Activa Contracts is supporting learning disability charity MacIntyre with the loan of a van.

Milton Keynes-based Activa Contracts has adopted MacIntyre, a sector-leading national charity providing learning, support, education and care to more than 1,000 children, young people and adults with learning disabilities, complex needs and autism, and their families across England and Wales, as its charity of the year.

Activa Contracts has delivered a full outsourcing vehicle leasing and fleet management solution to MacIntyre, which is also headquartered in Milton Keynes, for more than a decade.

The fleet of 70 vehicles comprises 50 wheelchair-adapted vehicles and minibuses and 20 company cars supplied on contract hire with full maintenance packages with a range of other service provided that include daily rental and fleet consultancy.

Now supplementing the core fleet is a Vauxhall Vivaro 1.6 CDTi (115) L1H1 2900 Sportive panel van, which was handed over to MacIntyre finance director Claire Toombs by Activa Contracts’ managing director Ian Hill.

Hill said: “Having been a client of the company for more than 10 years, Activa Contracts decided it was time to return the goodwill in support of the charity’s golden jubilee year in 2016.

“As well as pledging to fundraise for the charity throughout the year with a series of events, Activa Contracts is also donating the vehicle for MacIntyre’s use for six months. All the charity will need to do is fuel the van.”

He added: “MacIntyre is a fantastic charity that provides positive help to so many people and their families. We are delighted to be able to support the organisation in its work.

“Activa Contracts operates in a tough marketplace and industry in which vehicle leasing companies are invariably chasing profit and growth. It is therefore a pleasure for the company to promote its ethos of integrity, honesty and transparency with support for the charity.”

To date Activa Contracts’ employees have raised almost £2,000 for the charity. Members of staff are also raising funds by running in this year’s London Marathon and Birmingham Half Marathon, walking Hadrian’s Wall and a fierce competition is expected to find the company’s star baker in its own ‘Bake Off’. Additionally, the business is supporting MacIntyre at its annual golf day at Woburn Golf Club on 28 April.

MacIntyre’s head of fundraising Claire Kennedy said: “We are proud to be supported by Activa Contracts and are excited to see all the fantastic things they get up to over the coming year. The team’s enthusiasm and passion are infectious.

“By getting involved Activa Contracts is raising funds to support our ongoing work helping adults and children with a learning disability live fulfilling and meaningful lives. A massive thank you is due to the whole team at Activa Contracts.”

Activa Contracts’ consultancy expertise has enabled MacIntyre to recover VAT on all vehicles thus helping the charity to keep fleet costs under control and divert the tax savings into frontline support for the people it helps.

Until Activa Contracts’ involvement MacIntyre had been unable and unaware of its ability to recover VAT charged on vehicle rentals.

Jenny Hunt, office services manager at MacIntyre, said: “The consultative efforts provided by Activa Contracts illustrated to MacIntyre it was not only able to reclaim future VAT, but the ability to reclaim all historical payments. As part of the service provided, all recovery of the VAT was completed by Activa Contracts which allowed MacIntyre to retain full focus on the day to day operation of the charity.

“As a result of Activa Contracts’ involvement it was possible to reclaim significant amounts of money which has proved invaluable to a non-profit charity with limited funding.

“The transparency shown by Activa in its consultative period has paved the way for the building of a strong and lasting relationship based on trust and openness.

“Activa Contracts’ innovative approach to the issues faced by MacIntyre has also led to improvements in the way specialist vehicles are developed. Understanding all the hidden costs within a vehicle fleet is something that Activa Contracts can show genuine knowledge in and it is this industry experience that MacIntyre has really benefited from.”

More articles on: