Welsh charity Valley Veterans has seen its site expand rapidly thanks to the capabilities of its prize Cat\u00ae 301.5 excavator, donated by Finning UK & Ireland.<\/p>\n
The Cat 301.5 was gifted to Valley Veterans by Finning as one of two winners of its \u2018Win Big\u2019 competition that ran in celebration of Caterpillar\u2019s centennial year.<\/p>\n
Valley Veterans, a charity based in the Rhondda Valley, was founded more than 20 years ago as an informal support group for PTSD sufferers and is now a vibrant hub with more than 140 active participants. Its Equi-Grow project includes the development of a purpose-built equine and horticultural space for activities supporting the mental and physical health and wellbeing of veterans.<\/p>\n
Finning presented the charity with the Cat 301.5 excavator to help get groundwork underway at the charity\u2019s site, where volunteers have worked together to build stables, a riding menage, a vegetable garden, a memorial garden and a large cabin which serves as an office and therapy space to support the vast needs of the community.<\/p>\n
Nigel Locke, Secretary at Valley Veterans, said: \u201cFinning delivered our Cat 301.5 back in June and since then our site has changed dramatically. Having the machine on-site has allowed us to complete planned work much more quickly than by hand and is responsible for our large new vegetable garden and raised beds where produce grown goes towards feeding the community and veterans that we support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe machine has increased the scope of what we are able to achieve on site. We are looking at adding beehives, building more stables and adding a pond to support the biodiversity of the site \u2013 all of which is vastly more achievable with the machine, taking weeks as opposed to months.\u201d<\/p>\n
The charity was founded in the back garden of former Welsh Guardsman Paul Bromwell and has since gone on to make a significant impact both locally and nationally. Last year, Valley Veterans was honoured with the King\u2019s Award for Voluntary Service.<\/p>\n
Paul Bromwell, Chief Executive at Valley Veterans, said: \u201cThe impact of the machine has been invaluable to the work we do, allowing us to continue to make a difference to veterans and their families, as the size, scope and possibilities of the site keep growing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs well as a practical impact, the machine has made a financial one. Not having to rent a machine and having the back-up of local support from the Finning Cardiff branch means we are able to use our funding to support more veterans to combat the challenges resulting from isolation and loneliness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Valley Veterans and Finning UK & Ireland have been awarded a Gold Award by the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) \u2013 the highest accolade within the scheme. The award recognises organisations that demonstrate exceptional support for the Armed Forces community, including those transitioning from service back into civilian life.<\/p>\n
Tim Ballard, General Manager \u2013 Digital, Technology & Marketing at Finning UK & Ireland said: \u201cFinning are dedicated to supporting veterans and recognise they are a tremendous asset in engineering careers, with many of our engineers gaining their expertise through military service. We are proud to be working closely with the armed forces to offer the opportunity for continued development for service personnel and veterans.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t have been happier to donate the Cat 301.5 to the Valley Veterans charity, whose ethos and commitment to veterans reflects our own. The support and facilities that they provide are invaluable to the Armed Forces community and we look forward to supporting them as they continue to make a meaningful impact.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"