Andrews launches fair trade scheme to boost charities

Andrews is launching a new campaign in conjunction with three UK charities that it had a hand in establishing.

Oxfam, ActionAid and the Estate Agency Foundation all had significant financial support and manpower from Andrews in their early days.

The new campaign, ‘Choose us, help them – it’s a fair trade’, encourages people to use Andrews’ services, and in return the company will make a donation to one of the charities on their behalf.

A customer will need to either sell or let their property, or arrange a mortgage through Andrews to take part. Customers will be able to choose from one of three gifts:

    •    Feed a family by providing essential edibles through Oxfam
    •    Fund a chicken-breeding programme in Malawi through ActionAid
    •    Help combat homelessness through a £10 donation to the EAF

Andrews chief executive Michael Robson said: “This campaign is special to us because it helps tell a small part of the Andrews story, which is so unique.

“Not many agents can say they had a direct hand in founding some of the biggest charities in the UK, or can say that they have given over £5m in charitable donations over the last 15 years.”

Oxfam’s relationship with Andrews goes back to Cecil Jackson-Cole, founder of the agents. He played a major role in turning Oxfam into the international charity that it is today.

ActionAid was founded by Jackson-Cole as a child sponsorship charity in 1972. It has now grown to a charity that helps more than 13 million people in 42 countries.  

The EAF was co-founded by Robson himself in early 2008. It has supported homelessness causes and made grants to organisations such as Shelter, Emmaus and Centrepoint.