Kind-hearted staff at the UK’s biggest defence company are donating more than £20,000 to help food banks this winter.

BAE Systems – which has naval shipyards at Scotstoun as well as Govan – will give £20,400 to help fund local emergency food parcels and ensure that goods can be safely stored, sorted and distributed.

Over the last four years, BAE has donated over £600,000 to food banks, which have seen increased demand from those needing support amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Many of the good causes that will benefit from the donation are run by the Trussell Trust and Emma Revie from the group couldn’t hide her delight.

She said: “Thank you to the team at BAE Systems for their incredible support.

“This winter is expected to be the toughest yet, with food banks in our network distributing more than one million parcels between December and February, which equates to one every eight seconds."

Many of BAE Systems’ employees are also volunteering their time to support those in need in their communities, supported by the Company’s special paid leave policy.

Colin Hay, a naval architecture engineer in BAE Systems’ naval ships business, is volunteering at Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas warehouse in Glasgow, managing the distribution and delivery of thousands of gifts for children across the west of Scotland.

He said: “There are many families struggling and I’m glad to be able to give back to help support the most vulnerable in our community.

“Children’s charities are close to my heart as I’ve seen first-hand the joy they can bring in the most difficult of times.”

In 2022, BAE Systems contributed more than £11.5m to projects supporting its local communities, education and the armed forces through charitable sponsorships, donations, employee fundraising and volunteering.