PraxisIFM staff donate an hour in Ukraine’s hour of need

PraxisIFM has donated £20,000 to provide humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

In a Group-wide initiative staff were invited to donate an hour or more of their March salary to the appeal with any donations being matched by the Group.

The total has been donated to Jersey-based Side By Side which provides humanitarian assistance to people in the wake of major emergencies and natural disasters around the world and is currently supporting the Bailiff of Jersey's Ukraine Appeal in partnership with Jersey Overseas Aid.

The funds will help people fleeing their homes to have access to water food shelter and first aid as well as supporting vital infrastructure and emergency services hospitals and healthcare facilities.

PraxisIFM CEO Rob Fearis said 'The situation going on in Ukraine right now is heart-breaking. You can't help but relate it to your own life and how it must feel to have your home livelihood life and family under attack. We were desperate to help in some way and clearly a lot of our staff were too who were very generous in their donations.'

Team members have also been supporting aid efforts in other ways. Darren Konken one of our finance managers at Trireme Pension Services a subsidiary of PraxisIFM has been supporting a Guernsey-based aid mission to deliver medical supplies to the war-struck country.

Darren drove a specially fitted out front-line ambulance accompanied by his best friend across Europe to Poland where they were met by the Kyiv Lions Club. The Club then took the ambulance across the border to where the supplies were needed.

In support of Darren our Guernsey team bought in items for him to take such as general medical items to take along with supplies donated by local pharmacies. He was also granted additional hours on top of the Group's standard annual volunteering time to make the journey.

Darren said: 'I was blown away by the backing we received to make the journey from medical donations to travel expenses and it meant the world to have my colleagues' and employer's support included in that.

'I want to thank everyone who brought in items for me to take and PraxisIFM for allowing me to give my time to this fantastic cause.'

Rob added 'We are incredibly proud of Darren and all he's done to support the people of Ukraine. He is a wonderful representative for our company and the passionate and caring people who work for us. We were honoured to help.'