For context, if it seems a bit BA centric that’s because that’s how it started it’s life - the brainchild of a BA captain who wanted to help his fellow BA colleagues who were imminently to be made CR, with absolutely no redundancy pay and in some cases only one months notice. The simple idea was for all remaining BA pilots to give a small amount per month (c.£100) (nothing when you are still on 85-90% of your normal, pre-COVID pay) to go to the 249 who were made redundant - a safety net not afforded by the deal balpa did with BA for reasons I cannot fathom. That specific idea never materialised but I understand it grew into something much bigger and helps all pilots, not just BA pilots.
Sinister reasons? Perhaps, but I think not.