Regretfully, SSAFA and BATTLESPACE have decided that it will not be possible to proceed with the Chepstow Raceday on February 6th 2021 due to continued uncertainty regarding the restrictions around events.
However, we are delighted to announce that the SSAFA Chepstow Raceday will take place on Friday 19 November 2021.
As the UK’s oldest, national, tri-service charity, SSAFA is no stranger to adapting to change. Having existed through six monarchies to date, weathered two World Wars and countless conflicts, Covid-19 is one more chapter in a legacy of resilience.
SSAFA’s Forcesline, a free and confidential helpline for any member of the Armed Forces community in need, saw an 80% increase in requests for befriending and support from those feeling isolated by lockdown. The Forcesline team say that the most pressing issues, during this time, have been:
* Mental wellbeing
* Need for urgent help with food
* Emergency need for housing (principally due to financial issues)
* Lack of human contact
* Relationship breakdowns
Speaking about the charity’s agile response to this outbreak, Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity said, “I am immensely proud and grateful to our team of volunteers and staff, who have come together with determination and resilience in the face of this pandemic. Despite a concerning climate, the men and women who make up the beating heart of our charity are rallying to ensure that support is given to anyone in need. A sense of community spirit and collective grit has shone through – and I have heard this likened to the sentiments felt by the Nation during the Blitz.
“I urge anyone from the military community in need of SSAFA’s support to come forward, we were there then and we are here now. Being socially distanced does not mean that you are on your own.”
Julian Nettlefold, Publisher of BATTLESPACE said, “The cancellation of the Raceday comes at a time when SSAFA is suffering from a growing need to expand its services across the country to meet these new COVID-related issues. Therefore, in line with previous years, we will be donating the proceeds from our February online issue, which would have been printed for the Raceday, to SSAFA. I would like to take advantage of this message to thank all our sponsors who have supported us over the years. These sponsors include Allan Webb Ltd, Alan Burge and team, Briggs Equipment, Fujitsu, General Dynamics UK, Jankel, Kathryn Clamp, Spectra, Qioptiq, Supacat, TVS and ViaSat and everyone who donated prizes for our Charity Auction so ably managed by Steve O’Leary. I would also like to thank Chepstow for their ongoing support and our army of supporters including Bridget Rosser, Alice Young, James Grant and Jim Morrison of SSAFA who slave away behind the scenes to make the day happen!”
“As in previous years, we will publish your advertisement for a donation to SSAFA of any amount from £200 upwards. Please donate freely as you have done in previous years which will add to the £137,000 raised from the BATTLESPACE SSAFA Raceday since 2014, your donation could make a huge difference to a family in trouble. I would also like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and New Year and look forward to life coming back to normal in 2021 and welcoming you to Chepstow on November 19th 2021!”
Go to: www.ssafa.org.uk to find out more about donations or to the SSAFA button at www.battle-technology.com