HighGround appoints its first Chairman.

A man with a strong commitment to military welfare has become the first Chairman of the HighGround charity.

At a Trustees’ meeting last week, David Brooker accepted the Board’s invitation to accept this important, pivotal role.

Anna Baker Cresswell, who founded HighGround, said: “I am delighted and very proud that David has agreed to join us at this critical time for the organisation and I would like to thank everyone for their belief in and support of HighGround in our early development phases; we are now two years old and it has been a very busy time.

“I look forward to working with David as we take HighGround forward to deliver our vision – what a fascinating journey it will be!”

David was a senior civil servant in the Northern Ireland Office and in the Department for Culture Media and Sport, where from 2008 he was the Director for the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and latterly the Director for Sport. He has had long experience working with the armed services in Northern Ireland and attended the Royal College of Defence Studies.

David said:  “I am thrilled and honoured to be involved in HighGround. From the moment I heard about its work I was drawn to it. The men and women of our armed services make a huge and selfless contribution to our society and,  just as they serve and support us, there are crucial times when we need to serve and support them.

“I was privileged to work closely alongside the armed forces over a long period in Northern Ireland. In providing horticultural therapy at Headley Court to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of injured service personnel, and supporting service men and women to make the often difficult transition to employment in civilian life, HighGround is performing two hugely important tasks.

“It is particularly exciting for me to be joining HighGround when it is still a relatively young organisation and the challenge for me and my fellow Trustees is to do everything we can to help it realise its full potential. I have seen, through my involvement in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games how peoples’ lives can be changed through sport, volunteering and being given new economic opportunities; to me HighGround has the same inspirational potential. I feel very honoured to be a part of HighGround and the remarkable work it is doing to help our service men and women have a better future.”

Notes to Editors:

For more information about HighGround contact Anna Baker Cresswell 07951 495 272 or anna@highground-uk.org