Ruth Whitehead trained as a classical musician and managed to exist in almost complete ignorance of the financial services industry until she was advised by a man in a suit to take out the mortgage from hell.
She became transformed by adversity into a very angry expert on finance, and in 1993 RWA was born.
RWA is a small company with a national profile.
Ruth is frequently quoted in the national press and trade publications, has broadcast on BBC 4’s Money Box, BBC News and BBC London radio, and writes for the Guardian and Observer newspapers, amongst others.
We are very proud of our work enabling our clients to choose responsible and ethical investments. We are repeatedly recognised with awards by the finance industry, after receiving nominations and votes from those clients, which is doubly rewarding.
We are delighted to celebrate our 29th anniversary in 2022.
Ruth Whitehead
We believe the only way is ethics and will help you tailor your investments accordingly.
Ruth with colleague Eamonn Malik celebrating being a finalist at the Women in Investment Awards 2019, proudly displaying their LGBTQIA+ umbrella
Ruth Whitehead and three members of her team.
Us in our community – Ethics in Action
Ruth is a financial adviser with a difference. She has a head for figures but a passion for notes.
She is obsessed with music, and sharing it – particularly with those who wouldn’t otherwise have access to classical music, the opportunity to learn an instrument, or sing together.
As part of her business ethic, Ruth puts her money where her values are. She is determined to create opportunities for everyone in our community to access learning and culture.
And so…RWA sponsors local education, music and arts initiatives through its Ethics in Action initiative, and is officially a friend of St Matthias School
• Donation of an electric organ to support and develop music at St Matthias School, March 2022
• Donation of £200 for playground equipment, February 2022
• Sourcing hot meals and food parcels for families at the school in need and in isolation January 2021 (feeding hungry minds)
• £500 Christmas gift to St Matthias School December 2020
• donated £2,600 to St Matthias School so every child gets a food voucher for half term October 2020
• sponsoring live acoustic shows by indie singers and musicians in St Matthias Church, working with the team who curate those stylish and classy music events at London’s most intimate and iconic venue, St Pancras Old Church, October 2020 onwards
• £5,000 donated to St Matthias School by DissentersArtsN16 charity to fund a year’s sessions with The Garden Classroom providing urban children with transformative outdoor experiences to encourage active lifestyles, promote self-discovery, inspire growth and stimulate respect for nature, September 2020
• funded a virtual concert by internationally acclaimed vocalist and composer Clara Sanabras and maverick musician Harvey Brough at St Matthias, whose streaming raised £3,000 for our charity DissentersArtsN16, June 2020
• £5,000 secured to purchase reading books representing the diverse backgrounds of pupils at St Matthias School, June 2020
• £1,000 donated to the Covid-19 Emergency Fund for the Akwaaba social centre for migrants in Hackney, May 2020
• £4,000 donated to St Matthias School to purchase creative toolkits for ALL 232 pupils during Covid-19 lockdown from the DissentersArtsN16 charity which Ruth founded and is a trustee, May 2020 (see Hackney Gazette)
• £5,000 donated to St Matthias School for 30 much-needed laptops for IT classes, March 2020
As part of our business ethic RWA sponsors local arts events. We are passionate about the importance of culture and community.
Thank you so very much for the fundraising events for Hackney Migrant Centre and Akwaaba. We’re delighted to be receiving £4,000. This will go a very long way in supporting the work we do with vulnerable migrants. Please pass on our profound thanks to everyone involved in the concert.
I wish to join what must be a very long queue of people wanting to thank you for your Christmas concert. I sat in amazement at the way you were able to combine King’s College Cambridge, The Royal Albert Hall and Stoke Newington Music Hall (if there is one) in one programme. Such a totally enjoyable and varied evening.
The Rev Canon Owen Beament
Ruth founded and conducts Stoke Newington community choir Chorus of Dissent, youth choir Young Dissenters, and professional orchestra the Elastic Band. Their concerts have been a sellout since inception. Profits are always donated to charitable causes (including Hackney Migrants Centre, its social offshoot Akwaaba, The Rebuild Barbuda Fund after Hurricane Irma) : prices are always subsidised and affordable.
We also manage St Matthias Halls – two delightful but very different spaces which we offer for your events. The magnificent St Matthias Church with its renowned acoustic – Stokey’s only Grade I-listed building – for concerts, gigs, filming, recordings, rehearsals. And St Matthias Hall for rehearsals, dance, theatre, music lessons, classes, workshops and activities for all ages.
RWA in the media on culture
Stokebourne midsummer festival on July 5-6 2019 is Ruth’s brainchild to raise desperately-needed funds for the urgent rewiring of St Matthias Church, starring John Hegley, Chorus of Dissent, Shkembe Soup and the Gaga Ladies’ cabaret
Hackney Gazette
Ruth hits fundraising target to donate grand piano to St Matthias Church
Hackney Gazette
Ruth is appointed Principal conductor and artistic director of Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra, and welcomes The National Youth Choir of Antigua and Barbuda to give a joint concert with Chorus of Dissent
Hackney Gazette
Chorus of Dissent in the Irish Times’ May Bank Holiday top picks list
Irish Times
Chorus of Dissent brings Gilbert & Sullivan opera to Stokey
Hackney Gazette
Ruth’s Chorus of Dissent fundraising gala concert for Antigua Barbuda:
Hackney Gazette
World Première of Clara Sanabras’ A Hum About Mine Ears:
clarasanabras.co.uk
Health and freedom:
FT Adviser
Raising the roof with performance poet John Hegley: