The Amazon to Atlantic initiative addresses conservation needs across interconnected regions spanning the Amazon basin to the Atlantic Forest, focusing on:

• Supporting increased funding for IPLC in the Amazon basin and biomes surrounding the Amazon that sustain the forest.
• Amplify the voices of marginalised communities in and around the Amazon to communicate the threats of, and locally led solutions to, deforestation, environmental destruction, and human rights violations.
• Connect with a wide range of organisations, from donors to grassroots groups, to build a stronger, broader, and more deeply connected movement to protect the Amazon and the surrounding biomes.

Synchronicity Earth’s Asian Species Programme aims to support local leaders and communities to catalyse conservation efforts for the most threatened and overlooked species. The programme currently focuses on three strands:

• Conserving species – providing direct support, particularly to locally-led conservation groups, for some of the most threatened and overlooked species in Asia, with a focus on Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
• Developing the Southeast Asian conservation sector
  – supporting organisational and individual development and autonomy to achieve species conservation goals.
• Advancing knowledge – building the knowledge base on Asian species and their conservation needs, thus enabling actions to be prioritised.

However, despite their pivotal role in environmental preservation, IPLC organisations receive less than 1% of global climate finance. In 2024, calls to increase direct funding to these communities have grown louder, with the international climate and conservation sectors recognising that supporting IPLC leadership is essential to achieving both biodiversity and climate goals.

Recognising the vital relationship between nature and culture, Synchronicity Earth’s Biocultural Diversity Programme works through long-term collaboration with local partners to enhance conservation efforts by:

• Providing financial support to grassroots organisations.
• Strengthening skills and knowledge-sharing among partners.
• Promoting Indigenous leadership and decision- making in conservation.
• Collaborating with global donor alliances to expand impact.

The programme focuses on regions where this diversity is greatest and most threatened, providing increased funding to grassroot partners whilst establishing strong, long-term relationships and supporting Indigenous leadership growth.

Conservation work in the area faces huge challenges, but empowering IPLCS to defend their territories is essential for biodiversity, ecosystems and human wellbeing in the long term.

Synchronicity Earth’s Congo Basin Programme supports its partners working in the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) and Cameroon to:

• Resist destructive developments that threaten forests and rivers.
• Empower forest peoples to defend their territories.
• Protect and revive ecosystems through regenerative approaches to development.

Synchronicity Earth’s Freshwater Programme is committed to addressing the challenges facing freshwater ecosystems. The programme supports a diversity of actors, ranging from grassroots organisations to global campaigns that aim to elevate, protect, and restore highly biodiverse freshwater ecosystems across the globe. Supporting this network is key to unlocking a resilient future with clean water, food safety, sustainable local livelihoods, and water security, all supported by resilient and thriving freshwater ecosystems and species.

To achieve this, the programme focuses on three overlapping and complementary strands of work:

• Protecting species – Catalysing conservation action for freshwater species in partnership with SHOAL.
• Empowering people – Empowering local communities to build capacity, advocate for, and protect freshwater ecosystems.
• Advancing knowledge – Advancing knowledge systems and collaborative action for freshwater conservation.

Synchronicity Earth’s Ocean Programme focuses on critical, yet less familiar and vastly underfunded, conservation challenges for the global ocean. The programme encompasses three strands:

• Communities and culture – Promoting local community and Indigenous Knowledge, culture and experience in ocean conservation and fisheries management.
• Species and ecosystems – Supporting targeted conservation action for some of the most threatened yet overlooked marine species and ecosystems.
• Research and policy – Addressing key research gaps and systemic changes in policy that are falling through the cracks of ocean conservation work.

SHOAL was created as a response to the fact that freshwater ecosystems are at the sharp end of the global biodiversity crisis, yet historically haven’t received the attention they desperately need. SHOAL seeks to engage a wide range of stakeholders to accelerate and escalate action to save the most threatened fish and other freshwater species. In doing so, SHOAL aligns with and extends the work of Synchronicity Earth’s Freshwater Programme.

The SHOAL 2032 Strategy has clear targets to shift and transform freshwater species conservation in the next ten years from being almost entirely neglected, to receiving global levels of attention proportionate to the crisis these species face. The five current priority regions are: Mexico, the African Rift Valley Lakes, the Western Ghats in India, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia.

To achieve SHOAL’s 2032 vision, they have set the following goals:

• Inspire as many people as possible globally to appreciate and take action for the amazing and vital life that freshwater supports.
• Mobilise a global action network, built from the communities that care, to take action for freshwater fishes.
• Act to make a direct and immediate difference for at least 1,000 of the most threatened freshwater fishes.

Today, thousands of invertebrate species are declining with many heading towards extinction. There are more than 40,000 invertebrate species in the UK, and due to changes in land use and other human impacts, many of these are under threat as never before.

Buglife is the only organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates. Founded in 2002, Buglife is the very first conservation organisation that incorporates all aspects concerning the preservation and protection of invertebrates. Its aim is to halt the extinction of invertebrate species and to achieve sustainable populations of invertebrates. The overall vision is for a wildlife-rich planet where other species thrive alongside people.

Unrestricted donations helping to cover IUCN core costs are crucial for delivery of a range of vital activities, from maintenance of the Red List of Threatened Species, to innovation, to programme development & delivery, to policy influence, to championing nature’s role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Aurum Kaleidoscope’s donation to core funding allows the organisation to remain strategic and deliver its mission to ‘Influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

The Bermuda Zoological Society’s (“BZS”) established the Micro Forest Project in Hungry Bay, working to restore, protect, and improve the management of this critical mangrove ecosystem which is in decline due to rising sea levels, storm surges, and erosion.

In 2015, the Regeneration programme was created in collaboration with Aurum and Synchronicity Earth Project and continues to be supported by Aurum Kaleidoscope. Over time this project has evolved into the More Than Carbon programme which Synchronicity Earth uses to support a range of projects providing carbon balancing.

It places equal emphasis on nature, climate, and people, supporting work to protect biodiversity, reduce the impacts of climate change, and contribute to human security, health, and wellbeing. Contributing funding to this initiative helps businesses balance their impact on the natural world, in terms of both emissions and nature, and meet environmental and social responsibilities.

Aurum Kaleidoscope directly supports Hutan, a locally based conservation organisation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Hutan’s reforestation team, made up almost entirely of women, is working to restore a key wildlife corridor that was previously decimated by years of palm oil plantation ownership. In August 2018, following negotiations, 45 hectares of land were allocated for Hutan’s restoration project to conserve species like Bornean orangutans and pygmy elephants.

Wildscreen 2024 ran from 14–18 October and expanded its offering significantly, featuring over 105 events including headliners, masterclasses, panel discussions, screenings, outreach workshops, and networking sessions. The festival operated across three main venues and a new dedicated workshop space, reflecting growing attendance and participation.

The programming was built around four thematic pillars: Craft, Global Voices, Industry, and Planetary Crises. With 230 speakers from 31 countries and an Official Selection of 35 standout films representing 45 languages and 54 nations, the 2024 edition celebrated inclusion and innovation.

Acumen is a global non-profit that invests in sustainable businesses leaders, bold and scalable ideas to combat poverty and expand opportunity. Instead of traditional charity or commercial investment, Acumen uses ‘patient capital’ which is philanthropic funding with the flexibility and long-term horizon needed to help social enterprises grow sustainably.

Through grassroots partnerships, Acumen supports entrepreneurs and ventures across key sectors including healthcare, clean energy, agriculture, financial inclusion, and education. Its vision is a world founded on dignity, where every person has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of background or income.

AFFT believes in supporting families caring for orphaned and vulnerable children. Early Childhood Development is the most important time in a person’s life and access to good nutrition and a nurturing environment are critical. By removing food insecurity, children are able to focus more on their education; significant improvements can be observed in academic, sporting and social performance.

Hope and Homes for Children (“HHC”) is a UK-based organisation that works across Europe and Africa with a vision of a world in which children no longer suffer institutional care, working towards a day when every child can grow up in a loving family. It works alongside local partners, governments and civil society organisations in over 30 countries to dismantle orphanage-based care systems. The charity moves children out of institutions into family-based care, helps keep together families who are at risk of breakdown due to the pressures of poverty, disease or conflict, and works to prevent child abandonment.

To improve the health and life chances of these children, studies have shown that interventions are most successful if introduced during the first 1,000 days after conception. This in the period of a child’s life that the foundations for optimum health, rapid brain growth and child development are laid.

One to One Children’s Fund aims to rebuild and transform the lives of vulnerable children. One to One identifies the greatest risks children and adolescents face and then works with partners to pilot and deliver cost-effective interventions in healthcare, psychosocial services and education. It trains and empowers people who can best fill the critical gaps in care for those children by providing relatable role models to make healthcare more inclusive.

In the rural Eastern Cape, South Africa, the Enable Project targets the most vulnerable mothers and children up to the age of five, through door-to-door visits. Local women are empowered and equipped with skills and knowledge to carry out basic health checks. These women are referred to as Mentor Mothers.

Historically, fewer than 10% of Ashoka Fellows focused on disability. To address this, Ashoka launched a strategic program to:

• Map existing disability Fellows (219 as of mid-2024).
• Increase nominations, especially from the Global South.
• Train all Venture staff—the team responsible for identifying and selecting Ashoka Fellows—in disability awareness using the BAIA (Build an Accessible and Inclusive Ashoka) framework to establish a global team to champion inclusive candidate selection.
• Launch a global communications campaign to boost visibility and outreach.
• Build and nurture partnerships with key stakeholders in the disability field.

Fair Play playground, opened in February 2024, was installed as a model playground for local authorities and landscape designers in the UK to be able replicate in part or in whole. It is part of a campaign for all playgrounds across the UK to become more inclusive.

The Seneca Trust, supported by Aurum, spearheaded the development of Fairplay Playground. The Seneca Trust worked with Barnet Council, North London, in February 2022 to design the playground, project manage the build and run the administration around funding and fundraising. Fair Play is one of the Borough of Barnet’s public playgrounds.

Fair Play, the first of its kind accessible and inclusive playground in the UK, has been purposefully designed to enable people of all ages and abilities to play together. It was designed in coordination with disabled residents, parents, carers and accessibility experts, and features enjoyable play equipment that everyone, able- bodied or with cognitive or physical disabilities, can use.

The playground features:

• Wetpour safety surfacing across the whole play area to ensure that it is wheelchair accessible and is not hard. There is a textured path for the visually impaired.
• Single entrance and exit to prevent users leaving without their carer’s knowledge.
• Accessible equipment allowing children of all abilities to play alongside one another. Equipment that enables rocking, swinging, spinning, climbing and sliding.
• Customised communications boards for non-verbal people, people who don’t speak the same language or have dementia. Pictures are easier to process than words. People can point to the relevant picture to communicate their wants, needs and feelings. This playground is one of the first public spaces in the UK to feature these boards.
• Accessible facilities, as well as quiet spots for downtime and fully wheelchair accessible picnic area and seating allowing families and friends to sit together.

The vision is that inclusive play will reduce stigma, through positive experiences in a society where social integration and physical fitness are important to all of us.

Unitas is North London’s largest provider of youth services, serving over 3,500 young people each year across a range of programmes and partnership. The organisation offers young people somewhere safe to go, something fun to do, and someone to talk to. By addressing these interconnected challenges, Unitas aims to empower young people, reduce youth-related social issues, and help individuals reach their full potential through comprehensive, community-centred support.

In 2024, Unitas finished the year with over 3,100 active members. young people who regularly participated in its programmes and made consistent use of its facilities.

This distinction between overall reach and core engagement highlights the dual strength of Unitas’s approach: reaching thousands while deeply supporting a committed membership base. Still, despite its scale, Unitas considers itself a ‘Best Kept Secret’ in North London, a surprising reality given its location in one of the most densely populated areas. To address this, the organisation has invested in marketing and communications to build awareness, drive membership, attendance, and facility utilisation by community groups and businesses.

Initiated in 2023, the Technology Forum aims to identify, support, and scale the most promising ICT-based innovations that enhance the lives of persons with disabilities. The 2024 edition took place at Unicredit Bank Austria-Kaiserwasser on 20 February, and included the following:

• 25 innovators pitching accessible tech solutions.
• Attendance from major ICT companies (e.g., Google, Microsoft, Atos, Apple), UN agencies, investors, and global NGOs.
• A mix of structured matchmaking and informal networking, with sessions designed for engagement and inclusive dialogue.

The EAIA is guided by an Advisory Board of 18 international experts from civil society, the tech sector, and organisations of persons with disabilities (“DPOs”). This multidisciplinary group ensures that EAIA remains grounded in both technical expertise and lived experience. The Board sets strategic direction, advises on priorities, and helps shape a global advocacy agenda. Regular meetings and ongoing collaboration support a responsive, inclusive, and participatory approach to advancing disability-inclusive AI.

Global Symbols was formed to support communities in creating the communication resources they need to support people with communication needs based on local language and culture. The work is based upon principles of open access, with materials developed under open source, Creative Commons, and Open Educational Resource licences. Each community served is the subject of a separate project, blending the expertise of the GS team with local knowledge and experience from within the community.

Frozen Light creates exciting and original multi-sensory theatre for audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (“PMLD”) and tours it to theatre venues and arts centres nationwide. Founded in 2013, Frozen Light has created seven shows which have toured to over 70 venues across the UK. It strives to build safe spaces in which to take risks and transport its audiences to sensory worlds filled with awe and wonder. Frozen Light works to create theatre you can touch, theatre you can smell, theatre that happens during intimate one to one interactions and theatre that is collective.

Electric Umbrella is a charity that creates amazing, live interactive music experiences with learning-disabled people. Over the past ten years, they have run music sessions across Hertfordshire to combat social isolation and create meaningful experiences.

The charity was founded by a musician and an art therapist, who recognised there were few opportunities for learning-disabled people to take to the stage. Their core belief, in a nutshell, is that “There is No Such Thing as Normal”. Electric Umbrella seeks to create a more inclusive society, celebrating difference and inspiring community connection. They empower learning disabled and neurodivergent people of all abilities, fostering confidence, skills, and leadership potential.

Folk Beyond delivers creative, multi-sensory folk music and dance sessions tailored to learning disabled adults over the age of 30. Pilot sessions were run in Autumn 2024 which created a happy and inclusive atmosphere and received positive feedback from parents and carers. These sessions built on the success of Folk Unlimited and were facilitated by a dedicated tutor team.

Moonbeam Theatre is dedicated to delivering exceptional, accessible theatre experiences designed for the unique needs of young people aged 5-18 with PMLD. Their methodology centres on immersive and sensory storytelling, employing a variety of materials and interactions to build engaging worlds that participants can explore freely and at their own pace. Productions are developed through collaborative research and development workshops in partnership with SEN schools, integrating feedback from the children and educators. This ensures the work is deeply relevant and impactful for the target audience. The resulting sensory performances are then toured, bringing theatre directly to those who face the greatest challenges in accessing mainstream cultural events.

London has the largest absolute number of people with intellectual disabilities in the UK, who experience significant health inequality. SOGB has identified London as a priority area for development, and SOCN is considered well-positioned to lead a London-wide SOGB network. The overarching strategy is to develop into SOLondon (or similar), leading the Capital’s SOGB offer. This involves running a regular, high-profile session in the city centre (specifically Regent’s Park), activating a community to drive growth and development, and deploying technology to drive referrals, streamline administration, and improve athlete and community experience.

The Stables Horse Activity Centre (“The Stables”), located in Barnet, North London, is a registered charity established in 1994. The Stables has a mission to provide therapeutic and recreational riding opportunities for individuals of all abilities, including those with physical, learning, and social disabilities.
Founded by William Marshall, the centre operates without government funding, relying on income from riding lessons, weekday sessions, and fundraising activities to sustain its operations.

The Stables is home to 22 horses and ponies of various sizes and abilities, managed by a dedicated team of four permanent staff members with the support of volunteers. The facility includes fully functioning stables, four paddocks, and a newly constructed arena, providing a safe and supportive environment for all participants.

The Sierra Leone Autistic Society (“SLAS”) started in 2014 as a Community Based Organisation (“CBO”) and became a national NGO in 2017, with the aim of facilitating access to health, education, psychological and social interventions and strategies for people with disabilities, with a specific focus on those with Autism Spectrum Condition (“ASC”). Today, SLAS provides much needed services in various parts of the country, and many families who receive its services claim it is a ‘lifesaving’ and one-of-a-kind organisation in Sierra Leone.

SLAPWA re-secured its office space in Freetown, providing a safe and accessible hub for individuals with albinism. The office now functions as a multi-use centre: hosting community meetings, distributing sunscreen and protective materials, running workshops and staff training, and serving as secure storage for donated supplies.

Vision Bermuda is dedicated to empowering people who are blind or vision impaired to learn how to live well with vision loss. They provide a full range of specialist services and programmes designed specifically for the needs of Bermuda residents with vision impairments.

Vision Bermuda highlights that vision loss is becoming an increasing problem due to factors like the aging population and sedentary lifestyles, which contribute to diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

iheart is dedicated to empowering young people with an understanding that they are not broken or lacking in resilience but have everything they need inside to face life’s challenges. The unique, evidence-based educational programmes have been delivered across schools, youth organisations, and community groups, fostering self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and wellbeing.

In 2024, the programme expanded its digital and in- person reach, providing essential resources and training to teachers and youth workers, who serve as first responders to children struggling with mental health issues. By equipping them with the tools to deliver resilience education, iheart is creating a self-sustaining model that benefits children long after their direct involvement ends.

The Roundhouse addresses this by supporting young people’s personal and professional development through its creative programmes. Delivered in the Studios and the Roundhouse Works building, these programmes provide young people with the crucial opportunity to try new things, experience failure, build the confidence to try again, and develop resilience. They learn new skills across a variety of art forms, such as podcasting, music production, directing, spoken word, and entrepreneurship. Crucially, the Roundhouse leverages industry connections to give young people the chance to gain invaluable paid experience in the sector.

Screen Share addresses digital exclusion among refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, a population facing a pronounced digital access discrepancy due to financial constraints. They recognise that while structural issues affect refugees, many can be addressed by digital inclusion. Their work involves providing laptops, smartphones, internet connectivity, digital skills training, and laptop repair training.

Screen Share supports anyone in the UK with experience of forced migration, including refugees, people seeking asylum, those with humanitarian protection visas, and stateless individuals, across a broad age range and from various countries.

These hands-on activities contribute to the healthy socio-emotional, cognitive, physical, and overall wellbeing of participants.

Celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2024, WindReach is a fully accessible four acre facility located in Warwick Parish, Bermuda, featuring a multi-purpose Activity Centre, Animal Zone, Therapeutic Riding Centre, and a fully-accessible playground. WindReach has significantly impacted the community by expanding its programmes and fostering a nurturing environment where participants can achieve personal goals. The organisation believes that progress is measured in meaningful ways beyond just data points, including how individuals handle adversity, show kindness, take responsibility, work collaboratively, try new things, remain patient, and show empathy.

Throughout 2024, NPH Haiti’s Special Needs programme remained a vital lifeline for individuals with disabilities, even as the country faced escalating insecurity and humanitarian crises. The programme supported 53 residents across three homes, initiated the construction of a new Special Education and Rehabilitation Centre in the mountains, and expanded access to therapy, education, and community participation. From inclusive playgrounds and creative workshops to monthly church involvement and life-saving medical support, the programme centred on dignity, empowerment, and inclusion. Despite immense logistical and safety challenges, core services were sustained through the tireless dedication of staff and the unwavering support of partners. The mission continues: to create safe, meaningful, and inclusive spaces where every individual can thrive.

The IRC is a comprehensive humanitarian agency that works in crisis zones and host communities around the world. Its programmes address a wide range of urgent needs including healthcare, education, safety and economic wellbeing. The IRC also provides critical support for resettlement and integration for refugees in the United States and elsewhere. In addition to its field work, the organisation engages in evidence-based policy advocacy and systems change to influence how humanitarian aid is delivered globally.

OSH is a peer-powered youth movement that supports young people from refugee backgrounds (aged 14-18) to build lasting relationships, gain leadership skills, and create a thriving community. By providing the tools to develop strong relationships, gain critical life skills, and envision a hopeful future, OSH is helping young refugees turn displacement into strength, and a new country into a true second home.

The Purple Vest Mission addresses the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities and the elderly during emergencies. The mission provides customised training for organisations, municipalities, and individuals on how to offer emergency services in an accessible manner.

The mission gained prominence during the war in Ukraine, where many individuals with disabilities and the elderly were left behind due to inaccessible evacuation processes. In response, the Purple Vest Mission facilitated over 3,996 accessible evacuations and provided supplies to more than 10,000 people in Ukraine. The initiative also received support from The Nippon Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Israel, and the Accessibility Accelerator from the USA.

Refugees at Home operates by connecting individuals with a spare room in their home to refugees and asylum seekers in need of temporary accommodation. Through a thorough vetting process, Refugees at Home matches hosts with guests, offering support and guidance throughout the hosting period. This initiative not only provides immediate shelter but also fosters long-term relationships, helping refugees integrate into their new communities.

MSF has operated in Sudan for over 45 years, adapting its approach to deliver life-saving care in one of the world’s most complex humanitarian environments. In 2024, as conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces intensified, MSF maintained a steadfast presence, guided by its core principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

MSF used a flexible, decentralised approach, running fixed and mobile clinics across 11 states. This allowed rapid response to shifting frontlines, while local partnerships ensured continuity of care in hard-to- reach and high-risk areas.

Throughout these operations, MSF maintained its principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, ensuring that aid was delivered based on need alone.

Established in 1993 in the UK, War Child has grown into a global network comprising organisations in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, and the United States (operating as Children in Conflict). In 2024, these organisations formed the War Child Alliance, a collaborative effort to enhance the impact of their programs and advocate for children’s rights in conflict zones. The War Child Alliance focuses on integrating efforts, sharing resources, and empowering local leadership to address the needs of children affected by war.

To enable their work, WCK establishes Relief Kitchens and partners with local restaurants and community organisations. WCK adapts continuously to meet the unique needs of each community, navigating obstacles with innovation. Their Emergency Response Teams are positioned strategically and led by local “Food Fighters” in places like Ukraine, highlighting communities as their superpower.

‘Ubuntu’ is the African philosophy of togetherness and is deeply rooted within cultural concepts of community and humanity. LSHTM has designed the ‘Baby Ubuntu’ programme which is implemented across Uganda by Adara see the following page for further information.

The programme aims to help caregivers understand their child’s disability, such as a neurodisability and provides them with practical skills to help care for the child.

‘Ubuntu’ is the African philosophy of togetherness and is deeply rooted within cultural concepts of community and humanity. Adara implements the ‘Baby Ubuntu’ programme in partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (“LSHTM”) see the previous page for further information. This is an early- intervention, community-based programme that supports children aged between six months and four years with a disability and their caregivers. It ensures caregivers understand their child’s disability and provides them with practical skills to help feed, communicate and play with the child.

Aurum Kaleidoscope is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and conducts a grant-making process intended to promote the advancement of environmental conservation, social welfare and education.

Aurum is an Embedded Impact business that looks to provide profit with purpose. Aurum’s purpose is to grow and protect its clients capital alongside environmental capital; the planet and species and social capital; healthcare and education.

Over many years, Aurum has selected worthy beneficiaries and has donated to them directly becoming a solid supporter of a wide range of organisations in the process. The growth of the Embedded Impact Approach itself then led to a realisation that, in order to maximise positive environmental and social impact, the due diligence of beneficiaries should be performed by a suitably qualified entity that is structurally designed to exist for the public benefit.

Aurum Kaleidoscope is not a company; it is formed as a corporate body directly regulated by the Charity Commission. This means Aurum Kaleidoscope is solely subject to the legal framework that applies to charities and so refines the focus of the trustees to the pursuit of their charity’s charitable purpose. With the power to do anything which furthers its charitable purpose, Aurum Kaleidoscope is thus freed of the conflict that many companies face under the doctrine of shareholder primacy. This functional segregation provides the perfect balance for Aurum to carry out its Embedded Impact Approach.

Aurum Kaleidoscope has minimised operational expenses due to the resource support provided by Aurum and the Aurum Group. Aurum Kaleidoscope does not employ any staff and does not require office space so can instead concentrate on identifying and verifying the beneficiaries of its grant-making process.

Aurum Kaleidoscope’s Trustees are predominantly made up of Aurum Group colleagues but there is also an independent trustee who provides additional insight and oversight.

As ESG continues to shape the future of investment strategies, the Alternative ESG Symposium offered a specialised lens into its adoption within the alternative investments sector, a space often underrepresented in mainstream ESG discourse. The event, launched by Aurum in collaboration with key partners, focused on practical ESG adoption, manager perspectives, allocator expectations, regulatory trends, and the evolution of ESG data.

Sessions featured a combination of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive Q&A segments, with a particular emphasis on:

• Manager transparency: Exploring how hedge funds can improve ESG disclosures and reporting.
• Data challenges: Addressing the fragmented ESG data landscape and the limitations of standard ratings.
• Engagement vs. exclusion: Debating effective ESG approaches within complex strategies.

The event was designed to foster candid conversations and peer learning, drawing a cross-section of industry professionals committed to driving meaningful ESG progress.

Aurum is a fully Embedded Impact business, a proprietary term reflecting how Aurum at a corporate level implements ESG initiatives. The first element of this approach is that donations are structured to proportionately increase as firm AUM increases.
The second element is that Aurum also offers two Embedded Impact Funds, where Aurum makes donations derived from the investment management fees to environmental and social causes:

• The first Embedded Impact investment fund, which launched in 2002, Aurum makes donations to environmental charitable causes including Synchronicity Earth, a registered charity that supports the conservation of biodiversity, ecosystems and species at risk around the world.
• The second Embedded Impact fund, Aurum splits the donations across social causes including The Seneca Trust, a charity focused on disability, health, displacement and education and environmental causes including Synchronicity Earth. This is achieved through providing grants and direct assistance to charities and organisations.

Since inception to 31 December 2024, Aurum’s Embedded Impact approach has given more than $43 million to support charitable endeavours around the world.

Aurum has a goal to galvanise the hedge fund industry to have a net positive environmental impact. To achieve this the Aurum Group engages and collaborates with external stakeholders including underlying managers. This primarily involves candid discussion and providing educational materials and guidance on how environmental philanthropy can benefit both their businesses and wider society.

ESG issues are incorporated into the investment decision-making process when Aurum considers prospective investments and when monitoring portfolio positions. To do this effectively, there is regular engagement with underlying managers.
As part of its due diligence process, ARL provides a “Red-Amber-Green” heatmap of different ESG considerations across its underlying managers. The heatmap ratings are amalgamated into ARL’s research system SONAR.

This qualitative approach is used as the underlying managers are not directly comparable meaning it is difficult to have a proper quantitative assessment. If Aurum invests, ongoing ESG monitoring of this nature will also occur. The heatmap approach enables ARL’s ESG team to be able to see the overall ratings of the portfolio and where underlying managers are performing well and where there is room for improvement.

The review focuses on ESG approach from both a corporate and investment perspective. As this is a rapidly evolving area, ARL also looks at direction of travel and commitment to future developments as well as current status.

Underlying managers complete an online ESG questionnaire, and the results are aggregated to ensure effective engagement topics are identified and progress is measured.

Aurum runs a programme that supports Aurum Group employee fundraising by up to £1,000 annually per employee. Employees are also able to give a £50 birthday donation to a charity of their choice.

In 2018 the Aurum Group introduced an employee volunteering programme, where staff are allocated two days per year to volunteer. This was enhanced in 2021 from providing London-based volunteering opportunities, to the following options:

• For colleagues who already have volunteering commitments, to be able to use these days for charity of their choice.
• To provide group volunteering opportunities to facilitate team building.

At Aurum, alignment between Aurum’s investment philosophy and client values is fundamental. ESG considerations are embedded into investment processes and ownership practices. Aurum’s commitment to responsible investment is demonstrated through transparent ESG integration, strategic governance, and ongoing policy development.

Aurum have always been cognisant of the environmental challenges of climate change and both the risks and opportunities this has for us as a business. This TCFD reporting is an important step to strengthening reporting and transparency in this important area.

Aurum believes a robust ESG approach is both a moral and fiduciary duty. ARL’s Head of ESG is responsible for identifying climate risks and opportunities in collaboration with ARL’s investment research and operational due diligence teams. This information is provided to senior management team and to Aurum’s board who are able to opine on these matters. This is from both a corporate and investment perspective.

As well as having this formal process in place, Aurum also believes ESG is the collective responsibility of all group employees. This is reflected in ESG considerations being integrated into all Aurum Group employee objectives. These objectives range from limiting personal and professional environmental impact, ensuring inclusivity in all they do and looking to drive industry and wider societal change by collaborating with other industry participants.

At a business level, the Aurum Group have taken opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint and are particularly cognisant of suppliers and their impact on society.

The Aurum Group continually reviews its operations, seeking ways to improve efficiency and decrease negative impact.

During 2024 there was an increase in attacks against Aurum Group infrastructure including significant increases in BotNet attacks particularly against remote access gateways. All these attempts were blocked at the external firewall level. In 2024, nearly 45% of incoming email was blocked for either being spam or phishing, this is in line with 2023. Malware and phishing rates remain lower than the industry average because Aurum is less of a target as they do not hold client funds.

The overall level of cyber-attacks remains at a high level and to reduce the risk to the Aurum Group, a multi- supplier security model is employed utilising independent breach databases with over 500 million events currently being reviewed every month by these systems.