The Solihull manufacturing plant of Jaguar Land Rover has donated a Defender 110 to Troop Aid, which helps injured soldiers. This vehicle will be used to transport equipment and basic necessities for soldiers arriving at UK MoD hospital units.
Last year, the charity — also based in Solihull — provided 1,300 ‘grab packs’ (containing basic necessities for soldiers arriving at medical facilities straight from the field) to 14 countries across the world. It also provides support to the families of injured soldiers during their convalescence.
Sapper Clive Smith, who collected the vehicle with Al Sutton, co-founder of the charity, said: “After I lost both my legs in an explosion while on patrol in Afghanistan, Troop Aid supported me while I spent six weeks in hospital in Birmingham.” Four years on, Mr Smith has learned to walk again and has competed as a cyclist in the Invictus Games.
Over the past year, JLR has recruited more than 100 ex-military personnel, with over half of them based at Solihull. Peter Gray, manufacturing manager at the Solihull plant, said: “We are hugely proud to donate this vehicle to such a worthy local cause.”