ACCOUNTANCY STAFF DUST OFF THEIR GOLF CLUBS TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY

Accountancy firm Haines Watts Swindon are sponsoring a charity golf day at Wrag Barn to raise funds for Hft which supports young people with learning difficulties.

Not only has the company sponsored the event and donated the prizes for winning teams on the day, they have also entered a team for the golf day which takes place at Wrag Barn, Shrivenham Road, Highworth on Thursday September 30. 

Managing partner Mike Lloyd, said “We do have a strong social responsibility policy within the business, including supporting clients and contacts with their charitable giving. 

“We’ve been planning this event with Tim and Verity at Wrag Barn for over a year – postponed due to the pandemic. Now we’re on track to be able to go ahead and help Wrag Barn raise much-needed funds for this charity which helps children and young people with learning disabilities in England and Wales.”

Funds raised from the charity golf day will be donated to Hft (formerly known as the Home Farm Trust) which provides a range of services to those with learning disabilities across England and Wales. 

This charity is very close to the hearts of Wrag Barn directors Tim and Verity Manners. Tim’s older sister Caroline, who had Down’s Syndrome, was supported by Hft in one of their original homes. She passed away in her late 50s a few years ago. 

Tim said: “The charity provided Caroline with some independence and she was so happy there. She had close friends, she enjoyed activities and was able to live her best life.”

Wrag Barn has held fundraising events for Hft for around 30 years and it’s estimated that golfers have raised more than £200,000. On the day, golfers enjoy a round of golf across 18 holes, brunch and they also take part in an auction and raffle. Prizes are often golf-related and include tickets to play at some of the UK’s most prestigious courses, golf related kit and also theatre tickets donated by Sir Tim Rice. Some of the auction items this year include a limited edition Titleist golf bag and a 4 ball at The Belfry which was kindly donated by Haines Watt Swindon’s client Power Tee.

Verity said: “The money we raise goes towards activities, trips and hobbies to allow those people who are supported to have different experiences and to live a happy and fulfilled life.” 

Hft was originally set up in the early 1960s by a group of parents with children who had learning disabilities. They wanted their children to have the best chance of a fulfilling life at a time when there were few opportunities for them. They came together and purchased Frocester Manor in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire as a safe place for those children. Later the manor was sold and the charity focuses more on independent living offering smaller homes with assisted support. Today the organisation runs many homes and offers an outreach service to families. 

Haines Watts is the 15th largest accountancy brand in the UK and was named Accountancy Firm of the Year 2019 in the FDs’ excellence awards. This year the company was named as one of the UK’s Top Ten accountancy practices to work for after investing in staff wellbeing, cultural development and mindfulness support across the pandemic. 

Anyone interested in the event at Wrag Barn can find out more here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hft-wrag-barn-golf-day-2021-tickets-127988201155?aff=erelexpmlt