Member Article

Property firm plays key role in distribution of £3.5 million fund

A Midlands property firm is to play a key role in helping distribute £3.5 million pounds donated to help vulnerable adults across the region.

Richard Mees, the managing director of land and development company Rainier Developments, is part of an expert panel which will choose the three projects to receive the money.

The £3.5 million was donated anonymously to the Heart of England Community Foundation, a grant-giving charity which distributes funds to good causes across the West Midlands.

The donor has requested the money funds three projects which will create new or upgrade existing accommodation for homeless and vulnerable people, each with a value of around £1 million.

Mees will sit on panel of industry experts who will assess the viability of projects on behalf of the Foundation before the final selections are made.

He said: “We first met the Foundation when we donated a large commercial kitchen which was in a building that we bought. I thought it would be a simple donation, but the more I got to learn about the work of the organisation the more impressed I became.

“It does some vital work in really key areas of our region, and really connects the corporate world with all areas of our communities.

“When its chief executive Tina Costello approached me about this project, I was more than happy to help, and to also recommend others in our industry who can hopefully ensure that the money is directed to where it will do most good, but also ensure the longevity of the programmes.”

Costello said the volunteering was another example of the business community in the region giving back.

She said: “Richard’s expertise, and those of the rest of the panel, means we will get first class expert advice which will save us thousands of pounds – money which will now go directly to the project.

“As with all donations, we want to ensure we get maximum impact for the funds that we are distributing and in this case we do not have the in-house expertise from a property point of view, so Richard and Rainier helping out in this way means we have total peace of mind that we will be backing the projects which will bring most long-term benefit.”

Rainier is a privately-owned land and development company developing both greenfield and brownfield sites throughout the UK, and has its headquarters in Henley-in-Arden.

It is just about to start work on a scheme of 167 apartments on a landmark site on London Road in the centre of Coventry.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .