Bestway Foundation DofE donation

From left: Bestway Wholesale MD Dawood Pervez, DofE fundraising director Alex McDowell, Bestway Group CEO Zameer Choudrey

Bestway Foundation has renewed its support of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award with a £100,000 donation.

The charitable arm of Bestway Group, the foundation has supported the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for over 30 years.

Bestway Wholesale MD Dawood Pervez said the wholesaler wanted to continue supporting “millions of young people across the UK” and keep making a difference with charitable initiatives.

The funds will be used to support the charity’s Resilience Fund, which offers free scheme places and bursaries to young people facing financial barriers, or having additional needs and caring responsibilities.

The foundation raised the sum at its Ascot Charity Race Day held in June, which was attended by over 750 of Bestway’s business and supplier partners.

The race day is one of Bestway Wholesale’s largest corporate events in the calendar, with over 27 charities having benefited from funds raised through the event since it began in 1994.

“Charity is at the core of what we do at Bestway,” said Bestway Group CEO Zameer Choudrey. “We are extremely dedicated to our social responsibility and incredibly committed to giving back to the communities within which we operate.” 

Established in 1987, the foundation has donated over £35m to charities and causes including hospitals, schools, and higher education scholarships.

Pervez said: “Understanding that our donation will help young people to challenge themselves to attain standards of achievement and endeavour in a wide variety of active interests – to serve their communities, experience adventure and to develop and learn outside the classroom – really aligns with the values of the Bestway Foundation.

“The Annual Ascot Charity Race Day is just one of the ways that Bestway Foundation gives back, and we are incredibly grateful to our supplier partners and colleagues for supporting this annual event and donating generously to ticket purchases, the charity auction and other fundraising activities.”

Duke of Edinburgh’s fundraising director Alex McDowell added: “This generous donation will enable us to continue reaching more young people with a life-changing DofE.

“The DofE equips young people with the skills, confidence, and self-belief to help them take on today’s toughest challenges. We want to ensure every young person has the chance to take part, no matter who they are or where they live.”

Pervez presented the cheque to the charity at Bestway Group’s head office in Park Royal, London last week.