Secretary of State for International Development Opens HALO's New Office

17th July 2020
"I’m so proud that we are supporting organisations including HALO to use British expertise and bravery to save lives and help countries recover after conflict."
The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, SoS for International Development

On 16th July we were delighted to welcome the Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Secretary of State for International Development, to open our new Wiltshire office.

The Secretary of State was given a demonstration of mine-clearance techniques and shown the kind of HALO body armour and protective visor used by our staff - and famously worn by Princess Diana and Prince Harry during their landmark visits to HALO Trust minefields.

The Secretary of State declared the office formally open by cutting a ribbon held by two skull-and-crossbones mine warning signs and unveiled a commemorative plaque.

The Department for International Development is one of the world’s largest donors to international mine clearance and supports HALO’s work in countries such as Angola, Zimbabwe, Cambodia and Sri Lanka under its Global Mine Action Programme.

Our new offices in the Georgian buildings of the former Wilton carpet factory are part of a redevelopment of the old industrial site by property company Eagle One.

"Landmines and unexploded bombs are weapons of war which indiscriminately kill and maim innocent people around the world every day. No one should have to live at risk of losing a limb, their life or a child to these deadly devices. Since 2018, UK aid funding has cleared over 132 million m² – the equivalent of 18,000 football pitches."
Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, SoS for International Development

HALO CEO, James Cowan, said: "The UK Government has done so much for those afflicted by deadly weapons, and we are deeply honoured that the Secretary of State for International Development has opened HALO’s new office here today. In the age of the COVID pandemic, it is even more vital that the UK delivers its life-saving aid to those most in need. Today’s global challenges are complex and wide-reaching and HALO is proud to bring British expertise to some of the world’s most troubled regions.”

Tom Hedges, director of Eagle One said: “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome the HALO Trust into their new purpose built home here in Wilton. We are undergoing a significant transformation of our scheme into a mixed used destination and part of this includes repurposing vacant spaces to be used in new ways. HALO are a great fit for the evolution of our scheme and to be able to help facilitate HALO’s operation, and play a small part in the critical work they do out in the field, is an honour. We look forward to HALO becoming a longstanding partner and we will look to support them in their endeavours wherever we can.”

Wiltshire Councillor Pauline Church, Cabinet Member for Finance, Procurement & Commercial Investment, also attended the opening. She said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Secretary of State for International Development to Wilton for the opening of the HALO Trust’s new office in the town.The charity does incredible work to protect the lives of those affected by conflict and it’s a pleasure to have them in Wiltshire.”