Five military charities are to benefit from money raised by the BFBS Big Salute following another year of the COVID-19 pandemic making it difficult for fundraising events to be held due to restrictions designed to keep people safe.
BFBS staff and audiences around the world participate in fundraising events, to raise money for a range of armed forces charities every year, and BFBS welcomes online project-based grant applications. Grants are awarded up to the value of £10,000 per charity, which can make a huge difference to the lives of those in need in the forces community, from service children to veterans.
Previous grants have helped charities like Army Widows run a respite weekend, Beyond the Battlefield fund a veteran ‘Meet Up Eat Up’ breakfast club, Launchpad set up a homeless veterans’ cycle club in Liverpool and Rugby for Heroes run a coaching course for service leavers, among many other wonderful charitable projects.
Following last year’s application process, the Big Salute committee has awarded grants in 2022 to five charities:
Broughton House – Veteran Care Village
The money will be used to buy a bandstand for their Veteran Care Village which will open in 2022. The state-of-the art centre will provide residential care accommodation and mental wellbeing support to 150 veterans every year. The bandstand will be the centrepiece for their opening ceremony and a focal point for veterans’ entertainment for the next 100 years.
Defence Medical Welfare Service
The grant will help to provide one year of welfare support to 175 Armed Forces Community members across Nottinghamshire who are experiencing ill health or injury and need support in addition to their medical care.
The Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA)
The money will support the conversion of one bedroom at Rothbury House (a former RAF Association respite break facility) into a self-contained apartment, to empower older members of the RAF community for them to live out their later years independently, comfortably and safely.
Veterans With Dogs
The grant will be used to hold two additional respite residential breaks for the charity’s beneficiaries. Hosted in a safe environment, these breaks will provide partnership training and activities that improve life-skills, as well as an opportunity to have fun. They will also help to build networks, increase mental well-being leading to more independent living.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers
As part of its ‘Smiles’ programme, the charity sends out personalised gifts and vouchers to 473 ‘Scotty’s Members’ (0-17 years) and ‘Springboarders‘ (18-25 years) at key anniversaries throughout the year, including: Christmas, Easter, Birthdays, Remembrance and ‘Anniversary of their Parents Death’. The money will be used towards the planning, purchase and delivery of these gifts and vouchers.
Nicky Ness, Director of Broadcasting & Entertainment, BFBS says: “In what has been another very difficult fundraising year for many charities, BFBS is pleased to be able to support these very worthy organisations. It’s wonderful to see how they are planning to spend the money and further support our military community in such a variety of ways.”
Be a part of the Big Salute
Each year the BFBS Big Salute committee meet to discuss the applications for the coming year. They consider all applications on merit, impact and measurable outcomes and make the awards accordingly. The committees’ decision is final.