Andrews Property Group has revealed that it is to pay the two main charities it supports almost £500,000 this year.

This takes the total amount of money generated by Andrews for the charities to £2.7 million over the past five years.

The company, which is arguably the UK’s most charity-focussed estate agent, has an unusual ownership structure. It is owned by two charities, Andrews Charitable Trust (ACT) and the Christian Book Promotion Trust, which will share the payout.

Andrews was established by devout Christian Cecil Jackson Cole (pictured, left) in 1946 with a key purpose, other than selling property, to fund his considerable activity in the charitable sector.

This included helping establish several now famous charities including Help the Aged and Action Aid, a life-long passion that began when he saw people starving in Europe after the Second World War.

“Andrews is built on an unwavering belief that commercial profit should be used wherever possible to benefit those who suffer hardship both in the communities in which we operate, as well as those further afield,” says David Westgate, Chief Executive of Andrews Property Group (pictured, below).

“To be able to hand over such a significant figure to the charitable trusts serves as a powerful reminder to the entire Andrews family without whom it would be impossible to make a payment of this kind.”

Charitable funding

ACT funds a wide range of different charities including Restored, which works to end violence against women, Dementia Adventure and The Together Group, which helps ex-offenders get jobs.
Last year, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Andrews Property Group, ACT launched [establish], a housing project (see launch ceremony, left) for vulnerable young people who find it hard to secure accommodation, and who need support to live independently.

The project was backed with £70,000 raised by Andrews’ 700 staff members. The first MFB property is being prepared in Bristol.