WIREDGOV

Hi-Tech gadgets make modern gifts for 21st Century troops

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 14 October 2009

The equipment they use to fight the enemy costs billions to develop and incorporates the very latest technology – but now troops serving on Afghanistan’s front line are about to see their down time made brighter with the provision of modern consumer gadgets.

A range of items including portable DVD players, games consoles and solar-powered chargers for MP3 players and other personal equipment, are to be supplied to Afghanistan’s Forward Operating Bases as an initial project to get a new type of charity fund under way.

Thanks to generous sponsorship from Littlewoods and Woolworths.co.uk and the Daily Mirror newspaper, the Operational Welfare Fund, publicly launched on Monday by the Ministry of Defence and SSAFA Forces Help, has received a valuable kick-start, and will be able to start shipping these gadgets out to Theatre in a matter of days.

Going forward, the Operational Welfare Fund represents an excellent way in which members of the public can demonstrate their support for Armed Forces personnel deployed overseas, fighting to protect the UK’s national interest.

For the first time, men and women deployed on operations will be given the opportunity to decide what the money raised for them through the public’s generous donations will be spent on – and any type of bid will be considered, whether it’s for provision of a small luxury or assistance with a major project.

One of the key aims behind the new fund is to give members of the public - who have consistently demonstrated their generosity towards service personnel - a genuine alternative to sending their own parcels to operational theatre in the run-up to Christmas. Although it is recognised and appreciated that people have the best of intentions when they send festive gifts out to troops, the MoD is stressing that donating to the Operational Welfare Fund represents a much more effective way of supporting the troops.

Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson, the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel), explains:

“We are extremely grateful for the levels support currently being demonstrated from all walks of society which provide a telling testimony to the respect and affection in which our Armed Forces are held. Such support means a great deal to Service personnel, particularly those on operations. The generosity and heartfelt support of communities at home is important in keeping up morale, often in very difficult conditions.

“However, experience over the past two years has shown that the operational mail system can be swamped by the public’s generosity with the result that the all important personal mail becomes significantly delayed. While parcels from the public are without doubt popular with recipients, the delays they inevitably cause to the delivery of personal mail are considerably less welcome.

“The delivery of goodwill parcels to forward operating bases also necessitates additional resupply flights and convoys which places personnel at additional risk in what is already a difficult and dangerous operating environment.

“If people could instead donate to the new SSAFA Operational Welfare Fund, their generosity will go much, much further - and without the unintended side-effects of delaying personal mail.

“I am delighted that we have been able to get the Operational Welfare Fund well and truly under way by putting together these excellent packages for personnel serving in forward operating bases. As the fund is built up, I look forward to seeing what ideas our soldiers, sailors and airmen have for other ways the money can be used to make life on operations a little brighter.”

Armed Forces Minister, Bill Rammell MP, said:

“SSAFA Forces Help has a long history of doing great work to improve the welfare of our service personnel, so I am delighted that we have been able to team up with them to launch this exciting project.

“The Operational Welfare Fund will make a real difference to the men and women serving in theatre, and provides an excellent means by which the public can show their support.

“I appreciate, just as members of the Armed Forces do, the public’s great generosity when they choose to send Christmas parcels out to the troops. Public support is such a great morale-booster. But I really cannot stress enough that donating to the Operational Welfare Fund is a much more effective way of supporting our servicemen and women.”

More information about the fund, including how to make a donation, can be found at www.mod.uk/operationalwelfarefund

Alternatively telephone donations can be made by calling 020 7463 9225 and cheques payable to the SSAFA Operational Welfare Fund can be sent to:

SSAFA Forces Help FREEPOST NAT 19507 LONDON SE1 2BR

Notes to Editors

SSAFA OPERATIONAL WELFARE FUND Q&A

• Why has this fund been set up? The Operational Welfare Fund has been set up to provide direct support to those in the front line. The National Recognition Study highlighted that there is a public desire to support our Armed Forces and particularly those serving on operations. Unfortunately the methods by which people have traditionally sought to show their support, such as by sending parcels to operational theatre, have had unintended negative side-effects.

• What will monies raised be spent on? The parameters for what the money from the fund can be spent on are deliberately broad. The intention is that the decisions on spending should be initiated by those in theatre who have the best feel for where the need is greatest. The fund could be spent on anything from provision of decent coffee for those in transit right up to assistance with a much larger project such as provision of a welfare village. For our first project we are looking at ways of improving life for those serving in Forward Operating Bases, where there are fewer welfare facilities available than in main bases.

• Why has SSAFA Forces Help been chosen to administer this fund? The Ministry of Defence felt it was felt important to select a Tri-Service charity to facilitate this initiative. SSAFA Forces Help (The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) works extensively with the MOD in other areas and it has a proven track record of delivering.

• How long will the fund operate? There is no set timeframe over which the fund will operate. When the requirement ceases the fund will be wound up.

• Why isn't the MOD providing this additional support? The MOD provides a comprehensive Deployment Welfare Package which includes: a free mail service, 30 minutes of telephone calls a week and internet access as well as live Combined Service Entertainment shows. Feedback indicates that our personnel believe the current package to be a good one. But that does not mean that life can not be improved in the demanding environments where service personnel are currently operating. This fund will allow the public to have a directly beneficial impact on the quality of life of those serving on the front line.
• How can I find out how my donation is being spent? Both the MOD and SSAFA will show details of what the money from this fund is being spent on their websites, so check regularly for the latest details. The fund is also being supported by the Daily Mirror newspaper, where the latest news about the fund will be reported.

• Are the donations tax efficient? Charitable donations can be tax efficient, depending on how monies are donated. Giving using such methods as Give As You Earn / Payroll Giving can provide tax relief. All donors will be given the option to Gift Aid their donation, allowing SSAFA to reclaim the tax. For further details please contact the SSAFA Fundraising Team, who will be happy to assist.

• Who should I contact if I have a query about my donation? The SSAFA Fundraising Team will be happy to answer queries. Their details can be found on the SSAFA website - see "External links".

For more information about this press release, representatives of the media can contact Ben Wilkinson or Tim Wiseman in the MoD Press Office on 0207 218 9006.

Contacts:

Geri Mahoney Moore
Phone: 020 7218 7958
geri.mahoney-moore113@defence.gsi.gov.uk