A Ramsey-based software company has celebrated making donations to charity for 20 years.

Each year since 1998 the AFD Group has held a charity evening at which it donates a large proportion of its profits to charities working in the Isle of Man, the British Isles, and throughout the world.

Each member of AFD Software’s 50-strong workforce is invited to nominate a charity to receive a company donation in their name and this year AFD will have donated more than £1,250,000.

Many of the nominations are deeply personal to staff members.

On Thursday AFD’s staff, charity and community representatives, and the company’s neighbours gathered to celebrate these donations.

AFD Software Limited began operations in 1983 and has specialised in postcode software for more than 23 years/

It distributes data on the 30 million delivery addressees in the UK from the Royal Mail’s mainframe computer files, to the more than 40,000 organisations who use it on their web-sites or in their record systems.

AFD’s products are at the heart of websites and computer databases where using the postcode helps businesses, charities and public sector organisations to enter addresses quickly, accurately and consistently.

Since 2014, AFD has been renovating and developing the Isle of Man’s first dedicated technology, media and innovation centre at Mountain View on the site of the Island Film Studios, just outside Ramsey.

It has made a multi-million pound investment for future growth, for the development of technology businesses, and to make a range of facilities and venues available for community use.

Thursday’s event was the first to take place in the recently refurnished multi-media venue at the heart of the centre.

’This night is the highlight of our year,’ said director Alison Dorricott during Thursday’s event.

’In partnership with charities, churches and community initiatives, we can help transform lives and bring hope and encouragement for those who work so hard to make a difference.’

Among more than 65 charities receiving donations this year, AFD is helping people suffering serious illnesses or working on medical research in the British Isles.

Closer to home, AFD is helping the homeless and disabled people in the Isle of Man.

Some years ago, AFD began working with Chapel Street, a Christian charity in the UK which has worked to provide access to quality education and mentoring in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the UK.

David Dorricott, AFD’s managing director, said: ’#Access to a quality education can provide a route to hope - and break the cycle of deprivation, but set against the background of poverty and family breakdown, many young people miss this vital opportunity to gain the knowledge, skill and confidence needed to step up from incredibly difficult circumstances.

’We are simply thrilled to see what a difference can be made.’