At the close of the Annual AFD Software Charity Event this evening, The Postcode People announced plans to celebrate their 40 years of successful business by purchasing a brand-new 9-seater humanitarian aircraft.
The announcement, to the gathering of Staff Team Members, Charity Leaders and community representatives – including the Lieutenant Governor Sir John and Lady Lorimer and the President of Tynwald – was at the Mountain View Innovation Centre – AFD Software’s iconic headquarters near Ramsey.
In addition to celebrating 40 successful years, AFD Software Ltd is also celebrating being named “Business of the Year 2023” at the Isle of Man Awards for Excellence earlier this month.
The state-of-the-art Cessna 208 Caravan worth over £2m will be a gift for Mission Aviation Fellowship [MAF], the world’s largest humanitarian air service. Known as a ‘workhorse of the skies’, the Cessna 208 Caravan has been described by Plane and Pilot magazine as “one of the most trusted and talented, purpose-built utility airplanes ever produced.”
Managing Director, David Dorricott said: “It has been a privilege to partner with MAF for decades – we know that this investment will save lives, and transform the quality of life for thousands in remote communities – what better way to celebrate such a waymark in our business?”
MAF’s CEO Donovan Palmer, who attended the 40th anniversary charity event, was deeply grateful for the generous gift. He presented AFD Software with a symbolic blueprint sketch of a Cessna 208 aircraft, saying: “It is overwhelming and humbling to be chosen by AFD Software as their main partner charity this year to celebrate their 40th anniversary. We admire them as innovators, collaborators and are so grateful to be considered friends. It is tragic that in 2023, millions of people still live cut off from the basics they need to survive. This gift of a new Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft will be a lifeline for thousands of people in PNG – where isolation kills every single day. What’s more, it will help propel MAF’s fleet into the next chapter of our mission enabling us to reach more isolated communities with lifesaving help long into the future. From everyone at MAF, we are deeply grateful for this life-changing gift.
Read the BBC News article covering the donations and 40 years in business here.
The gift of this new aircraft is in addition to over £1 million of donations from the Postcode People to over 80 staff-nominated charities celebrated during the charity evening. Two of which also gave presentations about the vital work they perform and how the funds will be used:
One by One CEO Becky Murray, showed how their international work supports children across the Pakistan brick kilns, tackles sexual abuse and trafficking of Ugandan girls, and is establishing prosecution pathways for child trafficking in Rwanda. www.onebyone.net
Isle Stand Up to Suicide Founder, Paula Dunlop explained how the charity aims to reduce death by suicide through its free phone line and short-term phone counselling sessions. AFD is funding training to help people spot signs of a person in a suicidal crisis – and how to help effectively. www.islestanduptosuicide.com
You can find out more about the other nominated charities here.
Read the BBC News article covering the donations and 40 years in business here.
Manx Radio’s At Your Service podcast featured The Postcode People at AFD Software’s three celebrations; 40 years in business, being named “Business of the Year 2023” at the Media Isle of Man Awards for Excellence, and the charitable donations covered above. Listen here.
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