Andrews, the estate agent founded to make money for good causes, has announced a dividend of £1m payable to its charity owners.

Andrews Property Group is making the payment to Andrews Charitable Trust and Speaking Volumes.

It is the largest dividend since 2004. Since 1985, the business has handed over £10m.

Andrews was founded by philanthropist Cecil Jackson Cole, whose vision was that the more successful the business was at making money, the more it could give.

Most of the £1m – 85% – will go to Andrews Charitable Trust whose major focus is a housing scheme called [establish].

The project aims to purchase 50 homes in areas where Andrews has a presence, at the rate of one a year, to support young people leaving the care system.

Group chief executive David Westgate said that Andrews’ investment in good causes allows it to stand out as a business doing things differently.

He said: “[establish] is about so much more than just giving young people a roof over their heads.

“We’ve committed to not only providing newly renovated homes, but to ensuring they come with on-going support and maintenance.

“The young people who live in them are given access to specially-trained Andrews’ mentors and if they’re interested, they can take up paid apprenticeships with Andrews.”

Speaking Volumes is the newly rebranded name of the former Christian Book Promotion Trust. A third former owner, the Christian Initiative Trust, has been wrapped into the Andrews Charitable Trust.