• Employees from Jaguar Land Rover's Halewood plant are to play a key role in international sporting event for 'wounded warriors', championed by Prince Harry
• Halewood employees will form part of the 150 strong Jaguar Land Rover team to help present this September's Invictus Games held between 10‑14 September in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
• Local British Armed Forces Team competitor Lamin Manneh met the volunteers and kick‑started the Big 'I AM' tour to mark Jaguar Land Rover employees' contribution to the Games

Halewood, UK, 26 August 2014 ‑ Fifteen Jaguar Land Rover employees from the company's Halewood production facility were today announced as volunteers for this September's Invictus Games.

Local Invictus Games British Armed Forces team competitor Lamin Manneh joined the Halewood volunteers to celebrate their contribution to the Games. Lamin's visit also marked the start of the stat of the Big 'I AM' tour which sees a giant structure of the Games' iconic 'I AM' logo visit the Jaguar Land Rover sites. Jaguar Land Rover employees from across the company will have the opportunity to sign and leave good luck messages for British Armed Forces Team. 

The Halewood volunteers, whose regular jobs range from the production line to office desk, have been freed from their regular duties by Jaguar Land Rover to train alongside the Armed Forces to ensure the Games run smoothly. They will form part of a 150 strong Jaguar Land Rover team who will help run the international sports event for 'wounded warriors' championed by Prince Harry.

As presenting partner of the Games, Jaguar Land Rover is supplying a quarter of the 600 strong team that will help run the Games, with others coming from the Armed Forces and other sponsors.

Guardsman Lamin Manneh, who joined the army in 2008, serving in Afghanistan with the Irish Guards where he was wounded in action after stepping on an IED that resulted in him losing both legs and one arm will be a reserve in the sitting volleyball at the Invictus Games, said: "I'm delighted to be here today to meet the Halewood Jaguar Land Rover volunteers. They will play a huge part in making the Games happen in September and it's great to know that there will be support from my local area when we are competing. There's a real sense of excitement building and we can't wait to get started."

Simon Lenton, Human Resources Director of Jaguar Land Rover said, "All of us the Company have been inspired by the vision for the Invictus Games, and with so many coming forward to volunteer we were forced to select by lottery. This will be a life‑enhancing experience for the volunteers.  Their reasons for applying range from personal and family involvement in the Armed Forces to their own experience of sport's power to help recovery from illness or injury."

Paul Abbey, Jaguar Land Rover volunteer commented: "I feel so privileged to be given the chance to show my support for the competitors and help make this September's Invictus Games a reality. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm looking forward to getting behind the British Armed Forces Team and to take in the atmosphere at the Queen Elizabeth Park in a couple of weeks."

At the Invictus Games, the volunteers will be assisting competitors from the 14 participating nations, their families and friends, and thousands of spectators.  Their training programme will include coaching from former Games Makers from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, selected by London 2012 legacy charity Join In.  

The Invictus Games are being organised with the support and backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, and the Ministry of Defence. They will use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve their country. The event will feature nine adaptive sports at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Lee Valley Athletics Centre. 

Tickets for the Invictus Games cost £12.85 per person, per session and are on sale at www.invictusgames.org.

ENDS

For further information log onto www.media.landrover.com or contact:

Sarah Jenkins, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games Communications: sarah.jenkins@fasttrackagency.com, +44 (0)7766 366351

James Ralph, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games Communications:       jralph@goodrelations.co.uk, +44 (0)7889 002 305

Editor's Note:

Lamin Manneh, British Armed Forces Team competitor biography

Lamin Manneh, 37 from Cheshire, who served with the Irish Guards, was on patrol in Helmand Provence in Afghanistan building an outpost to provide security for the locals, when he stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device that resulted in him losing both legs and one arm. His road to recovery has been difficult, but in his own words he is 'enjoying every moment'. Sport has been a big part of it. It has given him a renewed sense of belonging and self‑fulfillment. Lamin is in the reserve team for  Sitting Volleyball.

About Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest premium automotive manufacturing business, built around two iconic British car brands. All its vehicles are engineered and designed in Britain.  While it has ambitious plans for global growth, the heart of the business remains in the UK, with billions of pounds invested in state‑of‑the‑art production, research and development facilities.   In 2013, Jaguar Land Rover sold 425,006 vehicles ‑ up 19% from the previous year ‑ in more than 170 countries.   The company employs 30,000 people globally.