Wealth Management Leader wins British Citizens Award for charitable contributions

RECENTLY, Robert Bradley Ainsworth was honoured at the Palace of Westminster, where he was presented with the coveted British Citizens Award, Medal of Honour; for Services to volunteering and charitable giving.

Robert (or Brad as he is known) from St. James’s Place (SJP) Partner Practice; Cathedral Wealth Management, was just one of 26 incredible individuals to be honoured in this way for their outstanding services to society.

Leading to this award, Brad’s story is an inspirational tale of vision, determination, hard work and generosity. Having grown up in an impoverished area, Brad left school at 16 with little qualifications. Despite this difficult start in life, Brad held a vision of the life he wanted for himself and those around him. Determined, Brad worked hard to establish his own, and now highly successful, wealth management company.

When asked how and when his services to charity began, Brad said:

”People often think wealth management is about helping people with money, but I’ve never seen it that way.  I see our job to help everyone who needs financial advice, despite how much is in their bank account. Sometimes, people need extra support that isn’t financially led. This is where there is a need for many different types of charities, clubs, and community initiatives to assist. However, they themselves really struggle to raise money, to keep doing the work they do, and this is where I wanted to help.”

Being in a fortunate position to help others, Brad went on to start ‘Springboard2Business’, an organisation for young people who leave education wanting to start their own business. Brad also visits schools to give talks on the importance of finance, and to share his own personal story.

With a strong commitment to helping local communities, Brad was one of the first major sponsors of V2 Radio and slept rough as part of the Stonepillow charity. He is the primary sponsor for Chichester Rugby Club and raised funds for eight beds so that parents could stay by their child’s bedside at St Richard’s Hospital.

Brad is also the Foundation representative for the SJP Solent Foundation Committee. The Foundation supports hundreds of charities every year through its grant-making programmes. Many of its charity partnerships go beyond funding, with the SJP community also volunteering their time and skills, helping to deliver an even bigger impact.

These achievements are even more remarkable given that Brad is losing his sight, having been diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa. Each year his sight fails a little more, but he is steadfast in his efforts to support those most in need. Taking on slightly different challenges these days, such as DJ’ing at a Dementia Hub, or an attempted walk-up Kilimanjaro, where he raised funds for an Orphanage in Tanzania. When he heard that a local women’s refuge could not support women who were disabled, he ensured a ramp was installed. Collectively, Brad has helped raise over £2.3 million for charity, benefitting local and international communities.

Stephanie Wood from BCA Partner One Stop commented:

“This year’s medallists exemplify the incredible support within our communities, especially during challenging times. We’re honoured to partner with the BCA and play a part in recognising these exceptional individuals.”

Commenting on his award, Brad said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled to receive this award. I love getting involved in different projects and have done pretty much everything when it comes to fundraising.  The St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation is very close to my heart.  Being the Foundation’s Solent representative, I adore the team and what the Foundation means to everyone involved. I see firsthand the tears from the charity representatives when we provide local grants, and the joy when the new children’s after-school building is built. Helping children who themselves come from disadvantaged backgrounds is something I resonate with. I firmly believe in giving back, helping and supporting everyone, regardless of their situation is the right thing to do.”

The presentation was hosted by TV presenter Matt Allwright, and attended by BCA Patrons Dame Mary Perkins, Founder of Specsavers, and The Rt Hon Lord Dholakia. Following the ceremony, medallists enjoyed an Open Top Lap of Honour tour and a certificate presentation at another distinguished Westminster venue.