A new year is (finally) here! And even though our celebrations might look a little different this time around, we want to raise a glass and thank our property guardians, landlords and friends of Blue Door. Cheers!

2020 was at best unexpected, and at worst – utterly heartbreaking. A lot has happened and most of us didn’t get the year we had planned for. Everyone’s experience of the pandemic has been different, and the effects are still impacting our daily lives as the situation continues. (If we had a penny for every time we’d heard the word ‘unprecedented’!)

However, seeing communities come together to support each other has been incredible. Sometimes it’s too easy to focus on the negatives, and we personally think that there’s been enough bad news to last a lifetime! So, after a year that many of us will be eager to leave behind, we wanted to remind you of some good news stories from 2020 that you might have forgotten about.

1. The #ClapForOurCarers Movement

Back in the spring, the #clapforourcarers movement brought the whole nation together with an incredible 10-week run. Streets, towns and cities filled with noise as we all clapped from our doorsteps every Thursday night to show thanks for the NHS and key workers. The impact was extraordinary, and we were all reminded of the support in our communities.

2. 5-Year-Old Amputee Raises £1m for Hospital that Saved his Life

Inspired by Captain Tom Moore’s record-breaking walk, 5-year-old Tony Hudgell raised more than £1m for Evelina London Children’s NHS Hospital. Tony, who is a double amputee, walked 10 km on two prosthetic legs having just re-learned how to walk. What an inspiration! (You can still donate here.)

3. Thousands of Protestors Came Together in Support of #BLM

In June, Blue Door joined the thousands of protesters in London (and globally) to oppose racial injustice. Although the Black Lives Matter demonstrations came from a place of deep sadness and disappointment towards the racial inequality still rife in our society, the protests were a visual reminder of how many people care about fighting for positive change in our communities. Read more about our experience at the protests and our ongoing commitment to fighting discrimination in the housing sector here.

4. #ViralKindness Volunteer Cards Show the Kindness of Strangers

Becky Wass created a print-at-home postcard designed to help people support their neighbours in self-isolation. The idea took off quickly and truly showed the kindness of strangers in a crisis. In Becky’s own words, ‘fear has spread so quickly, it’s really important to try to spread kindness.’

5. Our Property Guardians Host A Ball at The Warehouse

We couldn’t write a blog post about finding community spirit in hard times without mentioning our fantastic property guardians at The Warehouse. Faced with the prospect of locking down in an unusually large household, the guardians at The Warehouse came together by hosting masterclasses to keep their spirits up. From life drawing to computer security workshops, their creativity gave us all a lesson in staying positive.

Find out more about becoming a property guardian.

How We Were Able to Contribute…

Throughout London and the rest of the UK, the pandemic has left more buildings empty than ever before. In 2020, we’ve worked hard to utilize these spaces to help the community. Our aim at Blue Door Property Guardians is to help landlords & guardians access a solution that benefits society by providing affordable accommodation.

This year, we were able to help many key workers find affordable housing across the capital so they could continue working hard in trying times. We also developed a scheme which gives our Head Guardians extra training and property management experience to give them a boost in their career. And, as the creative industries faced immense difficulties, we were able to support artists in finding living spaces at lower than market rent - allowing young creatives to thrive and grow in a difficult year.

If you are interested in seeing how you can use guardianship to secure your vacant property & benefit your community in the new year, get in touch with us.

We hope you’re wrapping up this year happy & healthy – and we’ll see you in 2021!