Forces Charities

Tuck In To A Big Breakfast For The BFBS Big Salute

We're launching the BFBS Big Salute Big Breakfast - so that you can tuck in to some scran, scoff or chow for charity.

Join in and host your own Big Breakfast and help us cook up some cash for Armed Forces charities.

Click the Fundraising Pack image below to download a guide to the fundraising appeal or email us at [email protected] for a printable Fundraiser Pack with ideas and resources to make your event even bigger.

The BFBS Big Salute Big Breakfast Campaign will run from Monday 30th September until Friday 4th October.

BFBS Big Salute Big Breakfast Fundraising Pack Promo Shot

In our BFBS Big Salute Big Breakfast campaign week Verity Geere and Richard Hatch will be ‘book-ending’ the week on tour in the UK.

On Monday, they’ll be kicking off at 0630 (UK) from RAF Waddington and then on Friday it’s off to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with their Forces Radio BFBS Breakfast Show from on board HMS Victory.

Hear more of what’s happening overseas for the BFBS Big Salute Big Breakfast on Totally Connected, all week from 10 (UK).

Richard Hatch and Verity Geere with the Big Salute Big Breakfast

Who Benefits from the BFBS Big Salute?

The BFBS Big Salute helped eight armed forces charities last year, making a huge difference to people’s lives.

A Big Salute grant has enabled the RAF Association to help more people like Women’s RAF veteran, Morag.

She found a special companion in Iona through the Association’s Befriending Service which tackles loneliness and social isolation, particularly among older members of the RAF family.

Bournemouth War Memorial Homes provide housing to Veterans in need at an affordable rent and were awarded a £5,000 grant from the BFBS Big Salute to help improve their gardens.

Tracy Poole, Estate Manager for Bournemouth War Memorial Homes, said:“We are refurbishing our Memorial Garden so that our residents have somewhere quiet to sit but also landscaping to help deaden the sound of the road running across the front of the Homes.

"This will make their homes more peaceful as a number of them suffer with PTSD and injuries from conflicts ranging from the Second World War to more recent times.   

“The monies from the Big Salute will be used to make bespoke circular seating giving the residents somewhere to meet others but also be able to spend time alone. 

"These monies make such a difference to their lives as it is not just about the veteran but their families as well who need just as much support. 

"Landscaping this area is giving spaces for their families to play, meet with others and our older residents the opportunity to sit and be part of the community reducing the isolation some can feel.”

Fried eggs - Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

The BFBS Big Salute's grant to Building Heroes, a charity that provides skills training to military veterans and support into employment in the building and construction trades, has provided work wear and personal protection equipment for a new cohort of learners to enable them to undertake a Level 1 Diploma in Construction Skills.

The Winchester Sea Cadets received a BFBS Big Salute grant to purchase two Trinity 500 rowing boats, which will mean that more cadets will be offered more frequent experience out on the water.

Joanne Gallimore, Unit Fundraiser, said: Winchester Sea Cadets were thrilled and lucky to be awarded a grant to purchase the Trinity 500 boats to be used by our growing unit of cadets to teach and enjoy rowing.

"We would not have been able to reach this goal on our own so quickly and we are grateful for the Big Salute’s generous award to us.”

Building Heroes for the Big Salute
The Building Heroes charity at work

So join our BFBS Big Salute Big Breakfast and have fun with family, friends and colleagues and cook up some cash for armed forces charities.

The charities most recently supported by the BFBS Big Salute are: Building Heroes, Bournemouth Memorial Homes, Clervaux Trust,AF & V Launchpad Ltd, Royal Air Forces Association, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, Scotty's Little Soldiers,and Winchester Sea Cadets.

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