A special ceremony was held at Gas Street Central church for the dedication of a new Standard for the Armed Forces Charity in Birmingham. You can watch our video of the event here:
Originally founded as the SSFA in 1885, the organisation changed its name to the SSAFA in 1919 following the founding of the Royal Air Force in 1918 – thus becoming the Soldiers’ Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association.
Now better known simply as the Armed Forces Charity SSAFA, it is low profile compared with some charities, but is a hugely important means of supporting military veterans, always building on the work of its first president the Princess of Wales (and future Queen Alexandra).
HRH Prince Michael of Kent became the association’s fourth president in 1982 and remains in the position today.
The new standard was covered up until it was taken inside Gas Street Central church where it was unfurled and dedicated by St Luke’s pastor Tim Bateman who said the act was “a sign of duty towards our King and our Country.”
Members of Broad Street’s Military Preparation College for Training (MPCT) carried the standard into the church and stood at the side during a service which included the National Anthem and hymns Amazing Grace and Be Thou My Vision, which includes the line ‘Riches I need not, nor vain empty praise’.
Local TV also filmed the event, and you can watch its video here:
One volunteer with SSAFA – which reached out to 82,000 veterans in 2018 alone – echoed those words afterwards, saying: “We help them with what they need, not what they want.”
Westside BID general manager Mike Olley praised SSAFA for “not having a chief executive on £250,000 per year” and said that Westside BID’s role in funding the new standard was one of his proudest achievements since it was founded in 2005.
“SSAFA volunteers dispense small sums of money to very worthy individuals,” he said. “SSAFA spends most of its time, and all of its money, on that. We felt its role in society was more than worth our investment in its new banner. This is a small, but very significant token which will allow them to take pride in the work they do and to stand alongside their comrades.
“We like to make a difference and today we’ve joined up the youth and the church with SSAFA – it’s been a great day.”
As for the members of the MPCT, Mr Olley addressed them directly, saying: “You share our building and you are noisy and disruptive, but I also think you are great. If you are the future of our nation, then I applaud you.”
Following the service, all those in attendance were invited to lunch at Rosie’s on Broad Street where pizza was served. Following the service, all those in attendance were invited to lunch at Rosie’s on Broad Street where pizza was served. Members of the public will be able to see the Standard in use on Remembrance Day this year.
The SSAFA supports serving personnel, veterans of all ages and military families. To learn more about how to become a volunteer, visit www.ssafa.org.uk/volunteer. To donate visit ssafa.org.uk/give and to fundraise the address is www.ssafa.org.uk/fundraise
A confidential support line can be reached on 0800 731 4880 from 9am til 5.30pm weekdays or visit ssafa.org.uk/forcesline
