While thoughts might be turning to the Easter Bunny, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has received a belated – but welcome – Christmas present from QinetiQ, a Corporate Partner of the charity.
Around Christmas 2021, QinetiQ, a British multinational science and engineering company in the defence and security industry, gave staff the option of having festive meal with colleagues, or to choose to donate the equivalent to SSAFA as there were fewer opportunities to socialise due to Covid-19.
Eight hundred employees across QinetiQ’s UK sites instead donated their £25, raising an incredible £20,000 for SSAFA, helping it carry on its work for serving and retired personnel, and their families.
Christina Wagstaff, Corporate Responsibility Advisor for QinetiQ, said:
“It was a real ‘Wow!’ moment when I saw the final tally of £20,000. At any time, it would demonstrate the incredible generosity to SSAFA from our people, but it was all the more meaningful as we were into the second Christmas of the pandemic and lockdowns.
“This £20,000 will help the Armed Forces community with practical support in a compassionate and understanding way, while maintaining and respecting the dignity of its beneficiaries.”
Jessica Sanders, Corporate Partnership Officer of SSAFA, said:
“I was speechless when Christina gave us the figure of QinetiQ’s donation from some of their employees donating their Christmas meal contribution, which totalled £20,000.
“This will go a long way to assist SSAFA to be there for veterans, those still serving, and their families when they need us, where they need us, and how they need us.
“QinetiQ has set a high bar for itself for 2022, and I can’t wait to see what fundraising it has planned for fundraising for the rest of the year.”
For more information, including on how to become a Corporate Partner, contact SSAFA here.
