Donate time and/or money

How Can You Help?

Click here to Volunteer

Could YOU help SSAFA in Somerset? Have you the skills and some spare time to make a real difference to those people, and their families, who have served their country?

Click on the image above to send an email to SSAFA Somerset’s Recruiting Officer.


Click here to help with Fund-raising

Would YOU like information about the Friends of SSAFA Somerset, would like to assist at our events or would like a speaker for your club or community group.

Click on the image above to send an email to the FOSS Secretary.

Click here for ways to Donate

Would YOU like to make a donation. FOSS accepts donations securely using PayPal but the SSAFA website provides other ways to donate to the oldest Military Charity in the UK.

Click on the image above to jump to the Ways to Donate page.

Who are FOSS and SSAFA

More About Us

The Friends of SSAFA Somerset (“FOSS”) is here to support the Somerset branch of SSAFA by raising funds and organising events throughout the year and look forward to welcoming you at some of them! See our Events page for what appeals to you.

The Friends of SSAFA Somerset (FOSS) was established in 2000 by Sir Jerry Wiggin and Brigadier DP de C Morgan. As a committee it was set the challenge of raising £10,000 a year to support the Somerset Branch of SSAFA.

We are the UK’s oldest Armed Forces charity. Our 130 years of experience have helped us to understand the unique demands of military life – and we believe that those who have served their country should get the best possible support when they need it.

From Facebook and twitter

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SSAFA Somerset

2 days ago

SSAFA Somerset
The 13 Bridges Challenge!Take part in one of our major Armed Forces Day events and enjoy the sights and scenery of the London riverside. This walk is suitable for all and takes in all 13 bridges in Greater London.This is a 10 mile walk that is suitable for all fitness levels and ages so is a great event for the whole family! It is free to sign up and we ask that each person raises £50 for SSAFA to continue to support members of the Armed Forces, Veterans and their families.Starting at Tower Bridge, the event will finish at Eel Brook Common after the last bridge, Putney Bridge, is crossed. There you'll be greeted by entertainment and will enjoy a well-deserved cold drink. Don't forget to look out for the Reservist units who will be manning each bridge, distributing water and telling our walkers a little more about their unit's role and activities!Fundraising Target: £50 per person.Families and GroupsThis is the perfect event for families and groups of friends. If you wish to make a group booking please ensure create a team on the registration page. You will be able to name your team and also enter the email addresses for the rest of your members. If you have any problems please contact us on - teamssafa@ssafa.org.uk - or by phone: 020 7463 9297.www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/challenge-events/trek/13-bridges-walk?utm_content=The%2013%20Bridges%... ... See MoreSee Less

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SSAFA Somerset

4 days ago

SSAFA Somerset
There is still time for locals to visit the Snowdrop Festival at East Lambook Manor Gardens, near South Petherton. East Lambrook Manor Gardens is the iconic and quintessentially English cottage garden created by the celebrated 20th-century plantswoman and gardening writer Margery Fish. Snowdrops also for sale.Book here;beyonk.com/uk/vIIyJd/east-lambrook-manor-gardens-admission?portal=true ... See MoreSee Less

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SSAFA Somerset

5 days ago

SSAFA Somerset
February is LGBT+ History Month. During the Second World War, Alan Turing OBE worked for the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park, Britain's codebreaking centre. Here, he devised a number of techniques for speeding the breaking of German ciphers, including development of an electromechanical machine that could find settings for the Enigma cipher device.Turing played a crucial role in codebreaking intercepted messages that enabled the Allies to defeat the Nazis in many crucial engagements, including the Battle of the Atlantic, and in so doing helped win the war. His wartime work earned him an OBE.In 1952, Turing was prosecuted for homosexual acts, then a criminal offence in the UK. After pleading guilty, he accepted chemical castration treatment (taking medication to reduce sex drive) as an alternative to prison. Turing died in 1954, aged 41, from cyanide poisoning. An inquest determined his death as a suicide, "while the balance of his mind was disturbed". At the time of his death, many of Turing's wartime accomplishments were classified. Today, he is recognised for his achievements in embracing the first visions of modern computing ('the universal Turing machine') and his seminal insights into what he called 'the imitation game' or artificial intelligence ('the Turing test').In 2009, following an Internet campaign, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an official public apology on behalf of the British government for "the appalling way he was treated". Her Majesty the Queen granted Turing a posthumous pardon in 2013. The Policing and Crime Act 2017 retroactively pardoned men cautioned or convicted under historical legislation that outlawed homosexual acts. ... See MoreSee Less

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SSAFA Somerset

6 days ago

SSAFA Somerset
Awful news. ... See MoreSee Less

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SSAFA SomersetFollow

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Retweet on TwitterSSAFA Somerset Retweeted
AvatarHigh Sheriff of Somerset@somersetsherif1·
23 Feb

A veteran with #ptsd feels less anxious, more able to cope with a dog by his side. Night terrors are dispelled with a canine friend to wake you up, “Used to be frightened to go to bed, not now”. Thank you to @ServiceDogsUK, #Somerton, for all your work.

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Retweet on TwitterSSAFA Somerset Retweeted
AvatarRNAS Yeovilton@RNASYeovilton·
22 Feb

It's #Merlinmonday with some more images of 846 NAS Merlin iMK3 based at @RNASYeovilton conducting fast rope training recently. #flynavy
@co_chf @CdreGriff @846NAS @845NAS

📸 Cpl 'Matty' Matthews RAF.

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Retweet on TwitterSSAFA Somerset Retweeted
AvatarSSAFA@SSAFA·
22 Feb

If you are a member of the Armed Forces, a veteran, or a family member facing problems, contact @SSAFA's Forcesline. We're independent of the chain of command. We won't judge, we'll listen, and we'll help. #MentalHealth

📱 0800 260 6767
🖱️ http://ssaf.as/forcesline

Reply on Twitter 1363752888413999107Retweet on Twitter 136375288841399910729Like on Twitter 136375288841399910744Twitter 1363752888413999107
FOSS, SSAFA Somerset and SSAFA News

Latest News

SOMERSET

Rob Heard MBE

Somerset artist Rob Heard, who created the art installation ‘Shrouds of the Somme’ has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours. Rob is a Vice-President of SSAFA Devon. …

FOSS

FOSS 2020 Update

Dear Friends,  It has been an extraordinary year and I hope you have been able to adapt during the past months with the variety of restrictions imposed by the COVID19 …

Read More
SSAFA Somerset Branch Support

How Can We Help You?

SSAFA Forcesline

SSAFA Forcesline is a free and confidential telephone helpline and email service that provides support for serving (regulars and reserves) and ex-service men and women from the Armed Forces and for their families. As an independent charity, SSAFA is not part of the military chain of command. In the majority of cases, anything that you tell us will be kept private and between you and our staff. Learn More

SUPPORT FOR THE ARMED FORCES IN SOMERSET

If you have, or have ever had, a connection with the armed forces or are a dependent, and struggling in areas such as home improvements or family breakdown, we may be able to help you. Please use email form left to make contact with Branch if at all possible as the telephone number is a messaging service only.



SSAFA Somerset, Eagle House, 21-22 Alexandra Parade, Weston super Mare, Somerset, BS23 1QX
020 8938 3633
Somerset@ssafa.org.uk