As I look back on 2017, it is extremely heartening to see what HighGround has achieved and it gives me enormous pride to see just how many lives have been touched by our efforts. Our horticultural therapy programme at Headley Court has provided thousands of hours of support to the service men and women at Headley Court and our fantastic team of staff led by the wonderful Carol have helped over 300 patients on their road to recovery. The relocation of the MOD’s rehabilitation centre from Headley Court to Stanford Hall in 2018 presents fresh challenges but we are working hard with the relevant authorities to ensure that we can offer the same high standard of horticultural therapy at the new location.
The Start of Something Special
2017 saw the start of our partnership with Bicton College in Devon which now hosts our Rural Weeks programme which is aimed at helping service veterans who are looking to start a new career in the great outdoors. The team at Bicton have been simply outstanding and together we have managed to provide careers advice for 64 current and former service men and women drawn from all branches of the military.
Thank You for Your Support
HighGround aims to touch peoples’ lives for the better. I am in no doubt about the value of what we do and we aspire to do more to meet the growing demands for our services. However, like all charities, we face a relentless challenge to secure the funding we need to carry out our mission. To our many supporters, be they corporate sponsors, larger charitable bodies or generous individual benefactors, I say a heartfelt thank you! As always though, we need more so please help us spread the word about the fantastic work that this young, small charity does! My final thanks must go to our founder and Managing Director, Anna Baker Cresswell. ABC is quite simply a legend: she leads by example and her tireless commitment to HighGround is an inspiration to everyone in the HighGround family.
Whilst I am certain that 2018 will bring fresh challenges, I am sure that HighGround will go from strength to strength. On behalf of my fellow Trustees, I wish everyone associated with HighGround seasons greetings and my very best wishes for 2018.
– Ian Elliott OBE, Chairman of Trustees
