armed forces charity – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Scots called upon to come together for a cuppa in SSAFA’s Big Brew Up

Research released by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity ahead of its Big Brew Up in October encourages Scots to share a ‘wee cup of tea’ in support of the Armed Forces community.

New research commissioned by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity confirms that people in Scotland enjoy a cuppa, with 81% confirming they take a wee cup of tea.

More than half (59%) of Scottish tea drinkers agree that a cup of tea makes having hard conversations easier. But despite this, nearly a quarter of Scots (24%) say they never have a hot drink and a natter with others.

SSAFA has released the insight ahead of its Big Brew Up, taking place throughout October, which invites people in communities across the UK to come together and share a cup of tea while supporting the Armed Forces community.

A “Brew Up” is a term used across the military for coming together for a quick pause over a cup of tea, which is recognised as an important ritual among Armed Forces personnel. Most serving military personnel and veterans that have been involved in a brew up agree that they are important for morale and camaraderie during service (75%) and it makes them feel closer to home (66%).

While a Brew Up is a longstanding pillar of Armed Forces culture, nearly three quarters of Scots (74%) have had a positive experience as a result of a brew up.

Almost a third (32%) reported feeling calmer afterwards, a quarter (28%) said they felt more connected to the person they had the Brew Up with. Nearly a quarter (23%) said that the Brew Up helped them check in on the other person’s wellbeing.

It’s also backed by science, with research showing that simply holding a warm drink can unconsciously make us feel warmer towards others.

BBU2025-Stats-Military Download

Dan Thwaites, co-founder at Capuchin Behavioural Science, explains: “Holding a cup of tea can create what psychologists call embodied cognition.

“One study by Williams and Bargh1 showed that the physical warmth of the drink can unconsciously translate into emotional warmth – which probably explains why having a cuppa makes us feel warmer towards the people we are with.”

Amy Bartlett, Head of Volunteer Operations at SSAFA, said: “In the military, the Brew Up is a morale booster and stress reliever. It strengthens bonds, particularly on deployment or after tough days.

“At SSAFA, a Brew Up is often the starting point of offering support. Our volunteers and employees build rapport by sharing a simple cuppa when they first meet a member of our Armed Forces family who needs some support. It can often help to bring people together.

“We’d love to see people across Scotland host and attend Big Brew Up events this October, raising funds to help us support serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families, so they never battle alone.”

BBU2025-Stats-Public Download

How to get involved

More information on hosting a Big Brew Up with friends, family, colleagues, or within a community group, is available on the SSAFA website

SSAFA honours 140 years of service with ‘memorable’ Edinburgh thanksgiving

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity recently commemorated a significant milestone marking 140 years of support to the military community with a special service held at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh.

The event brought together over 200 attendees from across the military, civic, and charity sectors to honour SSAFA’s enduring support for the military community since 1885.

The service was a blend of music, reflection, and gratitude. The congregation was welcomed with stirring performances by The King’s Own Scottish Borderers Pipes and Drums and Duncan Ferguson, Organist and Master of Music at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Reverend Nicki McNelly, SSAFA Chair for Edinburgh & the Lothians, opened the ceremony, with prayers and a sermon delivered by Rev Dr David Coulter.

A heartfelt address from SSAFA’s National Chair, Air Marshal Sir Simon Bollom, underscored the charity’s historic and ongoing impact. Sir Simon later led an Act of Dedication, reaffirming SSAFA’s commitment to its mission.

Musical highlights included performances from the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, Edinburgh and Rosyth Military Wives Choirs, and a rousing rendition of Highland Cathedral which, according to one guest, “sent shivers down my spine.”

A particularly touching moment came with a poem reading by Anya Rose McNelly, followed by a spirited performance by the Queen Victoria School’s Pipes, Drums and Dancers.

The event concluded with a full ensemble performance of the SSAFA March, a fitting tribute to the charity’s legacy and community spirit.

Feedback from guests has been overwhelmingly positive. ‘It was truly a memorable and emotional event to mark our 140th,’ said Sir Simon Bollom.

A representative from the City of Edinburgh Council added, “It was terrific and it was great to be part of the celebrations.”

SSAFA extends heartfelt thanks to all participants, performers, and guests who made the event a success — a powerful reflection of 140 years of steadfast support for those who serve, have served and will serve.

Strictly Come Dancing star JJ Chalmers gears up for 10th anniversary of Poppyscotland’s popular Sportive

Television presenter and Strictly Come Dancing contestant JJ Chalmers is backing Poppyscotland’s upcoming Sportive as the charity celebrates the 10th anniversary of the popular event.

The former Royal Marines Commando and Invictus Games Medallist is encouraging individuals, families, local groups or workmates to support the Armed Forces charity by signing up to take part in the cycle, which will take place this year on Sunday, September 21.

The Sportive is Poppyscotland’s flagship cycling event, featuring four routes designed for different ability levels. It is split into two distinct types – the Classic (46, 68 and 102 miles) and the Wee Yin (22 miles).

As in previous years, riders will line up at the starting point in Prestonpans, East Lothian, then head along the historic coastal route to North Berwick, where Classic route participants will face a timed hill climb before reaching the first feed station at East Linton.

From there, the short route continues to Gifford, while medium and long routes head towards Garvald before splitting at Whiteadder Reservoir, with the longer challenge heading to Duns and medium returning to Gifford. All routes finish in Prestonpans.

New for 2025, the Wee Yin route will take cyclists inland to Gullane before heading back towards Aberlady and then on to the coastal path. This route is largely flat and ideal for anyone wanting a family activity, looking for an easy ride, or a fun, challenging activity to do at the weekend.

Television personality JJ suffered life-changing injuries after being blown up by an IED in Afghanistan. After months of rehabilitation, he went on to captain the trike team at the Invictus Games, receiving a gold medal in the men’s IRecB1 Recumbent Circuit Race. He also won bronze in the 1-mile time trial and in the 4 x 100 mixed relay race.

JJ is a big supporter of Poppyscotland and is urging people to come out and take part in the 10^th edition of Sportive.

He said: “Once again this year I am working with the national charity Poppyscotland, who of course support the Armed Forces community whether that’s serving or veteran or indeed their families, and I would love to encourage you to sign up for their really popular Sportive.

“It’s a cycling event taking place on Sunday 21st September. There are four different routes, so it’s for all abilities and there’s something there for everyone.

“I would encourage you to get your friends, family involved. Maybe get your old oppos (your mates from the military) together and it’s the 10th anniversary so the perfect opportunity to come and join an amazing community. So, if you are interested head over to the website poppyscotland.org.uk/sportive.”

Poppyscotland Events Fundraising Manager, Richard Todd, said: “We’re really excited to celebrate the 10th edition of the Sportive and to grow the event with our new Wee Yin route.

“We hope to mark this anniversary year by raising as much as possible in support of our Armed Forces community, and we would be delighted if those signing up to take part would also consider setting up fundraising pages and challenging themselves with a donation target.

“As little as £100 goes a long way in helping us to provide much needed support to both serving and ex-servicemen, women and their families in areas like housing, debt, mental health, and mobility.

“If fundraising is not for you, perhaps when you register you’d consider adding a £10 donation per rider. It’s a small gesture that can make a big difference!”

Entry for our Classic routes is £40 per rider (minimum age: 16). The Wee Yin route is £25 per rider or £40 per family (2 adults & 2 children). Minimum age is 12 and entry is free for riders under 16.

Entry Includes: Electronic timing; mechanical support; food and water stations; coffee at the start; Tea & Toast at the finish; ‘King and Queen of The Heugh’ timed hill climb; sweeper service and a finishers gift.

To sign up today, please visit: poppyscotland.org.uk/sportive

Free tickets available for service marking 140 years of SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been commemorating its 140^th year throughout 2025, with a service set for Edinburgh at 2pm on Saturday, 31 May, at St Mary’s Episcopal Church.

The charity was founded in 1885 after The Times published a letter from Major – later Colonel Sir – James Gildea, asking the public to support the wives, widows and children of soldiers and sailors who were killed, injured or rendered incapacitated through service to Queen and Country.

This, effectively, was the foundation stone of what became the Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Families’ Association, which in 1919 added Airmen to its title, becoming later SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

The event at St Mary’s Episcopal Church will recognise the contributions made by SSAFA’s volunteers and supporters for the past 140 years. It begins at 2pm on Saturday, 31 May, with several special performances throughout.

Performers include pipers, drummers and dancers from Queen Victoria School, The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers Pipes and Drums, and the Edinburgh Military Wives Choir.

Sandra Millar, Corporate and Special Events Officer, Scotland at SSAFA, commented: “We hope to welcome as many people as possible to the service in May to show our collective support for the Armed Forces community.

“The event will recognise the efforts of SSAFA’s employees and volunteers, past and present, who provide practical and emotional support to serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families across Scotland and beyond.”

It is free to attend, however guests are encouraged to register their attendance by visiting: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/events/community/ssafa-140-cathedral-service/

SSAFA has been working for the whole UK Armed Forces community for 140 years, since 1885. Its mission is simple: to reach and embrace the Armed Forces family, so they never battle alone.

£4,740 for Armed Forces charity at annual fundraiser in Edinburgh

The dinner saw SSAFA’s Edinburgh & Lothians outgoing President, former Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Gray, host for the final time as he hands the role to new President, former Brigadier Tim Lai.

Nearly 70 guests gathered at The New Club, raising a total of £4,740 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. Among the guests were Major General Robin Lindsay, General Officer for Scotland; the Honourable Barney Campbell; and representatives from Close Brothers, which has provided generous corporate support for SSAFA.

The funds will go directly towards the Armed Forces charity’s work with serving personnel, veterans and their families in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Jonny said: “While always a fantastic fundraising event, this year felt particularly special as I hosted for the very last time.

“We are very grateful to everyone who attended and showed their support for our work with the local Armed Forces community. I would like to thank the event organisers for a fantastic night.

“I’d also like to wish our incoming Branch President, Tim Lai, the very best as he takes on a new role. I know he will excel, supporting our team as they provide tailored welfare and wellbeing support to the local Armed Forces community.”

Tim added: “Having served in the Armed Forces, and working in the defence sector as a veteran, I am proud to now join SSAFA’s branch in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“The charity, with its team of local volunteers, does fantastic work to support Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families in the area.”

SSAFA has been working for the whole UK Armed Forces community since 1885.

Its mission is simple: to reach and embrace the Armed Forces family, so they never battle alone.

Visit https://www.ssafa.org.uk/edinburgh-lothians to access support.

The Larky Belters all set to take on Edinburgh Kiltwalk for SSAFA

An eleven-strong team based in and around Larkhall, South Lancashire is set to step off for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity on the last Kiltwalk of the 2023 season.

Wearing their finest red SSAFA T-shirts and striking red tartankilts, the team – led by former WO2 Karen Macdonald – will make their colourful way around Edinburgh on September 17.

It is not, however, Karen’s – or the Larky Belters’ – first Kiltwalk. Karen organised a smaller team for last year’s Kiltwalk and has expanded her fundraising team for 2023, which comprises her, another Karen, Fliss, Jen, Caterina, Fiona, Rosie, Sharon, Claire, Debbie, and Lisa.

Karen enjoyed a long and varied career in the Army, which she joined in 1989 with WRAC (Women’s Royal Army Corps, which became the Adjutant-General Corps in 2002).

Leaving in 2004, she served in – deep breath – the MoD, 4 Signal Group Germany, Headquarters Northern Ireland (where she was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service), 1st Battalion Queen’s Lancashire Regiment, 7 Parachute Regiment, the Army Training Regiment, and finished with 1st Bn The Highlanders in Edinburgh. She completed three operational tours in Bosnia.

Now a civil servant, Karen has been a fitness fan since joining the Army, and says: “I spend many Sundays putting in the miles encouraging others to join as feel walking is good for the soul and head space especially during these difficult times.”

“The atmosphere is tremendous, and you get to talk to so many people on the way round from all walks of life supporting their chosen charities.

“For us it’s SSAFA, which we support so proudly. The charity – it’s the UK’s oldest tri-service charity – does amazing by supporting serving military personnel and their families, older veterans, those who might need some help with their mental wellbeing, as well as its transitional mentoring for service leavers.

“All of these aspects are so important to individuals and their families, and really, it’s like SSAFA’s part of your family, always there to support you.”

The Larky Belters enthusiasm for and belief in SSAFA is perhaps all the more remarkable as Karen is the only member of this year’s team with personal military service.

Karen concludes: “So, if you see us on the 17th in Edinburgh, give us a wave and if you can’t make it to the Kiltwalk, then drop us a donation so that SSAFA can carry on its life-changing and sometimes life-saving work, just as it has since 1885.”

Donations can be made to the Larky Belters at justgiving.com/fundraising/karen-macdonald.

For more information, visit ssafa.org.uk.

Film addressing stigma of mental health in Scotland’s Armed Forces community premiered at Holyrood

‘These people are going to bend over backwards to get you to the point where you can stand straight and walk down the road with a bit of pride in yourself again’

On Tuesday (March 21), Glasgow’s Helping Heroes (GHH) of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity held an event – sponsored by Paul Sweeney MSP – in the Scottish Parliament.

The event celebrated the unique holistic service GHH, which a two-year long independent service evaluation, funded by the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) and conducted by the University of Stirling, identified as “vital” and “life changing” to Glasgow’s Armed Forces community.

The report found that GHH produced a Social Return On Investment (SROI) of £6.63 for every £1 spent during the evaluation period.

As the evaluation was conducted during the Covid pandemic, and included the multiple lockdowns where several of the measures in SROI generation such as employment and housing were effectively shut for all of society, the researchers estimate that in “normal circumstances” the SROI for GHH would exceed £11 for every £1 spent.

During the evening, guests heard from Paul Sweeney MSP, Chairman of SSAFA Sir Gary Coward, GHH’s Manager Rachel Tribble, and FiMT’s Chief Executive Tom McBarnett.

The highlight of the evening, however, was the launch of short film, Courage, which addresses the stigma surrounding mental health challenges for Armed Forces personnel.

The film focuses on the strength it takes to seek help and also how once a person walks through the door at GHH, they will find a team that will, as one of the beneficiaries says in the film says:

“These people are going to bend over backwards to get you to the point where you can stand straight and walk down the road with a bit of pride in yourself again.”

The film features two GHH beneficiaries, Patrick, and Joe, who were among the guests at Holyrood as well as Alan, their GHH peer support worker. Once the film ended and the audience erupted into applause, Alan was heard to say to both men how proud he was of them. The bond between them was palpable.

More than 65 guests were in attendance and the evening was hailed a success.

Scots cyclist swaps tyres for trainers as he takes on first ultramarathon

Embarking on your first ultramarathon is no mean feat, but that is just what Iain Leggat – family home in Fife, but lives in Edinburgh – is undertaking for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

The son of two Armed Forces’ veterans – his father, James, was in the RAF and his mother Penny is former Nursing Officer late of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, and volunteers for SSAFA’s Fife branch – Iain will run the 36.2 miles of the coastal EnduranceLife Northumberland on February 25 starting and finishing at Bamburgh Castle.

Coincidentally, Iain turns 26 the following day, so he is hoping to give himself a bit of a birthday present by running a great time in not only his first ultramarathon, but also his first marathon following a half marathon in October 2022.

Iain, who works as a Marketing Executive for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships has swapped his bike for running shoes in recent months, putting in the miles with Parkruns – including the Holyrood Parkrun just last weekend. He also trains with friends as well as with fellow members of Good Time Running Club in Edinburgh.

He is not, however, underestimating the challenge ahead of him.

Iain explained: “The blurb for EnduranceLife Northumberland states that runners will ‘… enjoy sweeping sandy beaches and rolling dunes on this striking landscape steeped in history’.

“Well, I’m not disputing that it’s a beautiful part of the world, but my focus is on doing a good run, having a brilliant time with friends, and raising a great amount for SSAFA.“

Iain has set himself a target of £360, and he is around a third of the way to his target, but he knows he can smash this.

“I want to smash this target, because of countless stories of the incredible case work that SSAFA does in Fife, across Scotland, the rest of the UK, and even the rest of the world.

“Whatever they’re facing, our Armed Forces and their families can rely on SSAFA and its personalised support to help them through it, for as long as it takes to get that person’s life back to where they want it to be.”

For more information, visit ssafa.org.uk/fife and to donate to Iain’s 36.2-mile ultramarathon, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/ileggataround.

Amazon donates to armed forces charity

A Scottish charity for veterans of the British Armed Forces has received a £1,000 donation from the team at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline in honour of Remembrance Day.

Poppyscotland provides support for current and former members of the Armed Forces, as well as their families, living in Scotland. The charity maintains a safe space for men, women and families with issues linked to their time in the armed forces or with their struggles adjusting from military to civilian life.

This is the third year in a row that Amazon in Dunfermline has donated to Poppyscotland. This year, the donation will go towards the charity’s welfare services for the Armed Forces community, providing advice and support to those struggling with finances, employment, housing, mobility needs, mental or physical health issues and more.

Speaking on the donation, Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “Amazon has long been a proud supporter of the UK’s armed forces community and we’re pleased to make this donation to Poppyscotland.

“The work done by the charity’s staff and volunteers does not go unnoticed in our community.”

Megan Wright, an employee from Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “My family has received so much support from the team at Poppyscotland.

I’m happy that Amazon can help the charity with this donation.”

Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland , added: “The team at Poppyscotland and I would like to say a big thank you to Jamie and our friends at Amazon in Dunfermline for this generous donation. We appreciate all the support we can get, and with donations like this, we can provide help to the men and women who need it most.”

“Every penny will help us offer life-changing welfare support to Scotland’s Armed Forces community, helping with housing, employment, finances, mental and physical health issues, and more.”

“We’re also delighted to hear how Amazon is supporting veterans making the transition to civilian life, assisting them in training for new careers after service.”

The donation to Poppyscotland was made as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities around its operating locations across the UK.

Almost a decade ago, Amazon signed The Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant has a focus on helping the Armed Forces community to access the same support from Government and commercial services as the public.

Last year, Amazon increased its support of the military community by growing its partnership with the Royal British Legion.

The partnership, which began two years ago, sees Amazon encourage customers to support the Royal British Legion through an official charity store, featuring products that raise money for the Legion. All proceeds from the sale of goods go directly to the charity. Amazon also offers customers the opportunity to support the Royal British Legion through Amazon Smile.

In addition to several support programmes for the Royal British Legion and other services charities, Amazon offers an employment programme for members of the services community called the Amazon Military Programme. The programme offers members of the military community the opportunity to pursue a wide range of exciting new career paths at Amazon.

Amazon offers an employment programme for members of the services community called the Amazon Military Programme. The programme offers members of the military community the opportunity to pursue a wide range of exciting new career paths at Amazon.