Corporate Social Responsibility

AJ Bell's Wage War on COVID Fund

The AJ Bell Wage War on COVID Fund was set up, under the umbrella of the AJ Bell Trust, a UK registered charity, to help those who have been impacted by the coronavirus. The AJ Bell Trust kick started the fund raising by allocating £50,000 of its charitable reserves to the fund. Staff at AJ Bell donated all or part of their wages for April, May and June to the fund and further donations have been made by customers, financial advisers and members of the public. Over £275,000 has been raised so far in the first month.

All proceeds will be distributed to charities supporting the COVID-19 efforts or directly to those people in need as a result of the virus. We aim to distribute all of the funds raised over the coming months with a back stop date of the end of this calendar year.

The first three initiatives that the AJ Bell Wage War on COVID Fund has supported so far:

1. AJ Bell tablet giveaway

Many people feel disconnected from their loved ones during the lockdown and technology is often the only way people in care homes or hospitals can communicate with their families and friends. We have made hundreds of Huawei tablets available to care homes and hospitals to help residents and patients stay in contact with their families and friends during the COVID-19 crisis.

The tablets have popular communications apps such as Zoom, Houseparty and Skype preloaded by our technology team with instructions enclosed, making it as easy as possible for care home and hospital staff to use with those in their care.

2. Foodbanks

Foodbanks have come under huge pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic and require funds in order to provide essential meals to those in need during the crisis. £30,000 has been donated to support services near AJ Bell’s Manchester and London offices via FareShare and Salford CVS.

FareShare redistributes surplus food to charities who turn it into meals that reach nearly 2,000 towns and cities in the UK. Each week their volunteers help create and distribute around a million meals for vulnerable people including 232 charities & community groups in Greater Manchester and 224 in London.

Salford community and voluntary services is a registered charity responsible for administering the Salford Food Crisis Fund. This was set up by Salford NHS, Salford CVS and the Salford Food Share Network to help food crisis organisations deal with the COVID-19 emergency. It makes grants to food banks to allow them to purchase the food and equipment required to deliver pre-cooked meals to people’s homes.

3. Employees' nominated charities

Many charities continue to operate throughout this time of unprecedented need, adapting and even expanding their services to support people in need in any way they can. However, the cancellation and postponement of many fundraising events is having a significant impact on charities of all sizes right now.

We have therefore asked all our employees to nominate a charity that’s supporting their community through the COVID crisis, and which they believe would really benefit from a donation at this difficult time.

So far, we’re proud to have made donations to East Cheshire Hospice, Maggie’s Manchester, The Oasis Centre and Manchester Women’s Aid, with more to come.

The AJ Bell Trust is a registered charity that aims to help people who are in need, whether as a result of their age, financial hardship, sickness, lack of opportunity, disability or other disadvantage.

AJ Bell plc donates a percentage of its profits on an annual basis to the AJ Bell Trust.

The charity’s trustees are:

• Andy Bell
• Tracey Bell
• Paul Clements
• Paul Barrow

Registered charity number: 1141269