Press Release on Hastings Direct's Community Programme Supporting Troop Aid.

1. A HELPING HAND FOR...TROOP AID
Hastings Direct’s Community Programme Supports Troop Aid
Hastings Direct’s community programme – A Helping Hand - is supporting Troop Aid by
donating £400 towards the supply of Grab Bags.
Hastings Direct’s A Helping Hand makes financial, professional and physical support
available to the local community. Each month Hastings is able to offer either professional
support from its 1,300 +staff, or physical support with team building days. In addition,
Hastings has made a small monthly grant available to support local funding.
Troop Aid was founded in November 2006 by three ex servicemen as a result of a visit to
Selly Oak Hospital’s Alexandra Wing in Birmingham. This is the home of the Defence
Medical Welfare Services who are responsible for the welfare of all Armed Forces
Personnel, male and female who have been injured during the conflict in Afghanistan and
elsewhere.
When injured troops return to the United Kingdom from the war zones they arrive back
without their personal effects or clothing. The objective of Troop Aid is to supply the ‘basic
essentials’ when service casualties return from serving their country overseas.
Grab Bags are currently being sent to the Field Hospital in Afghanistan, Cyprus and the
Falkland Islands, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham plus the Ministry of Defence
Hospital Units in Plymouth, Portsmouth and Frimley Park Hospital in Camberley.
Linda Stokes, charity representative, Troop Aid : “We will continue to support our injured
troops for as long as we are needed, but it is only with support such as that given by
Hastings Direct that we can continue to do this.”
Jay Wootten, chair A Helping Hand: “We are honoured to support Troop Aid by assisting in
the provision of Grab Bags. To think that basic items such as a toothbrush and a clean t
shirt can provide dignity and self respect to the injured men and women returning from active
duty is humbling.”
If you know of a local organisation in need of A Helping Hand, please email
jaywootten@hastingsdirect.com for an application form.
ENDS

2. NOTES TO EDITOR
For more information, images or graphics please contact:
Julie Urquhart, PR Manager, Hastings Direct 01424 735735 extn 8225
julieurquhart@hastingsdirect.com
About Hastings
Hastings is one of the UK’s fastest growing insurance brokers employing 1,300 people. We
are a multi-award winning company which has built our business by championing the
consumer and helping to hold down the cost of quality insurance. We offer car, motorcycle,
van, household and pet insurance direct to the public and through our growing affinity
partnerships with many UK and global leading brands.
We employ the very latest anti fraud technology to protect our customers and have driven a
seven-fold increase in the amount of fraud detected since February 2009.
Hastings Direct is the trading name of Hastings Insurance Services Limited.
The company’s brands are Renew, People’s Choice, Hastings Direct and Hastings Local.
We are a multi award winning company:
2012 Best Company - First Class
2012 Personal Lines Intermediary of the Year, UK Broker Awards 2012
2012 Customer Service Provider of the Year, UK Broker Awards 2012
2012 Personal Lines Broking Initative of the Year, British Insurance Awards
2012 Best HR Team of the Year – Private Sector, HR Excellence Awards
2012 Best Talent Management Strategy, HR Excellence Awards
2012 Best Anti-Fraud Strategy of the Year, FS Tech Awards
2012 Best IT Team of the Year, FS Tech Awards

3. 2012 Best Use of Networking, FS Tech Awards
2011 Personal Lines Broker of the Year – Insurance Times Awards
2011 CIPR Pride Award – Gold Winner for Best Internal Magazine
2011 Insurance Fraud Awards – Combating Fraud Broking Initiative of the Year