Takeaway specialist chips in with five-figure charity donation

BISHOPS Stortford-based fish-and-chip specialist The Chesterford Group has handed over a cheque for more than £10,000 to Help for Heroes, taking its support for the Armed Forces charity to in excess of £70,000 since 2014.

The company operates around 40 fish-and-chip shops under four brands: Churchill’s, FishnChickn, Bankers, and Serial Grill.

Owner James Lipscombe and managing director Paul Goodgame passed across a cheque for £10,596, to a delighted John Carpenter, area fundraising manager, for Help for Heroes, who said:

“The cheque included a one-off £3,900 donation as it is the Chesterford Group’s centenary anniversary this year. This represents £100 per store. They were also fundraising across the Armed Forces and Remembrance weekends.

“I’m delighted to say they are also donating a further £2,000 in lieu of buying Christmas decorations for the stores. We are delighted to have the group as one of our community partners and very grateful for their long-time support, and I hope it continues into the future. Partners just don’t come any batter…”

Lipscombe added:

“We started to work with Help for Heroes back in 2014 and have raised more than £70,000 in that time for the charity and will continue to support the work they do to support veterans and their families for years to come.

“During this time, I have been fortunate to see the amazing work they do and have met veterans and Invictus Games participants who have had support and help from the charity. Their stories are inspiring, as well as difficult to listen to at times, and I have no doubt if it wasn’t for the incredible work that Help for Heroes does, many veterans would face a tough future.

“Keep going Help for Heroes – you do a phenomenal job and everyone at The Chesterford Group is proud to be working alongside you.”

Help for Heroes champions the Armed Forces community and helps them live well after service. The charity helps them, and their families, to recover and get on with their lives. It has already supported more than 30,000 people and won’t stop until every veteran gets the support they deserve.

The charity supports veterans, and their families, from any branch of the UK military – regulars or reserves – irrespective of length or place of service, and locally embedded civilians (and their families) who worked alongside our Armed Forces.

To get support, please visit: helpforheroes.org.uk.