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. Early activity will include donations from the sale of carrier bags across the company’s 42 Premier Stores with an inaugural donation of over £4,300. The partnership will be officially launched with a fundraising tool kit sent to every one of ADS’s 60 major Defence establishments full of ideas on volunteering and raising money for the charity.
Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity said of the partnership: “We are delighted to be partnering with Aramark Defence Services on such a positive, long-term project. Any steps that we can take to ensure that we all best support the military community are vitally important. We look forward to a fruitful relationship moving forwards”.
Neil Shroeder, Managing Director of Aramark Defence Services commented: “We asked our teams to nominate a corporate charity partner and SSAFA was an obvious choice because they, like we, look after the needs of service men and women and their families in all three forces. We have set ourselves a substantial fundraising target of £250,000 across the 5 years of our partnership to achieve this goal. Many of our team members are ex-military so we understand the critical role that SSAFA plays and we look forward to working ‘Side by Side’ to support them with the wider military community in the coming years. Our mission of enriching and nourishing lives supports this partnership thoroughly.”
SSAFA provides 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.
It has become clear over more than 130 years of providing Forces support that everyone faces different challenges, so SSAFA uses a tailored approach to meet the needs of today’s serving community. Whether it’s practical, emotional and financial support – SSAFA is there to serve the Armed Forces family every step of the way.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About SSAFA:
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. Every year our staff and team of volunteers help more than 67,000 people, from Second World War veterans to young men and women who have served in more recent conflicts.
For more information visit www.ssafa.org.uk and follow us on Twitter: @SSAFA.
About ADS:
Aramark Defence Services Ltd (ADS) is an arm of Aramark Northern Europe, formed specifically to focus on the needs of the MOD and to enhance the lives of service men and women. ADS delivers a range of soft facilities services including cleaning, catering, retail, leisure and hotel and Mess services in over 300 military establishments in the South East and London, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the North.
