Back Up to benefit from her Give It Away project

Charlotte Grobien, social entrepreneur and founder of Give it Away, will present a cheque to Back Up to support their work with people who are paralysed.

Back Up, a national charity based in Wandsworth, helps thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds rebuild their confidence and independence after a devastating spinal cord injury. There are estimated to be 40,000 people affected by spinal cord injury in the UK today.

Give it Away, founded in 2005, is a company which undertakes projects whose total profits are given to charity. These profits are generated through the development and building of property. Social entrepreneur Charlotte Grobien earns money for charity in a unique way – building houses and giving every penny of profit away. Her motto is ‘just because you earn it doesn’t mean you have to keep it’..

Since its launch, Give it Away has raised more than one million pounds for 19 charities. Priority is given to local charities in London and the Borough of Wandsworth, who are not receiving large statutory funding grants and who rely on donated money to fund their services. Charlotte, who lives in Putney, will present the cheque at Back Up’s office in Wandsworth on June 17.

Charlotte told PutneySW15:
"Back Up are a great, focussed, small Charity excellent at the support they give to people suddenly faced with the devastation of a spinal cord injury. For the first time, Give it Away is going to be supporting a different age group – namely the over 50’s – one of Back Up’s biggest growing groups as I feel that coping with a situation like this later in life must seem impossible – they make it do-able.

"The donations I am making in June come from the proceeds of two new houses I have built, completed and sold in Woking and from an apartment I had rented out in Roehampton Lane and sold recently. 100% of the profit I make is given away."

Sean McCallion, pictured left with Charlotte - whilsts testing the Woking properties for accessability, is Back Up’s Corporate Partnerships Manager. He said:
“Charlotte has taken the time to really understand how Back Up makes a difference to people who have been paralysed. We feel incredibly lucky to have her support and the donation will enable us to help many more people in the coming year.”

June 1, 2015