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All mobilised in Germany

#Group News
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has engaged in a series of solidarity initiatives throughout the Group to support the communities in which we operate. We are dedicating our resources, assets and connections to serve our communities in the most efficient and helpful ways during these unique times.

As we collectively confront the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s teams in Germany are highly mobilised to provide immediate, direct support to those most in need.

PREVENT & FIGHT

Our first priority is to do everything in our power to fight against COVID-19 and help stop the outbreak.

To contribute to the collective effort, and as a sign of solidarity, the management team of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Germany unanimously committed to donating 15% of their salary in April and May to the University Hospital in Düsseldorf, where our German headquarters are located. The financial donation will help support the hospital during this particularly challenging situation, including research on the development of urgently needed drugs and vaccines.

At Düsseldorf Arcaden, a blood donation truck has been installed in front the centre to support the national health services and address the shortage created by the crisis. The centre is also partnering with the fashion design college in Düsseldorf to distribute protection masks made by the students. Across the country, we are raising awareness of the importance of preventive measures to stop the outbreak and encouraging our customers to make their own masks by sharing DIY (“do it yourself”) clips and instructions on our shopping centre’s social media.

SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES

In these uncertain times, some are more exposed than others. True to our longstanding commitment to support the communities in which we operate, our teams are addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations.

In Berlin, we are working with Berliner Tafel, a charity that provides food and sanitary products to people in need. Donation boxes have been installed at six shopping centres managed by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in the area, along with information about the initiative, to allow our customers to take part in the collective solidarity efforts.

We have also engaged in the emerging #BeyondCrisis campaign aimed at fostering innovative ideas, projects and start-ups, and bring about some positive change during these challenging times. All our Berlin shopping centres are official partners of the campaign, which is supported by two local NGOs: Deutschland, Land der Ideen and außergewöhnlich Berlin.

Still in Berlin, Spandau Arcaden has been hosting small concerts for the elderly residents in the neighbourhood. Enjoyed from the balconies of the surrounding retirement homes, the concerts are a creative way to support local musicians and bring much-needed entertainment to the local community.

Meanwhile, in Oberhausen, Centro is supporting the joint initiative of Caritas, the Red Cross and other organisations to provide services to the elderly (e.g. grocery shopping and meal delivery). The centre also made financial donations to fund several initiatives, including the purchase of digital tablets for care homes to facilitate contact with friends and family, the distribution of food vouchers to homeless people, and the creation of video content to assist those in need of psychological support.

In Cologne, Köln Arcaden is working with the association Ceno to support the elderly through grocery deliveries and phone calls to fight social isolation. In partnership with Street Angels, the centre called for donations on social media to provide homeless people with sleeping bags, mats and tents.

In the Bavaria region, Riem Arcaden and Pasing Arcaden are using their social media channels to give greater visibility to QuarterM and nebenan.de, two online platforms that connect people in need with community members wishing to help.

In Laatzen, Leine Center is working with the Donna Clara organisation to fight against domestic violence. The centre is also donating protection masks to ensure that abused women can reach the shelters and receive the support their need.

In addition, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield's German shopping centres are participating in our global #KindnessTogether campaign, which aims at connecting us together through initiatives that address the unprecedented challenges brought by COVID-19. We reach out to our communities through engaging content that meets our consumers’ needs and enable us all to connect and still share memorable experiences. In Leipzig for instance, Höfe am Brühl has partnered with the local handball team for weekly live-streamed sport activities for children.

All these solidarity actions are in line with the Group’s purpose, Reinvent Being Together, which Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield now embodies in new ways by acting in support of local communities through initiatives adapted to the current needs.