Scaffolding and construction supply specialist TRAD UK has announced Parkinson’s UK as its official charity partner for 2025–26, following a heartfelt nomination from two employees with personal connections to the condition.
After raising a substantial sum for Duchenne UK in its previous campaign, TRAD UK has set an ambitious fundraising target of £10,000 for the year ahead.
The new partnership stems from the moving stories of two long-serving members of the team—Heidi Taylor from the London depot and Vicki Hardiman-Burt from Andover—whose fathers were both diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Vicki’s father, Dudley, received his diagnosis in 2017 at the age of 68. More recently, in August 2023, Heidi’s father, Nigel, was diagnosed and began attending a local Parkinson’s UK support group in Maldon.
Nigel said about his experience: “The group and volunteers are amazing—they put in so much effort. The people are welcoming, warm and non-judgemental. I’ve met some fantastic people and made new friends. The care and support they provide really helps.”
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition caused by the loss of nerve cells in the brain’s substantia nigra. This leads to a reduction in dopamine—a chemical crucial to movement—which causes symptoms including tremors, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness.
There is currently no cure, but organisations like Parkinson’s UK continue to fund vital research and support services across the country.
TRAD UK Managing Director Colin Dobson said the choice to support Parkinson’s UK this year was both meaningful and unanimous.
“Heidi and Vicki have been at the heart of our CSR efforts since the beginning. When they approached us about Parkinson’s UK, we couldn’t think of a more deserving cause,” he said.
Fundraising events will take place over the next 12 months, both internally among staff and through community-facing initiatives.
Tom Ingram, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Parkinson’s UK, welcomed the announcement: “We’re incredibly grateful to TRAD UK for choosing Parkinson’s UK as their charity partner. With their support, we can continue funding the groundbreaking research needed to find a cure and ensure that people affected by the condition receive the help they need.”
