The HTA Benevolent Fund continues to work in confidence supporting members of the HTA with grants to assist them in difficult circumstances.

Set up by the HTA to care for the welfare of its members, past and present, the HTA Benevolent Fund has supported of several members this year.

Here are Christine and Peter’s stories:

Christine* has worked at an HTA member garden centre for ten years. Sadly, recent years have seen her husband suffer from ill health and have to cut down his working hours which has reduced their total family income. With limited money coming in they found themselves having to take out several loans to cover existing bills. This later resulted in escalating debt to payday loan companies which took up all of their regular income. 

As a member of the HTA through her employer, Christine approached the HTA Benevolent Fund for help. She requested a loan to clear the escalating debt. The HTA Benevolent Fund was pleased to be able to agree to an interest free loan to be paid back over 2 years through comfortable monthly instalments.

Christine is now relieved to be able to move forward positively now that her finances are under control.

*Name has been changed to protect client confidentiality

Peter* worked for an HTA member retailer for many years in a senior role with horticultural responsibilities. Later in life after leaving the role, Peter was diagnosed with multiple serious illnesses which forced him to retire for medical reasons. He was left severely disabled and housebound. As he is unable to work and reliant on upon benefits, Peter has limited income. He became in arrears with his household bill payments and so as a member of the HTA through his past employer, Peter approached the HTA Benevolent Fund for help.

The HTA Benevolent Fund was pleased to be able to support Peter by paying off his household bills.

*Name has been changed to protect client confidentiality

HTA Benevolent Fund helps members of the HTA including retailers, growers and landscapers who are facing hardship by providing modest grants and financial assistance. To be eligible for help, individuals need to work for a current HTA member. Or they need to have been employed by a business when it was an HTA member in the past.

If you need help please write to the board of Trustees at: The Administrator, HTA Benevolent Fund, Horticulture House, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0RN or email htabenevolentfund@hta.org.uk.

For more information on our service visit https://hta.org.uk/about/htabenevolentfund.html