Fayre a vital support to forces fund
SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity, will be holding its autumn fayre at Southport’s Masonic Hall this Sunday, November 18.
The day will be running from midday to 4pm and features games, raffles, food, drink and stalls.
Army veteran Major (Retd) Tom McKenzie is the fundraising and awareness manager for SSAFA, and said that SSAFA were grateful for the Masonic Hall’s support.
said: “The Southport Masonic Hall has supported SSAFA for many years, and they are the main sponsor for the Armed Forces Day held each year in Southport.
“In addition, they are the sponsors for the Cleveland Café, Veterans Hub.”
He added: “I got involved with SSAFA because my former colonel became the chairman of SSAFA on Merseyside and invited me to join.
“So I did, primarily as a fundraiser, and I must say that we’ve been very well supported, particularly in Sefton by the stores where we carry out fundraising, and the shops assist us giving us items for the fayre.
“We’ll be having a hamper raffle which raises money, and most of the proceeds that come from this each year, and other sponsorships from other people, does help us to host the Armed Forces Day.
“Particularly the Cleveland Cafe, where each Tuesday veterans can come along and have a complimentary drink and a breakfast, and if there’s any assistance that we can give then we’ll help them in any way we can.”
Veterans can go to the Cleveland Cafe on Tuesdays to speak to fellow veterans and receive food, drink and advice free of charge.
Tom said: “I was conscious that there was nowhere in Southport where veterans could come along and speak to us confidentially which we could use as a hub.
“So I had a look at various cafes in Southport and in the end I chose the Cleveland Cafe and asked the proprietors if we could use it.
“It’s easy for people to get to, has disabled facilities so anybody in a wheelchair can come in here, there’s quiet areas where people can come in and talk to us
confidentially.”