In 2024 the National Garden Scheme made a donation of £80,000 to the Army Benevolent Fund (previously ABF The Soldiers’ Charity) to support the provision of horticultural-related assistance to soldiers, veterans, and their immediate families, thereby improving their health and wellbeing.
The National Garden Scheme has been supporting the charity since 2010, with a donation in 2010 and 2011, then annual donations from 2017, totalling over £800,000.
The Army Benevolent Fund is the Army’s national charity, here for serving soldiers, past and present, and their families for life. The charity stands at the forefront of support for the Army family, last year supporting 65,000 people across 48 countries around the world. As one of the largest funders in the sector, they award grants to individuals and families, and fund specialist organisations that support soldiers, former soldiers, and their families. When they hear of a person or family in need, they aim to respond within 48 hours.
In 2024, National Garden Scheme donations were used to support the following:
- Nineteen grants to individuals to provide life-changing education, training and employment opportunities in the outdoor sector, including horticulture and gardening. This also included mobility support which enabled better access for veterans to outdoor spaces. This assistance provided physical health benefits, as well as improving mental fitness, wellbeing, and quality of life.
- Grants to eight service delivery charities providing horticultural related activities and health projects for both serving soldiers and veterans. This also included a capital grant to a charity partner, enabling them to develop an outdoor space for activities, rehabilitation, and recreation for veterans and their partners who live with disability or dementia.
To find out more visit: the Army Benevolent Fund
Our donations to ABF help support Veterans Outdoors gardening programmes
April 2023: Dame Joanna Lumley endorsed the renewed three-year partnership with the Army Benevolent Fund (previously ABF The Soldiers’ Charity) – read the story here
