A company based in the north of the island has donated £2m to charity.

The AFD Group, which is based in the Mountain View Innovation Centre near Ramsey and processes postcode data for clients throughout the British Isles, invited guests from more than 90 charities to a celebration event earlier this month.

Although the group distributed around £1.5m, the 2020 event could not take place due to border controls.

’We always look forward to our charity evening as our highlight event every year,’ said group director Alison Dorricott.

’We’re delighted to be able to gather again this year. It is also great to recognise that AFD has made such a positive difference close to home and far away, not only with its world-leading technologies, but by generating the funds needed for such important work around the world.’

Every member of AFD Software’s 40+-strong workforce was invited to nominate a charity to receive a company donation in their name, helping to fulfil a core company objective ’to generate profits, and to use them creatively in the relief of suffering, the improvement of society and furtherance of the Christian gospel’.

Key themes funded this year have again been in areas around mental health, poverty and deprivation and lost development and education opportunities.

In addition, funding has been provided in response to the retreat of US and UK forces from Afghanistan - which has left many groups, especially women, children and the Afghan Christian church in danger.

A deep concern for the humanitarian disaster in Yemen led to AFD funding a sustainable project which brought together representatives from both sides.

AFD has again funded organisations working against human trafficking and modern slavery - especially in cyber-crime. Closer to home, support has been provided for youth and community organisations, medical charities and disability groups.

The Mountain View Innovation Centre is now home to the largest Tesla battery in the Isle of Man. It has meant more efficient storage and use of electricity - and the site was largely self-sufficient in electrical power between April and October.