The boss of a financial planning firm is set to swim the 5.25-mile length of Coniston Water in the Lake District to raise funds for Manchester’s oldest homeless charity.
Father-of-two Andrew Day, 54, founder of Depledge Strategic Wealth Management, based in Trafford Park, is attempting the feat to support Lifeshare, which has been helping vulnerable people in Manchester and Salford since 1984.
Andrew, a keen swimmer who still competes, is doing ‘Chillswim Coniston End to End Swim 2026’ on Saturday, June 20, aiming to complete the challenge in under three hours.
“The primary goal of doing the Chillswim Coniston End to End Swim is to raise money to support the life-changing work of Lifeshare,” said Andrew, a Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)-certified financial planner.
“One of my clients, who I’ve known since 2007, volunteers for Lifeshare every week to help deliver a hot meal to people who have, for one reason or another, fallen on hard times, and she asked if I would help in some way.
“I know people can go from a normal and successful life to having no home very quickly when a business fails, or a relationship breaks down, or more often, a series of setbacks take place.
“New research from Shelter shows at least 354,000 people in England, including 161,500 children are without a home – a shocking increase of 14%, 44,500 people, in just one year.
“If I feel a bit exhausted in a cold lake in Cumbria this June, I will remember how grim things can be if you find yourself without a home. If this swim helps just one person turn their life around, it will have been worth it.”
Kim Law, who has volunteered with Lifeshare for 13 years, said: “Our work supporting Manchester’s most vulnerable people can only continue thanks to the dedication of fundraisers like Andrew.
“Our numbers have never been higher. Every weekend we welcome more than 350 people who are living on the streets or at risk of homelessness. We offer not only hot food and friendship, but also a safe and welcoming place where people can spend a few hours away from the dangers and harsh realities of life on the streets.
“We are incredibly grateful to Andrew, and to everyone who takes on inspiring challenges to raise funds for us. Without their support, and the commitment of our volunteer team, Lifeshare would not have been able to provide these vital services for more than 40 years. We wish Andrew the very best of luck.”
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Depledge Strategic Wealth Management, established by Andrew in 2013, is one of 55 CISI-affiliated independent financial planning firms. It puts customers first and its advisers make a point of speaking plain English to help demystify financial planning for as many people as possible.
With its assets under management (AUM) having grown from £130m in 2018 to more than £300m in early 2026, Depledge has seen organic growth achieved through strong performance and satisfied customers, rather than the ever-increasing debt model used by some larger market players.
