We're striding to Make a Difference with veteran charity, Walking with the Wounded

On 13th October, our Skills for Growth – SME Support team set out on a 12-mile charity walk around Manchester, to raise money and awareness around mental health and wellbeing and support leading veteran charity and Skills for Growth client, Walking with the Wounded. The charity deliver employment, mental health, care coordination and volunteering programmes in collaboration with the NHS to get those who served, and their families, whether mentally, socially or physically wounded, back on their feet and making a positive contribution once more.  

Collaboration and Teamwork

This collective mission included participants from the Skills for Growth team, the Walking with the Wounded charity, and members of the Greater Manchester public who were inspired to join in along the way. The walk spanned across Manchester and Salford and featured landmark highlights, most significantly, the Imperial War Musuem located at Salford Wharf. 

As Scott Briggs (Project Manager – WWTW, who accompanied us on the walk) said “It isn’t necessarily about the funds which you have raised but getting out there, 20+ of you wearing the T-Shirt, shaking a bucket. If just one veteran who has fallen on hard times sees this and reaches out. That is mission accomplished” 

Fundraising and raising awareness 

Organised by Skills for Growth Skills Coach, Nick Williams, the team raised over £1000 for this fantastic cause. Here we talk to Nick about the charity walk. 

What was your motivation for organising the Walking with the Wounded charity walk?  

As the Co-Chair of the Veterans & Reservists EDI Committee within The Growth Company (GC) it is vitally important that we promote and support veterans, reservists, and their families within the workplace and further afield. This was an extraordinary opportunity to promote this and give something back. 

I was first introduced to Walking with the Wounded back in May of this year. I was excited to meet them as being an active member of the military within the Army Reserve, the charity was clearly close to home.  

I had previously organised a fundraising walk for DePaul U.K. through the Growth Company (GC) and so during our conversations with WWTW we discussed how they fundraise and what we GC could do to help support their cause. The seed was then planted. 

Are you pleased with the outcome of all your hard work?  

It was all about teamwork, I am incredibly proud of the team and all those involved who participated from the Growth Company, GM Chamber and friends, family and spouses who donated and helped us make the event what it was.  

I would also like to say thank you to those staff from Walking with the Wounded who helped put this together through fundraising packs, literature and T-Shirts. All things which ultimately may not raise funds immediately but do go a long way towards raising awareness. 

This was a remarkable effort from all involved and went a long way to demonstrate how important supporting the Armed Forces is to so many people within Greater Manchester and beyond. In addition, there was a great alignment with The Growth Company’s values, all of which were demonstrated on this day. 

We are all here to help, help business, help employees, help Manchester. This walk is testament that our work and our commitment to help others extends much further afield than just what we do in our day to day working lives. 

Thank you again to all those involved and to those who donated. If you've been inspired by our fundraising challenge, our donation page is still available online at Just Giving