SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity

BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 Appeal, SSAFA Ben Fogle makes the Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of SSAFA, the armed forces charity.

There's still time to listen and donate to our BBC Radio 4 Appeal. Find out from adventurer and former Royal Navy Reservist, Ben Fogle, how you can help SSAFA support our Armed Forces family, so they never battle alone. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

🎄This festive season, spread cheer and support our Armed Forces with SSAFA's exclusive #christmas cards, available from our shop now at www.ssafastore.org.uk/categories/c...

• Printed in the UK using eco-friendly, sustainable materials
• Biodegradable, recyclable, compostable - kind to the planet!

🔊 Listen to our BBC Radio 4 Appeal on Sun 26th Oct at 07:54 & 21:25 or Thurs 30th at 15:27 and find out from Ben Fogle how you can help our Armed Forces family, so they never battle alone. Your donation will make a real difference to those who need our help. www.ssafa.org.uk/radio4appeal

🫖 Use your love for tea to support our Forces and their families with a Big Brew Up for SSAFA, and do tag us and share your photos on social media using the hashtag #BigBrewUp!

For more information, please visit our page at www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/o...

Civilians and service personnel in London's Piccadilly Circus celebrate the news of Allied Victory over Japan in August 1945.

"The war is over." King George VI Broadcast on 15 August 1945. Today is the 80th anniversary of #VJDay and the end of #WW2. We remember all who laid down their lives for freedom from tyranny and all who endured the loss of those they loved. #VJDay80 #NeverForgotten

Photo of Lieutenant General Sir Robert "Robin" Ross, KCB, OBE.

The death of Lieutenant General Sir Robert "Robin" Ross, KCB, OBE, Commandant General @royalmarines.bsky.social 1994-1996 and National Chair of SSAFA from 2000-2010, has been announced ▸ www.ssafa.org.uk/news-article...

We send our thoughts and condolences to Sir Robin’s family and friends.

** Book before midnight on Thursday 31 July at www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/e... using the code EARLYBIRD to get 25% off registration for SSAFA's 13 Bridges Challenge on 27 June 2026! **

"I'll see you there in November, but right now, I've got to go and put some proper work in."

Want to join national treasure Phil Campion in taking on
SSAFA's Warrior Challenge in #Morocco this November? Find out more at www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/e...

What's it like to walk across London's iconic bridges? Hannah Siddle and David Utting guide you through the sights of SSAFA's 13 Bridges Challenge on #ArmedForcesDay, Saturday 28 June 2025. There's still time for you and your friends to sign up at register.enthuse.com/ps/event/13B...

Friends, Londoners, families - lend us your step counts!
register.enthuse.com/ps/event/13B...

👣 It's time to step up for @ssafaofficial.bsky.social’s award-winning 13 Bridges Challenge celebrating #ArmedForcesDay in #London on Saturday 28 June 2025!

Don’t miss The HAC Band in concert at the The Royal Military Chapel - The Guards' Chapel conducted by Major Bruce Miller. Join us on Thursday 19th June 2025 at 7:30pm for an evening of exceptional live music in support of @ssafaofficial.bsky.social

This event is free to attend, and open to all!

Today's the day! Look out for all our #VEDay updates during the day and follow the concert build-up on our Instagram channel, and listen 🔊 to SSAFA's #VEDay80: The Party concert from the @royalalberthall in London live on @classicfm.com from 8pm this evening! #VE80RAH

Details of prize draw to win 2 free VIP tickets for SSAFA's VE Day 80: The Party concert at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 8 May 2025.

🎉 Win 2 free VIP tickets! 🎉

Win a pair of VIP tickets for SSAFA's #VEDay80 Royal Albert Hall concert in #London tomorrow night! #VE80RAH

Enter the prize draw now at www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/o... for your chance to join an unforgettable night of music, history and celebration. #VEDay #VE80 #WW2

Good luck to all our 110 #TeamSSAFA runners in the
@londonmarathon.bsky.social today! We appreciate the individual efforts in training miles and fundraising for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity that you've undertaken to make it to the start line today. You are our heroes! #LondonMarathon

The flag of St George flies on the Foreign Office building in London, 23 April 2013. [Photo: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0.]

A very happy #StGeorgesDay from everyone at @ssafaofficial.bsky.social to all our supporters and volunteers across England, and to servicemen and women, veterans, and their families in the UK and on military bases around the world.

🏔️ A few last-minute places have become available for
@ssafaofficial.bsky.social's fully supported, six-day trek through the Atlas Mountains in #Morocco on 7-12 May 2025.

Find out more and register now to take part in this epic adventure at register.enthuse.com/ps/event/Sum...

A sign erected by British Forces at the entrance to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, Germany, 29 May 1945. The remains of the camp itself were about to be burnt to the ground by the British occupation forces. A similar sign in German was also erected.

On this day in 1945, Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany was liberated by the British Army's 11th Armoured Division. #BergenBelsen80

Today, SSAFA remembers those who died during the Holocaust, the harrowing testimonies of survivors, and the role of our Forces in saving lives. #WW2

To help our supporters commemorate the 80th anniversary of #VEDay on 8 May 2025, whilst supporting our ongoing work with the UK Armed Forces community, SSAFA has a range of mugs, homewares, and clothing available. Visit our shop at ssaf.as/veday80 today. #VEDay80 #WW2

Air Marshal Steve Shell CB OBE MA.

Air Marshal Steve Shell CB OBE MA will join SSAFA as our new CEO on 2 April, after 37 years of distinguished service with the Royal Air Force ▸ www.ssafa.org.uk/news-article...

He succeeds Sir Andrew Gregory, who stepped down as SSAFA Controller at the end of February.

John Hemingway: Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot dies aged 105 Mr Hemingway, who is originally from Dublin, joined the RAF as a teenager before World War Two.

From everyone at SSAFA, we add our tribute to John "Paddy" Hemingway, the last surviving Royal Air Force #BattleofBritain pilot, who has died at the age of 105, and thank him for helping secure our freedom in our country's darkest hour. Per ardua ad astra.

The four veteran members of the Project Fire & Ice team.

The four veteran members of the Project Fire & Ice team at the finish of their challenge.

Aldo Kane with his finisher medal.

Jason Fox with his finisher medal.

We're delighted to report that Project Fire & Ice team - Jason Fox, Aldo Kane, Brian Wood MC, Karl Hinett - completed their Arctic Ultra for SSAFA yesterday, having covered 514 km. Huge congratulations everyone! 💪 givestar.io/gs/project-f...

Jason Fox.

Aldo Kane.

Brian Wood MC.

Karl Hinett.

The Project Fire & Ice team - Jason Fox, Aldo Kane, Brian Wood MC, Karl Hinett - are currently on Day 5 of their 500 km Arctic Ultra for SSAFA, having covered over 200 km. It’s been a hard slog with 4 am starts, but the veterans are staying strong. 💪 givestar.io/gs/project-f...

Pictured left to right, Karl Hinett, Brian Wood MC, Aldo Kane, Jason Fox.

Members of the Project Fire and Ice team are pictured in the briefing room at Jockfall in Swedish Lapland.

Jason Fox is pictured outdoors checking his trek equipment.

Karl Hinett and Jason Fox are pictured checking their trek equipment.

The veteran members of the Project Fire & Ice team - Jason Fox, Aldo Kane, Brian Wood MC and Karl Hinett - were briefed and made final preparations yesterday at Jockfall in Swedish Lapland, for today’s start of their 500 km Arctic Ultra for SSAFA. givestar.io/gs/project-f...

Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB DL.

📰 Sir Andrew Gregory steps down as SSAFA Controller ▸ www.ssafa.org.uk/news-article...

Sir Andrew's tenure lasted for nearly nine years and saw him steer the charity through a pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis that affected many, including those in the Armed Forces community - serving & retired.

Whatever your rank. Whatever you’re facing. We've got your back. If you or your loved one serve in the Royal Air Force, SSAFA's Personal Support and Social Work Service team will support you through life’s challenges. Find out more at www.ssafa.org.uk/raf

Pictured (L to R): WW2 evacuee Doreen Simpson, 87, former Wren Ruth Barnwell, 100, and Normandy Royal Navy veteran Henry Rice, 98.

Singer Katie Ashby from The D-Day Darlings.

British Army veterans and Traitors TV show winner, Harry Clark being interviewed.

On Monday, with 80 days to go until #VEDay80, we were delighted to welcome #WW2 veterans at the Royal Albert Hall, to help publicise ‘VE Day 80: The Party’ on 8 May 2025.

Visit www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/even... for more information about the event and to buy tickets.

If you can, please donate to support our charity's ongoing work today with the UK's Armed Forces community in our anniversary year. ssafa.org.uk/donate

In the modern era, SSAFA's wide range of benevolent services continue to deliver superb support to the whole UK Armed Forces community - in 2023, we assisted just under 54,000 people through our range of services.

From the very beginning, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales (the future Queen Alexandra) took an active interest in the Association and became the first president of what was then called the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association (SSFA).

Just four weeks after Major James Gildea's first letter to The Times on 12 February 1885, regarding provision for the families of soldiers and sailors on active service, a committee of ten ladies had been set up and a fund was set up to provide allowances.