joe Norris, who attended St Alban’s RC School, was delighted to meet children and some of his old teachers when he returned to make the donation of the reconditioned Chromebooks to aid learning development at the school.
He said: “It was great to be back and meet some of my old teachers, headmaster Stephen Lord and a number of the current teachers and pupils.”
He added: “We need to continually update our equipment at Your Conveyancing Services because of the nature of our business as an online conveyancing practice. We were keen to donate some of the Chromebooks our staff use which are still in excellent condition to somewhere which would really benefit.
“We already had links with the school and we contacted them to offer the Chromebooks which we have wiped and cleaned ready for the pupils to use. I was delighted to go along and officially donate them on behalf of Your Conveyancing Services.”
Headteacher Stephen Lord said: “We are really grateful for this generous donation. We will be sharing these Chromebooks with some of our most vulnerable pupils to help them access their studies and I know they will make a real difference and be very beneficial to them.
“It was also a pleasure for me and for the pupils to meet Joe, a former pupil, and see how well he is doing. It is always an inspiration for current pupils to see what pupils have gone on to achieve after leaving St Alban’s.”
Your Conveyancing Services Managing Director Lloyd Davies said: “We are always keen to ensure that computer equipment is recycled where it can be to aid our local communities. We have previously donated laptops to a youth centre in South Wales so this is our second recent donation.
“I am delighted they are going to be used by pupils who really need them to help their education.”
Earlier this year, The Conveyancing Foundation, the not-for-profit charitable arm of the Convey Group, helped to raise £25,000 for a new health and wellbeing suite at St Alban’s after a group trek by the ‘Mindstep Trekkers’ along Offa’s Dyke national trail.
Headteacher Mr Lord added: “The continued support of Your Conveyancing Services to St Alban’s is very humbling and very much appreciated.”
The Mindstep Foundation has been working closely with nationwide men’s mental health charity ‘Andy’s Man Club’ to set up a new talking group for men in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, which has now officially opened its doors.
Andy’s Man Club was founded in 2016 by the family of Andy Roberts, who died by suicide aged 23, to offer free talking groups for men to come together and discuss issues and concerns they have faced or are facing in a safe and supportive environment.
There are now an incredible 69 clubs around the UK which take place every Monday from 7pm to 9pm.
The Abergavenny club is the fourth Andy’s Man Club to open in Wales following clubs in Porthcawl, the Rhondda Valley and Wrexham.
Tracey Davies, co-founder of the Mindstep Foundation, said:
“We are so pleased to have worked with Andy’s Man Club to set up a new talking group in Abergavenny. Our local area has been hugely affected by suicide in the past few years, and we wanted to help create a safe space for men to talk openly and free of judgement.
“These clubs have been hugely successful in supporting men throughout the UK and it was a pleasure to work with Andy’s Man Club charity to see this come to fruition.”
James Smith, from the Mindstep Foundation, who facilitates the Andy’s Man Club in Abergavenny, said: “In the first month, we have already seen a strong turnout at the club each week, which shows the demand in the local and wider community.
“It is a warm, welcoming environment where everyone feels free to speak openly and support others in need. I now look forward to attending every Monday evening. Please do come along and have a chat with us if you feel you need to.”
Andy Greenway, Andy’s Man Club Project Development Champion, commented: “We are thrilled to have another club open in the South Wales area to work alongside the clubs already operating in Porthcawl and the Rhondda Valley.
“The turnout we have seen in Abergavenny and the support from local organisations has been great to see. To know that men now have a place to go to share their issues is massive and we are very proud to have another AMC running and helping those men.”
The club runs every Monday 7-9pm, except Bank Holidays, at the Tithe Barn, Monk Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5ND. Follow the club’s Facebook Page here for updates.
THE CONVEYANCING Foundation’s Ukraine Appeal has topped £30,000 after a group of charity trekkers helped to raise funds by taking on the notoriously tough terrain of Hadrian’s Wall.
The Mindstep Trekkers, led by Conveyancing Foundation chairman Lloyd Davies, hiked over 90 miles in five days along the historic Roman ramparts in northern England.
Funds raised will now boost the total of the recently-launched appeal to over £30,000 in only a matter of weeks since it was launched.
All the funds raised by the Appeal will be donated to the official DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal to provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to those fleeing the terrible conflict in Ukraine and desperately in need of help.
The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently at times of crisis overseas. By pooling resources to work as one, the DEC is pivotal in coordinating the UK public’s response to overseas disasters.
Thanking the “exceptional achievement” of his fellow trekkers, Lloyd Davies said:
“I cannot thank everyone enough for what they have achieved by taking on this very tough coast to coast walk. There have been some injuries along the way but we have all survived. I am very proud to have been of this challenge for such an incredibly important and urgent cause.”
Nicola Lancaster from the Conveyancing Foundation said: “We are all extremely humbled that the trekkers took time out from their lives to take on such an epic challenge for our Ukraine Appeal.”
The appeal has also been boosted by donations from new property industry sponsors PEXA and Groundsure who have both donated £1000.
Heather Crichton, General Manager, Industry Readiness, PEXA commented:
“Our purpose at PEXA is to transform property experiences for everyone – and that truly means everyone, including those who don’t have a safe place to call home.
“We are passionate about solving the homelessness crisis both locally and abroad, and we been devastated to watch the events unfolding in the Ukraine, with many displaced as a result of shocking events.
“We are pleased to support the Conveyancing Foundation’s Ukrainian Appeal Charity Lotto and encourage others in the industry to do the same.”
Gary Miller, Sales Director at Groundsure said: “We are absolutely delighted to be supporting the Conveyancing Foundation with the ‘DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal’ during this unbelievably tough time for all of those connected to the Ukraine.
“The challenges which we are seeing in Ukraine are extremely close to many people’s hearts at Groundsure and we hope that our donation goes towards helping those that need it most.”
Thanking them for their support, Nicola Lancaster said:
“We would also like to thank PEXA and Groundsure for coming on board as sponsors. Their contribution is greatly appreciated. If you would like to sponsor the appeal with a financial contribution, that would be fantastic.
“Companies that pledge £1000 or over to the Appeal will be marketed on the Foundation Appeal webpage and all publications in conjunction with this Appeal. We will work with you to produce a dual branded video that you can share amongst your contacts to raise awareness and promote your involvement further to your clients.”
During the Foundation’s Ukraine Appeal, for a minimum donation of £10, anyone can take part in the Charity Lotto with a possible chance to win £500.
Everyone involved in the conveyancing industry is asked to help – Estate Agents, Conveyancers, Mortgage Brokers, Lenders and all Companies and individuals that would like to help to engage their staff members, clients, friends and family to take part and corporate sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Nicola Lancaster explained: “By participating in the Conveyancing Foundation Charity Lotto you will be raising funds that will help DEC charities in Ukraine and neighbouring countries meet the needs of all refugees and displaced people.
“To put it in context, £30 could provide hygiene supplies for three people for one month, £50 could provide blankets for four families and £100 could provide emergency food for two families for one month.”
Please contact Nicola Lancaster for additional information on how you can help – info@conveyancingfoundation.com
Laura Burkinshaw started out on her ’31 in March’ running challenge to raise funds for the charity Refuge, which opened the world’s first refuge in Chiswick, West London, in 1971.
Refuge is now the country’s largest single provider of specialist accommodation and support to women and children escaping domestic violence and other forms of violence and abuse. On any given day Refuge supports more than 6,000 women, children and men.
Laura decided to pledge 50 miles instead of the 20-mile minimum initially in March and Your Conveyancing Services donated £1,000.00 to Refuge to support Laura with her running and fundraising. Once completed, Laura then took on the challenge of running another 50 miles in April, bringing her total to 100 miles! Your Conveyancing Services donated another £1,000 for her incredible efforts.
Laura has now completed her challenge and has raised £2,170.00 for Refuge!