ASTOP Case Studies: Improving & Saving Lives In Our Communities
At a recent event, ASTOP founder Shaylesh Patel shared the results you can expect from a collaboration between the commercial property sector and charitable organisations. By linking these two groups, we can unlock impressive community outcomes. To set the scene and suggest that financial managers cannot represent everything on a spreadsheet, Shaylesh quoted Albert Einstein: Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted.
He then introduced his guests: Keith Morgan, CEO of Voluntary Action Camden; Sara Tennant, project officer with the Medaille Trust Charity; Bassam Mahfouz, CEO of Refugee Action Kingston; and Simon Westgarth, CEO of Richmond Furniture Scheme.
Watch our video to hear the above speakers share insights on the significant impact of utilising vacant commercial spaces for charitable purposes.
Working With Camden Volunteers
Despite a reputation for firmly upholding business rate rules, Camden Council has always supported ASTOP’s rate relief activities, especially when approached with innovative ideas. When the ASTOP team acquired new office space in Mornington Crescent, the council connected us with Keith’s Voluntary Action Camden charity. As a result, this new office space has become a hub for collaboration, offering Keith’s charity a platform from which to work and maximise its impact.
In fact, Keith had come to ASTOP straight from the first team meeting in the commercial space we had found for him. He reported fantastic levels of enthusiasm and could see they were impressed. He felt his Trustees would be equally affected. Camden is an affluent borough, but high costs make it difficult for charities to find affordable office space. It is a bone of contention that even rentals in council-owned buildings are high. The reality is that without ASTOP’s help, Voluntary Action Camden would not have access to a three-floor space like the one they now occupy.
Keith sees the building as an exciting opportunity to show that his charity can oversee a collaborative hub environment where multiple organisations can unite, share resources, and advocate for his community. This infrastructure not only supports front-line services but also strengthens our collective advocating voice to shape public policy.
Despite initial challenges like making the internet and heating work, the new space promises significant long-term benefits. Once the arrangement is established and its benefits are proven, Voluntary Action Camden could potentially take over the building on a full-time rated basis. Keith concludes by stressing the substantial social benefit, alongside any financial benefit, to ASTOP’s business rate relief tools. Voluntary Action Camden is a manifestation of that in action.
Supporting Vulnerable Populations
Sara from the Medaille Trust highlighted the life-saving impact of having access to rent-free office space. Their outreach services for victims of modern slavery and trafficking rely heavily on having safe and stable environments to undertake vital casework. Additional space facilitates crucial support services, workshops, and employment training, directly impacting the lives of the vulnerable people they serve. The Trust’s vital work includes undertaking NRM (National Referral Mechanism) interviews that can form the basis of a serious crime investigation and can be a matter of life and death to modern slavery victims.
Providing appropriate office spaces has enabled the Medaille Trust to deliver workshops that boost confidence and employability among their clients. These positive experiences help rebuild trust in local communities, create a sense of empowerment amongst service users, encourage socialisation, and, ultimately, help people live and work independently. Sara describes the office space as “super, super beneficial and really impactful as we support victims of exploitation and trafficking.”
Aiding Refugees In Kingston
Bassam Mahfouz from Refugee Action Kingston emphasised the transformative potential of ethical leasing through ASTOP. Bassam reduced overheads through rent-free space in Kingston’s town centre. Refugee Action Kingston could raise funds for frontline services rather than fundraise for property costs, significantly benefiting their clients. This approach also provides landlords with a responsible tenant who can, from onsite, identify issues with the building, such as leaks, safety, and security issues.
With a base arranged by ASTOP, Refugee Action Kingston has been able to have dedicated office space and meeting rooms for its team. It has also been able to run adult English classes, an employment hub, clothing days, and supplementary classes for young people. These programs support refugees in integrating into the community and pursuing their educational and career goals. Bassam concludes by describing ASTOP’s services as truly transformative for his charity and the people he serves.
Simon Westgarth of Richmond Furniture Scheme shared how their charity uses otherwise vacant spaces for furniture storage and sales. These efforts prevent waste from going into landfill sites, provide affordable furniture for those who need it, and support work experience among a large volunteer base.
According to Simon, working with furniture is like playing Tetris. You have to figure out where to put your furniture and how to store it. An arrangement with ASTOP leads to flexibility. A new site in Putney, for example, earned the charity an additional £27,000 in revenue. New spaces allow the charity to grow its footprint, increase awareness amongst new communities, and achieve more success over time.
Partnerships between the commercial property sector and charitable organisations present a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on our communities. By embracing ethical business rate relief and innovative collaborations, ASTOP’s services create vibrant, supportive environments. Landlords and property managers are encouraged to consider the social and moral benefits of partnering with charities, ultimately contributing to a more compassionate and resilient community, even if that is sometimes difficult to express in a spreadsheet.
