What Is The Yorkshire Property Charity Lunch And Who Is The Guest Speaker Kevin Sinfield?

The Yorkshire Property Charity Lunch is back, and this year it's shaping up to be a massive one. It's one of the biggest get-togethers for the Yorkshire property crowd - basically, anyone who works in buying, selling, or building things in the region.

Think of it as a huge industry get-together, but for a whole industry, and it all helps brilliant local causes. The big story for this year is the guest speaker: none other than rugby league legend and fundraising hero, Kevin Sinfield. And for the first time ever, there's a new sport being added to the mix before the main event.

A legendary speaker joins the lineup

So, who's the star guest? It's none other than Kevin Sinfield. If you follow rugby league or have seen the news in recent years, you'll know exactly who he is. A proper legend from his time playing for the Leeds Rhinos, his story now goes way beyond the pitch.

He's become a national hero for raising millions of pounds for research into motor neurone disease (MND). This incredible fundraising effort was inspired by his close friendship with his former teammate, the late, great Rob Burrow. It's an unbelievable story of friendship, loyalty, and sheer determination that has captured the nation's heart. Securing him as the speaker for the lunch is a huge deal for the charity event.

At the lunch, Kevin won't just be giving a prepared speech. He's taking part in a Q&A session, which means people in the audience can ask him questions directly. It's a fantastic chance to hear from someone who has achieved so much, both in his unbelievable playing career and in his inspirational charity work. The announcement that Kevin Sinfield is the guest speaker has already caused a huge buzz, making this year's event more popular than ever. The first time many will hear his story in person, it's an opportunity not to be missed.

More than just a lunch

While the lunch itself is the main attraction, the day kicks off much earlier with some friendly competition. For years, there's been a traditional football match in the morning. This match sees property professionals go head-to-head with property agents. A bit of friendly rivalry to get the day started and a great chance for networking before the main event.

But for the first time in its 21-year history, the event is adding a netball match! This is brilliant news, making the day even more inclusive. So, if football isn't your thing, you can now get involved with netball. Both the football and netball match will kick off at 9:30am on the day of the lunch. The football takes place at The John Charles Centre for Sport, while the brand-new netball game will be held at The Edge, at the University of Leeds. Spectators are more than welcome to come along and cheer on the teams.

After the morning's sporting action, everyone will head over to the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds for the main Yorkshire Property Charity Lunch, which starts at 12:30pm on Friday 3rd October 2025. This is the second year the event has been held at this massive venue, after the move there in 2024 proved to be a huge success. The First Direct Bank Arena provides a fantastic backdrop for such a significant gathering of the Yorkshire property community. This amazing venue is part of what makes the first impression of the event so memorable.

It's all for great causes

Okay, so it's a great day out with food, sport, and a top speaker, but the real reason behind the Yorkshire Property Charity Lunch is to raise a lot of money for some fantastic local causes. The money raised from the event goes to two main places: Candlelighters, a charity that supports children with cancer and their families, and The Yorkshire Property Charitable Trust.

So, what is The Yorkshire Property Charitable Trust? It's a charity that was set up back in 2015 by people working in the property industry. Since it started, it has raised more than £650,000. That money has been given out to all sorts of local groups and charities across Yorkshire. The best part is that anyone working in the region's property world can suggest a good cause for the trust to support. It could be a local kids' football team that needs a new kit or a community garden that needs new tools. This connection makes the fundraising feel very personal to everyone involved. Last year's event alone raised a record-breaking £63,000. That's a huge amount of money which makes a real difference to so many people's lives.

Bigger and better for this year

It seems like the buzz around this event gets bigger every single year. Last year, almost 600 people from the Yorkshire property world attended the lunch. With Kevin Sinfield confirmed as the speaker for this year, the demand for tables has gone through the roof.

Jonny Phillips, a trustee of The Yorkshire Property Charitable Trust, shared his thoughts on the lunch. He said: "Moving this event to the First Direct Bank Arena last year was hugely successful and it raised more than £63,000, which was a record amount. This has made a genuine difference to all types of local organisations and people, as well as our property peers who have deserving causes close to their hearts."

He also highlighted the excitement around the guest speaker. "We can't wait to build on that this time and securing Kevin Sinfield as a speaker will be another genuine highlight. Kevin has raised millions for research into motor neurone disease, in memory of his friend and former teammate Rob Burrow, and he enjoyed an unbelievable playing career, so he has a fascinating tale to tell."

He finished with a note on the popularity of the lunch: "We have seen unprecedented demand for tables this year, and with Kevin on board it promises to be another superb event and companies working in the region's property and construction industries that haven't yet booked, should contact us now to secure their places."

On top of the food, sport, and amazing guest speaker, there will also be entertainment, a big raffle, and a charity auction where people can bid on some incredible prizes to raise even more money. The list of sponsors is pretty impressive too, including big names like First Direct Bank Arena, Citipark, and Walker Morris, showing just how much support this charity lunch has from the business community. If you're in the property game in Yorkshire, this is the event to be at. Tables for 10 people are available, and you can even book half tables. It's more than just a lunch; it's a chance for the entire Yorkshire property community to come together for a brilliant day that supports so many important causes.