News

Valley Veterans break ground with new Cat excavator

Valley Veterans has accelerated development of its community site in the Rhondda Valley with the help of a Cat 301.5 mini excavator which they won as part of Finning UK & Ireland's 'Win Big' competition, held to celebrate Caterpillar’s centenary year.

Founded more than 20 years ago as an informal support group for people suffering from PTSD, Valley Veterans has grown into a community hub with more than 140 active participants. Its Equi-Grow project is developing a purpose-built equine and horticultural space to support the mental and physical wellbeing of veterans.

Volunteers have already built stables, a riding menage, a vegetable garden, a memorial garden and a large cabin used for office space and therapy. Since the Cat 301.5 arrived in June, the charity has also been able to complete groundwork more quickly and expand its growing areas.

Nigel Locke, Secretary at Valley Veterans, said: “Finning 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.

“The 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 – all of which is vastly more achievable with the machine, taking weeks as opposed to months.”

The charity was founded in the back garden of former Welsh Guardsman Paul Bromwell and received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service last year.

Paul Bromwell, Chief Executive at Valley Veterans, said the excavator had also helped the charity make better use of its funding by reducing the need to hire machinery.

“The 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.

“As 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.”

Both Valley Veterans and Finning UK & Ireland hold Gold Awards under the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme, which recognises organisations supporting the Armed Forces community, including personnel transitioning to civilian life.

Tim Ballard, General Manager – Digital, Technology & Marketing at Finning UK & Ireland, said: “Finning 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.

“We couldn’t 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.”

Subscribe to Earthmovers magazine NOW - 3 issues for just £3 -  CLICK HERE