When Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February 2022, many of our residents across various properties immediately and spontaneously wanted to express their solidarity, in most cases by making donations of food and emergency medical supplies for Ukraine. Our local staff was also quick to respond and support the action by getting in touch with local organisations to channel this support in the most efficient way.  

As owners and managers of a large PBSA platform operating across Spain and Portugal, we put a lot of focus on creating synergies and giving direct material assistance to those who need it within our surrounding community. We are therefore used to working with local or national associations, coordinating donations of a variety of useful items, ranging from food supplies and medication to clothing, branded merchandising and even pet food, so this spontaneous initiative was certainly no different.   

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The Following Months

What was more moving to experience during the months that followed the initial movement of solidarity, was how our communities also came together to support their own fellow Livensers directly affected by the war and in need of both moral and, many times, financial support. In a number of our buildings, residents of both Ukrainian and Russian origin were present, all of whom continued to live together peacefully, each of them experiencing a different set of difficulties. Navigating the first few months was complicated, with some of those affected willing to open up about what they were going through, while others preferred to keep to themselves.  

Thankfully, such large-scale, international events with a direct impact on an entire nation are quite exceptional, so we usually put the focus on how we can make a difference closer to home. Our vision as a company encompasses our will to have a lasting positive impact within our neighbourhoods. We recognise we do not operate in a bubble, and we, therefore, want to actively engage with the local communities where we are based, promoting specific actions with the participation of our staff and residents.  

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Four Pillars Strong

Strategically, the Livensa Community program is built around four pillars: well-being, both physical and mental, sustainability, connectivity, and social responsibility. This fourth pillar is precisely based on the coordination of several activities, which may vary depending on the location and needs of each community, and aims to make Livensa an integral part of the local neighbourhood or city, striving to listen to the needs of that community and to give back through different initiatives.  

Ensuring the active participation of our residents is always important, so we like to take into consideration their ideas and feedback, as well as that of our own local teams. One of our properties in Portugal pioneered a blood donation campaign 3 years ago. The uptake was encouraging, so last year we successfully extended it to all our Portuguese properties and have this year also included our head office and all our Spanish sites, working with several different associations who help us with the logistics.  

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No Two Properties Are the Same

It’s always a challenge to find what will trigger interest amongst our residents, and how to challenge them or ensure their participation. Last year we held awareness talks led by organisations such as the ONCE (the Spanish Foundation supporting the blind and visually impaired) or some local LGTBIQ+ associations across Spain. This year 3 of our sites are already training hard to run “kilometres of solidarity” for a special cause, while a few others have been organising day trips to clean up a nearby beach or river. All initiatives are welcome! 

We also like it when our fun events can have a socially responsible side. For themed nights, small and large gatherings, and yoga or cooking classes, we always aim to select and work with local suppliers and service providers, supporting those who live and work close to us. Specifically in Barcelona, we are very happy to be collaborating with a local catering company that employs underprivileged women as cooks and uses fresh local produce.  

While these are just a few examples and we feel we have just started scratching the surface, at Livensa Living we strongly believe that every small gesture counts and that together we can make a difference, wrapping it up with a smile and having fun along the way.