A Driving Force for SSAFA look forward to attending Autosport International 24 at the NEC Birmingham this weekend

A Driving Force for SSAFA is a biennial charity event, raising funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. It involves one hundred people, in fifty vehicles, including participants and support vehicles, on an exhilarating 10-day driving adventure across the Iberian Peninsula and Gibraltar from 30 July to 9 August 2024, hoping to raise £120,000 for SSAFA.

Two ex-serving members of HM Forces Benn Laidler MBE and Steve Shaw MA, FCILT, CMCIPD, Directors of A Driving Force, witnessed first-hand the hardship and devastation suffered by casualties of military conflict. They realised that these courageous men, women, and their families needed support to cope with the aftermath of such traumatic life changing injuries or loss. Since 2012, they have been fundraising through charity driving events, which have taken place across the UK and mainland Europe raising over three quarters of a million pounds for many charities supporting military personnel. The 2022 event managed to raise a staggering £173,000.

Partnering with SSAFA once again for the event in 2024, A Driving Force who are accredited Professional Fundraisers with The Fundraising Regulator, have pledged to raise a further £120,000 to support military personnel and their families.

Come and see the team in Hall 3, Stand 3190 at the Autosport International 24 this weekend at the NEC Birmingham, where some of the team have bought their cars for you to see – they all have a story…..

You can still get tickets for the Show here: https://autosportinternational.com/en

Benn Laidler MBE, Director of Torque Events and A Driving Force for SSAFA said:

“We launched A Driving Force for SSAFA at Autosport International in January 2023 and the whole show was phenomenal. Not only did it provide us with a fantastic platform to announce the 2024 event, but we were amazed at the welcome it received from the organisers, exhibitors, and visitors.

We are back in 2024 with an even bigger stand, and the team cannot wait to share the opportunities that A Driving Force for SSAFA can bring to participants and also potential sponsors.

We have a big target of raising £120,000 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, and Autosport International also provides us with a platform to improve awareness of all the fantastic work that SSAFA provide and help us to reach our target.

As we know, the nation is coming to terms with the unseen impact of sending 150,000 military personnel to conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of those, 636 people sadly made the ultimate sacrifice. Regrettably, tens of thousands more were left with unseen injuries both mentally and physically, which they carry with them each and every day. We can probably never relieve them of the burden, but we can certainly help, bringing to bear our passion, enthusiasm and drive as ex-members of the Armed Forces.

Like the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, we never stop trying to serve the needs of our society…

We would like to thank everyone at Autosport International for their continued support.”

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of practical, emotional, and financial support for the UK military’s serving personnel and veterans of the Royal Navy, British Army and the Royal Air Force, and their families.

For 138 years, making them one of the UK’s longest serving military charities, SSAFA has shown their commitment to ensuring that our service men and women, veterans and their families get the best possible support when they need it.

The SSAFA family includes the Military Wives Choirs, both an independent charity and a subsidiary of SSAFA, which supports women across the military community. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.

Who SSAFA Help
Today nearly five million people living in the United Kingdom are estimated to have served in the Armed Forces at some point in their lives and every year, around 20,000 servicemen and women leave the services and return to civilian life. That is why their work is so important.

■ In 2022, SSAFA’s trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 59,000 people, from Second World War veterans to those who have served in more recent conflicts, or currently serving (both regulars and reserves), and their families.

■ They have more than 4,000 volunteers working tirelessly to help the Armed Forces family.

The Charity understands the unique demands of service life, whether it is on UK soil or overseas. Support is available for people at any stage in their military career; from the youngest recruit to the oldest veteran – no one’s service is ever forgotten. There are more than 4,000 trained SSAFA volunteers who provide personalised, face-to-face support to those in their local area.

When anyone in the Forces family finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to. Whether it is financial, practical, or emotional, they provide the right kind of support, ensuring independence and dignity is protected at all times. Recent research shows that service leavers aged 25-64 need more specialised support. The challenges they face are complex – from low income to life-changing injuries or hidden wounds, like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Since 1885, through two World Wars and through every conflict since, whenever our Forces need them, SSAFA do whatever they can to help, but they can only do that with the help of the people who support them like A Driving Force for SSAFA.

For more information about SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, visit the website: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/