For many people, Armed Forces Day has become synonymous with the 13 Bridges Challenge, the annual flagship event for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
13 Bridges – this year on Saturday, June 28 – sees hundreds of people taking in the sights of London, including the Houses of Parliament, HMS Belfast, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and many more on a 10-mile-walk that criss-crosses the River Thames and those 13 bridges as they raise funds for SSAFA, which celebrates its 140th anniversary in 2025.
But such a large-scale event cannot be put on without the support of sponsors, companies like engineering consultants Allan Webb.
Based in Gloucestershire, Allan Webb holds an Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) Gold Award for its support to the British military past and present, and veterans or their spouses account for more than a quarter of its workforce.
Allan Webb has supported SSAFA and 13 Bridges for more than six years, but individual team members have done so for far longer.
One of these is Fiona Horner who says:
“I’ve been a supporter of SSAFA ever since I joined the Royal Navy in 1995, and since leaving the military and joining Allan Webb, it’s been my honour and privilege to be the company’s AFC Ambassador, which lets me continue to be part of our company commitment to SSAFA.
“2024 saw 30 employees and their families enjoy the beautiful British weather and celebrate Armed Forces Day by walking 13 of London’s most iconic bridges. It was a day not only to raise funds for SSAFA, but that also allowed us to be together and enjoy spending time getting to know our work colleagues better and also speak to a whole range of support services and likeminded people.
“It was a truly excellent day,” she adds.
Andrew Lloyd, Managing Director of Allan Webb Ltd, comments:
“As a company with strong ties to the defence sector, we recognise that our responsibility extends beyond business relationships to encompass the wellbeing of service personnel past and present. And so, SSAFA’s 13 Bridges Challenge gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our values in action, building camaraderie within our own team while making a tangible difference to the lives of those who have sacrificed for our security and freedom.”
The 13 Bridges Challenge is open to all ages and abilities, and the route is entirely wheelchair accessible. The walk is fully guided, with SSAFA team leaders and marshals looking after people every step of the way.
More than 1,000 people took part in 13 Bridges last year, and for 2025, SSAFA is looking to double – or even treble – that number.
To learn more and to register, search for “SSAFA 13 Bridges 2025” or visit ssafa.org.uk/support-us/events/trek/13-bridges-challenge-2025.
