During Round 2 in November 2021, the NAAFI Fund awarded £18,500 of funding to 4th Battalion The Rangers to create a welfare and wellbeing garden for Riflemen and their families.
Based in Aldershot, the renovation included a pagoda, BBQ area and seating with pushchair and wheelchair access, providing personnel a space for valuable family time away from what is one of the most deployed Battalions in the Army.
Toys, storage units and outdoor equipment was installed to ensure the Fund improved the day-to-day experience of soldiers and their families.
The project was so successful in fact, that funding quickly increased to cover additional outdoor activity items such as paddleboards and kyaks, nearly doubling the final amount to just over £35,000.
The grant holder explained: “COVID has been a miserable time for us all, and the initial application was to fund much-needed welfare projects to bring us all together. In November 2021, we were awarded just over eighteen thousand pounds, which sparked off a journey that would put the welfare of our soldiers and families at the heart of what we do and attract additional funds.”
