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Janine Lewis

PraxisIFM staff raise funds for coronavirus aid

Staff at the PraxisIFM Group in London and Guernsey are donating funds to help people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

In both locations staff will donate the final hour of their April pay. In London the Private Client & Corporate team are supporting the NHS Charities Together appeal. Managing Director Donna Shorto said staff wanted to do what they could to help hospital staff and volunteers at the front line caring for coronavirus patients.

In Guernsey the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team has launched the appeal by asking staff to donate the last hour of their April salary in order to support island charities which are facing a surge in demand for their services or shortfalls in funding if they are unable to hold their usual fundraising activities.

'We have over 200 staff in the island and with us all working from home and the lockdown restrictions the best way to support our community right now is with financial support' said Janine Lewis CSR team member and Director of Praxis Fund Services in Guernsey.

The Group has been operating in Guernsey for more than 35 years and supports a number of local charities and sporting initiatives annually.

Working with The Association of Guernsey Charities to identify which organisations are in most urgent need of financial support PraxisIFM has decided to split funds raised by its own employees 50/50 between Guernsey Welfare Service and a second charity which staff are voting for from a shortlist.

The Guernsey Welfare Service works with a variety of people who find themselves in financial need. This includes single-parent families pensioners people with disabilities or long-term medical conditions and families on low incomes who may find themselves with unexpected medical or household bills that put them in financial difficulty.

AGC Vice-Chairman Peter Rose said: 'On behalf of the charitable and voluntary sector we are most grateful for the financial support provided by this initiative.

'Many charities are being called on to provide additional support to the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community yet their funding sources are starting to dry up. Charities who rely on commercial activities such as charity shops charities who rely on sponsorship and fund-raising events and those who simply collect in town or outside supermarkets are no longer able to do so so generous initiatives like PraxisIFM's #givingonehour appeal are becoming vital to securing their continued operation. On behalf of these charities we thank PraxisIFM's staff for their generosity.'

Janine added that it would be great to see other businesses signing up to the initiative particularly those in the financial services sector who are more likely to be in a position to help as they are able to maintain day to day operations during the lockdown remotely.

Here is how the appeal works:

  • Once a company has identified if they would like to join the appeal they can get in contact with Karen Blanchford to seek advice from the AGC on suitable charities to support.
  • Internal communications which outline what the appeal is and how it works needs to be sent inviting staff to participate.
  • Employees will need to confirm that they would like to take part.
  • If confirmed that employee will not receive payment for the final hour of work they complete on 30th Instead it will be paid directly to the company's chosen charity or charities.

The appeal was coordinated initially through Karen Blanchford disability sector representative for the AGC.

Business wanting to find out more or sign up to the appeal can contact Karen for advice and details on how to take part (mail@charity.org.gg).