Unlocking the Potential of Vacant Commercial Property
Starting Out Charity transforms empty offices, warehouses, and high-street units into meaningful community initiatives that serve our beneficiaries, local residents and our property stakeholders.
Since 1997, we’ve supported hundreds of thousands of people facing hardship by providing them with access to essential items, training, and the spaces they need to live, work, and thrive. We create well-loved initiatives that help develop social enterprises, deliver educational programs, create charity hubs that empower communities and create lasting, positive change.
Everything we do is focused on helping people move forward with confidence toward a brighter, more stable future.
A Charity Built on Purpose and Powered by Partnerships
We’ve built a strong network of volunteers, local councils, corporate sponsors, and property owners, and we’re always looking for more positive partners. Sharing your time, products, or, very importantly, empty spaces can have a meaningful impact on others and real-world monetary value for you.
Help us help others and help yourself along the way.
Trusted by the UK’s Leading Property Stakeholders
We’re proud to be the go-to charity partner for vacant commercial property management for some of the UK’s most respected organisations.
We help landlords and property managers turn unused spaces into transformative charity initiatives that make a real difference. With over 27 years of experience, our award-winning charity projects have delivered inspiring property management solutions that protect assets and generate social value.
Trusted by Industry Leaders: Since 1997, partners have included L&Q, Origin Housing, TT Group, Median Capital, Ridgemount, and more. These partnerships demonstrate not only the value of our services but the trust we’ve built across the real estate sector through consistent delivery, transparency, real-world results and massive savings.
We are very impressed with Starting Out Charity. They are a joy to work with, and we highly recommend them. We look forward to future collaborations.
Starting Out is a well-run, positive organisation with a passionate team that makes a real difference. The impact they had on our building was truly transformational.
Valued Corporate Sponsors
We’re proud to work with a wide network of local businesses, start-ups, as well as some of the world’s best-known brands. As part of our mission to provide essential items and spaces to those in need, we welcome donations and hands-on help from companies looking to give back.
Donating goods or services can offer financial benefits, help clear old or surplus stock, and create meaningful impact. We also offer unique, hands-on CSR experiences, giving your team the chance to see the positive difference their support makes while also enjoying a lovely day out!
Collaborating With Local Councils
Since 1997, we’ve productively partnered with several local councils to activate unused commercial spaces, support local services and drive social value. Councils bring valuable local knowledge and strong networks that often connect us with key third-sector and business partners, which helps us target our support where it’s needed most.
If you work for a council department within a borough that already has a Starting Out Charity project running, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to discuss how we can collaborate more closely.
If you’re a local authority interested in bringing a high-impact Starting Out project to your area, the best first step is to introduce us to the team managing your council’s empty property portfolio. While we support a number of London boroughs and areas beyond, our highest impact work is delivered in the areas where we can secure premises.
Even if your council does not currently have vacant buildings, please reach out; there are still many ways for us to work together in your borough.
Army of Volunteers
We welcome volunteers of all ages and backgrounds! Join the hundreds of wonderful people participating in our charity work each year. Volunteering is fun, fulfilling, and a great way to boost your CV or UCAS application, connect with your community, and lift your spirits. You can volunteer at one of our Hubs, or in some cases, even from home or work via your computer.
- Please let us know about any special skills you’d be happy to offer, such as an HGV licence or design/IT experience.
- If you’re reaching out on behalf of a company or school, please include a few details about your group, availability, and the kind of involvement you’re looking for.
- Young volunteers are very welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
- We also warmly welcome volunteers with special needs or dietary requirements; just get in touch in advance so we can make any necessary arrangements to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for everyone.
Whether you lend your time, skills, or energy, our projects thrive because of our volunteers.
Join a team that’s repurposing empty spaces into vibrant hubs of support, creativity, and change.
Network of Charity Partners
Through our network of respected charity partners, we’ve earned numerous prestigious awards, received praise from Prime Ministers, and launched some of the UK’s most impactful charity initiatives.
Need Support?
Whether you work with people affected by the cost-of-living crisis or homelessness, need space to grow a positive project, or your community could benefit from essential items, we may be able to help.
If you or someone you know could use support from Starting Out, please get in touch.
Please note: while we do our best to assist as many people as possible, not everyone who reaches out will be eligible for support through our programmes.
The Charity Driving Impact
for Owners of Empty Commercial Property
Our charity diligently works with the property industry to transform vacant commercial units into spaces that serve local communities through innovative property reuse.
With over two decades of experience, we have built strong, lasting partnerships and delivered innovative property solutions that support our mission and create lasting positive change.
Award-Winning Impact
Our charity initiatives are tried, tested, and trusted by industry leaders. We’ve repurposed hundreds of commercial properties to serve vital community needs from youth spaces and shelters to learning hubs and pop-up support centres.
Safeguarded & Returned
We ensure your property is protected, well-maintained, and returned in excellent condition whenever required. Our process is ideal for large office blocks, warehouses, or smaller premises, whether pristine or in need of care.
Significant Savings
By enabling charitable use of your property, we help you access substantial business rates savings, reduce liability, and unlock ESG value from assets that would otherwise sit empty.
Flexible, Tailored Support
We cater to extremely large and small properties.
Whether it’s a short-term gap between tenants or longer-term regeneration, we work to your timeline with our team handling all logistics, operations, and compliance.
Enhance Your ESG Profile
Enhance CSR with staff participation in meaningful projects. Our work contributes directly to environmental, social, and governance goals with many of our partners engaging their workforce in volunteering and community outreach.
Positive PR
Strengthen relationships with councils and communities while gaining positive media coverage.
Real Impact from Real Spaces
From turning unused warehouses into arts venues to creating pop-up social spaces that support hundreds of individuals, our initiatives bring measurable outcomes to life.
370,000 sq ft of commercial property put to charitable use so far.
15 council areas home to Starting Out Charity projects so far.
£4,000,000+ in savings generated for owners so far.
Get Involved Today
Have a vacant commercial property? Let’s put it to work for good.
Make a Small Donation to Support Us
We welcome any support you can offer; even small donations add up and help us deliver our life-changing projects.
L&Q are proud to have The Staring Out Charity deliver their projects from our empty units.
The Starting Out Charity has created an impressive army of volunteers and corporate partners to do good across the capital.
The Starting Out Charity are a great bunch of people. Origin is always happy to have them care for our empty buildings.
The Starting Out Charity is a well run organisation that really makes a difference.
Ready to improve ESG in your unoccupied space?
If you’re managing vacant commercial properties and want to reduce costs while delivering genuine social and environmental value, we’re here to help.
Join the many forward-thinking property owners who are turning their unused spaces into meaningful places
