BEAT THE BLUES BIG JANUARY BREW UP

 SSAFA (Formally known as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) were out beating the January weather with a “Beat the Blues Brew up” at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, the Fleet Air Arm’s West Cornwall Base.

The occasion also gave SSAFA a chance to introduce their new chairperson, Carol Orchard, wife of the newly appointed Commanding Officer of RNAS Culdrose, and re-launch their crucial work in the service community.

“We normally have a Big Brew-up later in the year, where everyone comes along to support us, but a Beat the Blues Big Brew now, is just what we need for January”, said Liz Tripp, SSAFA’s West Country Support Manager. “We’re the oldest military charity and a lot of people haven’t heard of us, so getting the word out and about is really important. One day’s service means a lifetime of support to us”.

The RNAS Culdrose SSAFA group was established in September 2013, and are keen to tell people about the support families and service personnel can get from the organisation. They also provide trained community workers who work alongside Royal Navy Royal Marines Welfare giving practical and emotional support to anyone who has a need.

“SSAFA is an amazing family Association that gives plenty of support when military personnel are deployed”, said Carol Orchard. “We just need to let people know what’s out there, how to access it and then get our people to use it”.

SSAFA provides a lifelong of support to the Forces and their families. Every year they give life-changing support to more than 50,000 people. Thanks to their supporters, they are able to extend a helping hand to service personnel, their dependents and their families, doing whatever it takes to meet their needs.

“Sometimes when people think that no one can help, SSAFA provide that low-level support that they don’t necessarily want to ask for at a higher level”, said Carrie Chappell, Culdrose SSAFA secretary. “It could just be a friendly chat, help with the children or a different perspective to a problem, we’re here to help at whatever level people need”.

Liz Tripp is also eager to get the message across that, “we are here for single service personnel, married personnel and their families, and as long as they have had one day’s paid service, they can have support throughout their lives”.