We were proud to host a webinar exploring a question at the heart of sustainable development: How can partnerships between property companies, charities and community organisations create lasting social impact? 

With a panel of experts from LandAid, Socius and 1625 Independent People, we moved beyond good intentions and into real-world examples of collaboration that are transforming lives. 

Our host, Nikki Davies, opened with a truth we all recognise: the challenges facing our towns and cities – from housing shortages to youth homelessness and declining public spaces – can’t be solved in silos. 

It’s only through cross-sector collaboration that we can shift from aspiration to meaningful, measurable action. 

Katie Stephenson, Head of National Partnerships at LandAid, gave us a powerful overview of the scale of youth homelessness in the UK: 

• 118,000 young people presented as homeless last year – that’s 1 in every 62. 

• This is likely just the tip of the iceberg. 

LandAid’s mission is bold and clear: to end youth homelessness, making it rare, brief and non-recurring. 

As the largest sole funder of youth homelessness charities in the UK, LandAid uniquely harnesses the skills, expertise and generosity of the property industry – from planning and project management to pro bono legal support and beyond. 

We then heard from Vic Birks (Socius) and Dom Wood (CEO, 1625) about what this kind of partnership looks like in action: 

• Socius team member Luke contributes 14 hours/month to 1625’s £5m redevelopment project – turning a derelict property into youth housing and a social enterprise café. 

• Support includes contract advice, risk management and project oversight – all crucial to preventing delays and reducing costs. 

• Socius also delivers urban plan workshops in Sutton and Cambridge schools, guiding students to master-plan fictional towns. The impact? Real-world exposure to careers in property and urban design, inspiring the next generation. 

The key lesson here is that individuals, backed by supportive organisations, can create a ripple effect of positive change. 

Ruth Skidmore and Vic Birks discussed how social value shouldn’t be an add-on, it needs to be embedded from day one. 

At the London Cancer Hub in Sutton, Socius set clear expectations from the tender stage for measurable social value – sparking Meeting Place’s engagement with local youth groups, offering PR support to a local literary festival and more. 

The message was clear: 

• Avoid tokenism. 

• Make long-term commitments. 

• Build trust by listening, not assuming. 

During the webinar Gareth Pettit, Head of Strategic Programmes at LandAid also shared an exciting update: a new digital platform to connect property professionals with the charities that need their skills most. 

Features include: 

• Location-based matching and filtering by service type. 

• A simple “register interest” process. 

• Opportunities ranging from one-hour advice sessions to multi-year roles. 

Plus, companies receive impact reporting and case studies to showcase the difference they’re making. 

The panel shared practical tips for companies looking to make a difference: 

• Start local: partner with charities near your developments. 

• Collaborate: pool resources with other firms for greater impact. 

• Engage staff: align projects with employee passions. 

• Think beyond money: offer time, skills, office space or governance roles. 

• Get on the ground: listen to communities and learn what they truly need. 

Embedding social value isn’t just good for communities – it benefits businesses, too: 

• Enhanced staff wellbeing and retention.

• Stronger client and investor relationships.

• Projects that deliver genuine, lasting impact.

• Trust and credibility built over time.

Each speaker left us with a clear, simple call to action: 

• Ruth: Even three hours can make a difference – just start. 

• Vic: Begin a conversation with a local charity. 

• Dom: Find out what your team cares about – then match it to a cause. 

• Katie: Think about what your business can uniquely offer. 

• Gareth: Explore LandAid’s platform and join an event. 

The energy in the (virtual) room was clear: attendees left inspired, motivated and ready to act. 

The takeaway? When sectors collaborate, we can transform lives – and the places we live, work and build in.