Estate agency and property group Andrews has paid out a record £633,000 in dividends to the three charitable trusts that own it. The trusts will use the payments to fund a range of community projects, with a number aimed at young people.
The Keynsham-based group, which has branches stretching from Kent, Sussex and Surrey to Bristol and Gloucestershire, was founded 70 years ago by philanthropist and humanitarian Cecil Jackson Cole. 
He was known for his role in establishing charities such as Oxfam, Action Aid and Help the Aged. Since 1986 the group has been, uniquely for the property sector, owned by the three trusts – ACT (Andrews Charitable Trust), CBPT (Christian Book Promotion Trust) and CIT (Christian Initiative Trust) – which receive its entire dividend pay-out.
This year’s £633,000 is a £40,000 increase on the previous year.
Representatives of the trusts were present at the group’s annual staff conference where the dividend was announced.
Andrews Property Group chief executive Michael Robson said: “The dividend pay-out which we made to our three shareholders in 2015 was the largest for a decade, so to have surpassed that by an incredible £40,000 is ultimately testament to the unrelenting hard work of each and every member of the Andrews team.
“Having almost 150 members of the Andrews family, from across our entire branch network as well as from our head office, present to see the funds being handed over is hugely important as it reinforces the inclusive way in which the money has been made.
“Cecil Jackson Cole instilled a belief in this business, that it should operate so as to benefit those suffering hardship that remains to this day. The fact, therefore, that we’ve increased our pay-out so significantly in the same year we celebrate our 70th anniversary feels truly fitting.”
Attending the event to receive the pay-out on behalf of the three trusts was Paul Heal, chair of the Andrews Charitable Trust, who added: “The ownership of Andrews Property Group is not only unique, but also incredibly special for everyone involved.
“Speaking on behalf of all three shareholders, I can’t stress enough what a huge difference the funding received from Andrews makes. Real projects in the communities where Andrews operates, as well as some further afield, are handed a lifeline which literally changes peoples’ lives.”
Projects as diverse as working with ex-offenders, youth leadership programmes and a boxing academy for young people involved in gangs have previously benefitted from funding channelled through the trusts.
ACT received £459,241, CBPT £99,291 and CIT £74,468.
Earlier this month Andrews launched a major charitable scheme aimed at giving young care-leavers a roof over their heads and support in finding work or training.
