News

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity in Test Valley arranges dream hot air balloon flight for terminally-ill Forces wife

Last year, SSAFA Test Valley were approached with a very special request from Army veteran Steve Kirk, who served in the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (PWRR). His terminally-ill wife, Marie, wanted to fulfil one of her bucket list dreams of flying in a hot air balloon before it was too late.

Knowing how much this would mean to the couple, the local branch of the Armed Forces charity sprang into action. SSAFA Caseworker Scott Campbell took the lead on this extra-special mission.

After arranging the funds required from PWRR Benevolent Fund, Scott personally upgraded the experience for Marie and Steve.

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Local volunteer is awarded BEM on Queen’s birthday honours list for services to the Military Community

A local volunteer from Lancashire has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Frank McKnight, 63, from Lancashire has been awarded a BEM for his voluntary services to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. SSAFA provides lifelong support to those currently serving, veterans and their families in their time of need.

Frank, a Navy veteran, has been an integral part of the SSAFA Lancashire branch since 1995 as a volunteer caseworker and member of the IT user group, where he helped move the branch from paper-based to computer-based systems.

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Armed Forces Day celebration at CASA in Stafford

To celebrate this year’s Armed Forces Week, the Staffordshire branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, will be holding a family fundraiser on Saturday 23 June at CASA, in Bridge Street, Stafford.

The mayor of Stafford will be officially opening the afternoon fundraiser at 12.30pm, which will include a barbeque, cake sale and entertainment from The Cannock Ex-Servicemen’s Male Voice Choir and The Military Wives Choir. There will be military memorabilia on display and the opportunity to chat to people from both the serving and ex-serving local community.

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SSAFA celebrates 1.25 million hours given by volunteers

Giving the gift of time to help Armed Forces community this Volunteers Week

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is marking Volunteers Week by celebrating its incredible 5,802 volunteers across the country who donated 1.25 million hours of their time last year.

Volunteers are at the heart of SSAFA’s work with the Armed Forces family. In 2017, SSAFA volunteers provided vital support to over 20,800 serving personnel, veterans and their families.

SSAFA branches provide personalised one-to-one support to the Armed Forces community in the area.

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SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity partners with British watch brand Smart Turnout Military watch colours customisable for regiment, 15% of sale goes to charity

This summer, London-based watches and accessories brand, Smart Turnout has announced their partnership with SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. The collaboration hopes to raise vital funds through sales of Smart Turnout’s popular Military Watch. For every Military Watch sold, Smart Turnout will be donating 15% of the sale to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, to allow them to continue to provide practical, financial and emotional support for both service men and women, veterans and their families.

With Smart Turnout’s founder, Philip Turner, being an ex-Scots Guard himself, the design is heavily influenced by the bold regimental colours found throughout the British Military.

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Sodexo sponsors SSAFA’s Big Brew Up

A sixth year of backing for the campaign which supports the Armed Forces family

The team at Sodexo has stepped up to sponsor a sixth year of the Big Brew Up fundraising event for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity – encouraging the nation to put the kettle on to raise invaluable funds for the military community.

Building on a successful 14-year partnership that has included volunteering as well as fundraising, Sodexo’s support of the Big Brew Up annual fundraiser shows one of many ways that organisations can show the military community their support and gratitude.

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Tackling Veterans’ homelessness: A Call to Action – pledge your support

We asking you to pledge your support and to update you on some very positive developments on our quest to eliminate Veterans’ homelessness following our reception at the House of Lords in March.

The University of York research that we launched at the reception highlights how some ex-Service personnel slip through the net and end up homeless after leaving the Armed Forces. Evidence suggests that well over a thousand ex-service personnel each year require urgent support to find accommodation.

On the back of this research we developed a Call to Action to help tackle this important issue.

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Troop of military runners to battle Vitality 10K for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity

The Vitality London 10,000 takes place this Bank Holiday Monday (28 May) and SSAFA wants to say thank you to the 112 runners who are set to pound the pavements in aid of the Armed Forces community. The weather is set to be a sweltering 25oc, making this even more remarkable.
SSAFA wishes them all the very best of luck. Their efforts mean that SSAFA can continue to provide lifelong support to the Armed Forces, veterans and their families in times of need. Beginning this vital work in 1885, this makes SSAFA the oldest tri-service, military charity running in the UK. This year alone, staff and teams of volunteers have helped over 67,000 people – from World War Two veterans to those involved in more recent conflicts and their families.

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SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity partners with Aramark Defence Services – Side by Side

As part of an ongoing commitment to support the Armed Forces community, Aramark Defence Services has announced a new five year partnership with SSAFA. Aramark Defence Services (ADS), who operate under the Side by Side brand will bring together an enthusiastic workforce of more than 4,000 with the oldest, tri-Force charity to bring about positive change in the military community.

Starting with a wave of Big Brew Up events held across the company during Armed Forces Week, ADS is set to commit to an annual calendar of activities, driven by its team members and the company’s management.

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Tyne and Wear veteran to take on the Fan Dance Race for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity

A local Navy veteran is taking on the ultimate SAS selection challenge to raise money for the charities that have supported him after being diagnosed with PTSD.

John Mew, 60, from Dinnington in Newcastle is taking part in the gruelling 24km Fan Dance Race, which sees participants run over the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons, Pen Y Fen, not just once – but twice.

John served in the Royal Navy for 12 years as a physical training instructor, ships diver and as a member of the Portsmouth Command Field Gun Crew.

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