Vitax marches on with charity partnership

Vitax Limited has announced it will be marching forward with its support for a national charity for a second consecutive year.

Announced at Scotsdales Garden Centre in Cambridge, Vitax will continue to support ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (The Soldiers’ Charity) in 2019 as its official charity partner.

Initially launched in November 2017, Vitax raised over £10,000 for the charity in its first year from the sale of special promotional packs of Q4 fertiliser.  The success of the campaign will see it return for the second year with Vitax pledging to donate 20p for every 2.5kg special pack of Q4 fertiliser sold.

The new packs featuring The Soldiers’ Charity ambassador, Andy Reid, formerly of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment and who lost both his legs and right arm after stepping on an IED while on patrol in Afghanistan, are already making an appearance in garden centres across the UK as part of a pre-season promotion.

Paul Gooding, Vitax’s chairman, says: “Choosing to support The Soldiers’ Charity for a second year was an easy decision as we see on a daily basis the difference the donation makes to the charity’s beneficiaries.

“In the past year alone, the charity has supported 70,000 members, the youngest just being two right through to the eldest at 106. Around seventeen per cent of the grants awarded were spent on supporting serving soldiers and their families, which is testament to the great work they do.

“We are very excited for the coming year as pre-season sales of Q4 pelleted fertiliser is up on last year, which hopefully means we will be able to match if not exceed last year’s donation.”

Established in 1944, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the national charity of the British Army.

Providing a lifetime of support to soldiers, veterans and their immediate families in times of need, the charity gives financial assistance to individuals and makes grants to a wide range of specialist charities and other organisations.

During the past 12 months, the charity has worked with, and provided funds to, over 85 charities and organisations to support the Army family, which is why organisations such as Vitax play such a pivotal role.

“We are delighted Vitax has chosen The Soldiers’ Charity as its partner for the second year running as the funds they raised through the sale of Q4 has made such an impact,” says Brigadier (Ret’d) Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

“Every donation counts. Last year we provided over £69,000 a week in grants to individuals in need which is why partnerships with supporters such as Vitax are vital.”

The Soldiers’ Charity has worked with veterans of every conflict for 75 years and takes pride in being responsive, providing essential grants in as little as 48 hours to those in need. 

Picture captions:

Image 1 (top):

Mark Butler – National Sales Manager at Vitax; Paul Gooding – Chairman at Vitax; Robin Bacon - Chief of Staff at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and Charlie Strawa – ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Image 2 (bottom):

Paul Gooding – Vitax’s Chairman with Robin Bacon - Chief of Staff at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity