The Suffolk branch of an armed forces charity has announced that it will be hosting a Christmas gala dinner near Woodbridge, featuring Ipswich Town legend Terry Butcher.
SSAFA (Soldiers', Sailors', and Airmen's Families Association) Suffolk will be holding the event at Seckford Hall Hotel and Spa near Woodbridge on Saturday, November 16.
Although the main purpose of the dinner is to raise funds for the charity it will also be an ideal opportunity for members of the armed forces community and its supporters to come together.
Guests will be able to enjoy a two-course meal, auction a heads and tails game as well as music from a DJ. There will also be a raffle where the main prize will be an overnight stay at Seckford Hall. Tickets cost £65 per person or £600 for a table of 10.
UEFA Cup-winning Ipswich Town and England footballing legend Butcher will be the after-dinner speaker.
Butcher is a well-known advocate of ex-forces personnel, with his late son Christopher serving in Afghanistan as a Captain in the Royal Artillery.
Andy Smith, chairman of SSAFA Suffolk, pointed out that the event was an important fundraising and social event but also highlighted the vital work that SSAFA does for military personnel, veterans, and their families across the county.
He said: "Whilst the event is an important fundraiser for the local branch, it’s a great opportunity to come together and celebrate a much-respected armed forces charity.
"In 2023, SSAFA Suffolk helped 203 individuals from across the armed forces community and facilitated benevolent welfare funding of £180,000.”
SSAFA was formed in 1885 and offers support to all serving and former Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, and Royal Air Force personnel including reserves and nursing services personnel.
Support is also available to the families of current or former military personnel including husbands, wives, civil partners as well as widows and widowers, those in or formerly in established relationships with service personnel and dependent children.
The charity helps provide housing for wounded, injured and sick service personnel, mentoring for injured, wounded, or sick service leavers, adoption for military families, professional health care, personal support and social work for RAF personnel and Independent Service custody visiting.
SSAFA supports veterans through offering housing and debt advice, mobility assistance, providing household goods as well as support for homeless veterans along with those who are offenders or ex-offenders.
Through county offices a group of case worker volunteers conduct grassroots engagement supporting members of the Armed Forces community often on behalf of other organisations.
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