Preparing for Covid-19 demand

LionHeart is gearing up for an increase in demand for financial help and other support as the impact of Covid-19 kicks in.

An emergency meeting of the board today agreed to ensure maximum flexibility in the way in which LionHeart responds to requests for help over the coming months, especially as we anticipate a number of self-employed surveyors, those working for small firms or partnerships, and also those employed for larger organisations who are in enforced isolation, will be adversely affected.

CEO Davina Goodchild said: "At LionHeart we are fortunate that the way we already support people is very bespoke, and the support team responds to need on a case by case basis. In that sense, it will be business as usual for our helpline and there will be a range of ways we can help RICS professionals around the globe affected by this pandemic.

"We are anticipating an increase in the number of people who will need support over the coming weeks and months, and we are determined to be as responsive as we possibly can. The situation is changing on an almost daily basis and we will continue to monitor and update our response accordingly.

"We are lucky to have such a supportive board of trustees who are fully prepared for us to loosen some of our current guidelines to enable us to respond as quickly as possible to those who need our help.

"All of our frontline support services are operating as usual and I am very proud of the LionHeart team who have risen to the challenge to make sure our move to remote working has no impact on the brilliant service we offer. I would urge any RICS professional who is worried about how they are going to cope during this crisis to give us a call and let us share the burden."

Chair of the board Peter McCrea said: "My thanks to my fellow trustees for making themselves available at short notice, working remotely, for one of the most important board meetings in the history of the charity. 

"We are determined to provide a flexible framework within which the LionHeart team can operate to help the profession in these unprecedented times, while maintaining our charitable objectives.

"Never have our values of integrity, compassion, professionalism and above all flexibility been as vital as now, in our work to help our beneficiaries. The Board will continue to meet regularly for as long as it takes to see the profession through to brighter days."

Global support for Covid-19

• Support is available to RICS professionals no matter where in the world they are based
• Our helpline runs 9am to 5pm (UK time) but if you're calling outside these times you can leave a message. Call 0800 009 2960 or +44 121 289 3300
• Alternatively you can email info@lionheart.org.uk and a support officer will be in touch

READ MORE: LionHeart response to Covid-19