LReit celebrates Lendlease’s 50th year with community initiatives

CHOCOLATE, mixed fruit, a dash of spice – and many pairs of willing hands.

These were what went into the baking and distribution of 500 muffins by the staff at Dignity Kitchen and volunteers from Lendlease Reit (LReit) on May 26.

The sweet treats were distributed to social-welfare organisations that are beneficiaries of the Reit, among them, the National Neuroscience Institution, Asian Women’s Welfare Association (Awwa) and the Woodlands branch of Care Corner Student Care. 

The initiative was just one of a slew of activities by LReit to mark Lendlease’s 50th anniversary.

Linda Tan, regional human resources programme lead at LReit, said: “Diversity, equity and inclusion have always been the guiding principles in Lendlease’s culture, to create places where our people feel safe and belong.”

It is why LReit has, since 2021, been in partnership with Dignity Kitchen, which comprises food stalls operated by individuals with disabilities.

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For the event, volunteers at Dignity Kitchen undertook the baking, and LReit staff volunteers, the distribution. At Awwa, for instance, the volunteers handed out the muffins and ran activities for the special-needs children there, who were aged eight to 18. 

Sean Han, environmental, social and governance analyst at LReit, who was a volunteer that day, said: “It was heart-warming to see the excitement and openness of the children in meeting and engaging with us.”

The LReit volunteers also prepared “We Care” packs for the children, which included items such as fidget poppers, which the volunteers hoped would help the children destress as they face day-to-day challenges.

The collaboration with Dignity Kitchen also supports the Train-and-Place Programme, which trains and certifies 40 persons with disabilities in kitchen and restaurant management skills. Graduates from the programme are then placed with food-and-beverage, hospitality or retail establishments.

Another community initiative LReit undertook was a collaboration with the Disabled People’s Association (DPA) for International Day of Disabled Persons (IDPD) last December, aimed at raising awareness of the challenges that individuals with disabilities face.

Tan said: “Observing IDPD and collaborating with DPA for the programme sent a powerful message – that we need to change the way society views disability and the importance of inclusive design to make life welcoming for (people of) all abilities.”

The collaboration included chats with DPA-inclusive ambassadors; booths with interactive games and activities to raise awareness of IDPD, physical and psychological disabilities, massages by masseurs with visual disabilities, and Christmas carols in sign language.

LReit said: “By creating an all-inclusive and accessible society, not only do we benefit people with disabilities to live more fulfilled lives, but it will also benefit all of us.”

Tan added: “Lendlease’s vision to create places where communities thrive means bringing together our health and well-being, sustainability and diversity and inclusion principles to create multi-functional spaces that can be utilised by a diverse group of people through inclusive and accessible design.”

LReit said of its efforts to give back to the community: “Making a difference in our local communities is part of what we do every day. Our social value focuses on initiatives that go above and beyond any project or asset contractual obligations, and community inclusion plays an important part.”

Lendlease expanded its operations into Singapore 50 years ago. Since LReit’s listed in 2019, it has made significant progress to give back and now counts three regular partners, including Dignity Kitchen.

The Reit had previously worked with Dignity Kitchen in January 2022 to distribute hundreds of packed meals to beneficiaries.

LReit now commits itself to four community-engagement initiatives each year, and intends to continue promoting inclusivity and making a difference in the community on a daily basis.

“It is important we continue to educate ourselves on strengthening a more inclusive society,” said the Reit.

This article highlights social causes, supported by Lendlease Global Commercial Reit.