"It's possible to do well and do good at the same time ... it's a philosophy"
(Enterprise Council, November 2018)
Who are we?
The Aid Workers' Union is a free service offered by Aid Essentials, a commercial company with a social mission; a social enterprise in other words. The company, limited by shares, is registered in Scotland and was founded by James Shepherd-Barron.
Aid Workers' Union is not a Union in the traditional sense, but a network ... a 'movement' if you like. It does not make legal representation on behalf of individuals or undertake activities expected of a traditional Union such as collective bargaining. But, if there is sufficient take-up and interest, we could. Similarly, if enough interest is shown in a particualr issue, collective advocacy to stakeholders could be considered in future. Issues can be raised at any time on any subject by e-mailing 'info@aidessentials.org'
What do we do?
The Aid Workers Union business objects are to carry on activities which benefit the public at home and abroad, in particular the online provision of independent and impartial information concerning professional support services relevant for, but not exclusive to, self-employed independent contractors involved in humanitarian affairs and international development.
What is our philosophy?
Aid Workers Union was set up BY aid workers FOR aid workers to serve the common good. We are not a commercial intermediary hard-selling some inappropriate product just to make a fast buck. All the products and services listed have been recommended by fellow aid workers based on their personal experiences and have been checked to ensure they are legitimate entities and conform to our social values.
How do we fund our service?
It is important to us that the Aid Workers' Union service remains free to use and accessible to all. You will appreciate, however, that such a service is neither free to set up nor to run. The costs of establishing and maintaining the web portal have been borne by the founder but it is hoped that these will eventually be recovered through philanthropic or commercial sponsorships.
In addition, we have commercial agreements with some – though not all – of the providers listed who will rebate commissions on products or services sold to anyone introduced via the site. These commission payments will be used to cover recurrent costs and the development of new products (such as mortgages, for example). They will NOT be used for any other purpose.
Why should you use AidEssentials rather than approach providers direct?
Three reasons: First, the more of you who apply for products and services through Aid Workers' Union, the greater our ability to negotiate volume discounts on your behalf.
Second, many financial service products that aid workers would find useful are not available to individuals, only organisations. Approaching such companies through Aid Workers Union will eventually enable us to negotiate access to such specialised products.
And third, when we have enough people using the site we will be able to lobby for the development of new products such as 'flexible pensions' and 'modular disability insurance', neither of which are available to short-term contractors now.
If you decide to buy a product or service through our introduction, YOU DO NOT PAY ANY EXTRA. In fact, volume discounts negotiated by us on your behalf are likley to eventually mean you'll be paying less than if you bought the same item elsewhere.
Is our advice truly independent?
Yes. All the products and services listed are recommended by our users, not us. This keeps us on our toes and makes us totally independent. We take into account the following selection criteria:
- The provider is a fit and proper entity
- The provider conforms to Aid Workers' Union core social values
- The provider offers perceived value-for-money in terms of cost and quality
- The product or service is relevant to the aid sector
How can I engage?
The Aid Workers' Union website acts as an information portal. Neither it nor its parent company, Aid Essentials, can legally endorse the products or services listed. Our sole aim is to inform independent aid workers and others in the aid and related industries about what has been recommended by your peers.If you have any suggestions about either the site itself or the products and services listed, we would love to hear from you. Just send us a quick e-mail at ‘info@aidessentials.org’ and we’ll be in touch.