SSAFA – the armed forces charity – were out on the streets of Trowbridge on Monday to try and raise money in their annual fundraising drive.

The charity has provided lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families since 1885.

With a stand in the Shires, community engagement coordinator for Wiltshire, Karen Thomas, said having the presence of soldiers from 1 Yorks, who are based in Warminster, allowed the charity to showcase the people at the heart of their work to the public.

“I chose to come to Trowbridge because it is a town known to support its armed forces because of its population,” she added.

“To me, it is quite unusual that even though there isn’t a regiment in the town, we get so much support from the area.

“There are a lot of veterans here and we have had people come up to us and say how we have helped them or their families and that makes us feel rather proud because it is the small things that make an impact.

“It is moving when people donate especially those who are Normandy veterans.”

The charity holds their Big Collection week every year to try and raise funds to continue their work across the country in offering both healthcare and social work to serving and former servicemen.

Mrs Thomas added as the oldest military charity in the UK, SSAFA have been able to build up a reputation including how they help 55,000 people every year.

She said: “We are the only charity that served during the First World War and what I like to say is that we were there for the men then and we are still here for them now.

“For me it is about engaging with the people and seeing how we have support them in the past. It is the fact that we are at the heart of military welfare system that is also a proud moment.”

SSAFA will also be in attendance at the Armed Forces Weekend in Trowbridge at the end of June.