Buy Our Heroes a Drink

8th December 2011

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The British Forces Foundation is looking to bring some cheer to troops away from family and loved ones this Christmas with the return of its Buy Our Heroes a Drink campaign.

All 23,000 servicemen and women on operations over the festive period, including those on the frontline, will receive a free drinks voucher which they can cash in for a bevy, whether a beer or a coffee, at their local on their safe return home during the New Year. Now the Charity is urging members of the public to get behind the campaign and show their support for the troops.

"With so much focus on injured personnel there’s a risk of heroes on the frontline feeling forgotten," said BFF Director Mark Cann. "I know how important it is to the guys out there to know that the people back home are thinking of them. All you need to do to buy one of our deserving heroes a welcome home drink is text the word HEROES to 70099. Text messages cost £3 plus one message at your standard network rate."

The British Forces Foundation has teamed up with eight breweries and pub companies throughout the UK who will redeem the drinks vouchers. SA Brain, Diageo, Enterprise Inns, Everards, Punch Taverns, Shepherd Neame, St Austell and Wadworth have all signed up. Money raised from HEROES texts will help cover the cost of the campaign and any extra will be used to fund The British Forces Foundation’s other morale-boosting projects, including its shows for troops on the frontline.

Texts cost £3 plus your standard network rate. From most users BFF will receive over £2.99 from each text donation with a minimum of £2.95 received dependant on your network operator. **Donations from handsets registered in UK and Northern Ireland only.

The campaign has attracted generous support from media companies including Boomerang Media, Clear Channel, Conde Nast and KBH on Train Media. They have all given free advertising space to the campaign so the public can get involved across the UK. Posters showing the text HEROES number will appear at train stations, roadsides, health clubs, shopping centres and cinemas throughout December and January.

Martin Kelway-Bamber of KBH On-Train Media, said: “We are delighted to be involved in helping to raise the awareness of such an important charity."

The support of pubs and your customers is more important to us than ever. Fundraising is also a great way to involve your customers by hosting a range of activities – from quizzes to karaoke. Download our Pub Fundraising Toolkit for ideas on how to raise funds in your venue

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