NGS Announces Arthritis Research UK as Guest Charity

NGS Chairman, Penny Snell says: ‘The Council of Trustees of the NGS is delighted to name Arthritis Research UK as its Guest Charity. As a result of our record breaking year in 2009, the Trustees felt that this was the right time to work with another charity on a specific project of benefit to gardeners.’

The project chosen is the development of a new wrist splint to provide pain relief for patients with arthritis whilst allowing them to undertake normal day-to-day activities including gardening. The current wrist splint was designed 30 years ago and Arthritis Research UK knows from their own research that the splints are not fit for purpose – they are often painful themselves and do not allow patients to carry out the activities they want. Arthritis Research UK have teamed up with a group of experts in rehabilitation, splint materials and design who believe that they can produce something that would be a major improvement over the current splint. Many people with arthritis love gardening, and although it can present a few practical problems because of pain and stiffness in their joints, the right tools and careful planning can ensure that they can enjoy their hobby and the beneficial effects of doing exercise outdoors.

Commenting on the partnership Liam O’ Toole, Chief Executive of Arthritis Research UK, said: ‘I am delighted that the NGS has chosen the Arthritis Research UK as its Guest Charity. There is a huge degree of synergy between our two organisations and the support of the NGS will enable us to develop our wrist splint which will help gardeners and others to remain active. This is a key part of our remit’.

The next guest charity will be The Soldiers Charity (previously known as The Army Benevolent Fund)