This summer, ADS is hosting our inaugural Charity Cycle, bringing together members from across the UK for an unforgettable six-day ride. Over the course of this event, riders will swap their laptops for lycra, embarking on a 478-mile journey from Scotland to Farnborough.
For our Charity Cycle, we’ve teamed up with five incredible charities and STEM academies to support underrepresented groups across the UK. These beneficiaries are vital in supporting our past, present, and future workforce – from empowering the next generation of industry leaders to supporting members of the Armed Forces community. Through our partnership, we aim to shine a spotlight on the invaluable work they do throughout our industry.
We reached out to our friends at SSAFA to discuss more about their key priorities, challenges and support for the Charity Cycle…
Who is SSAFA?
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has been a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans, and their families in their time of need since 1885.
For 140 years we have provided welfare and wellbeing assistance that is tailored to our Armed Forces community. We know about the unique demands of service life, whether in the UK or overseas, and we continue to meet the demand for support to enable the entire Armed Forces family to thrive, and in 2024, we did that for around 55,000 people.
SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person and their family, any time they need us, and, in any way, they need us.
What are the biggest challenges your organisation faces right now?
The need for our services is growing and becoming more complex every year. Today, we’re seeing more people facing bigger, tougher challenges, and that means the cost of delivering each case is rising too.
At the same time, we’re evolving to a new volunteer landscape. People still want to give back, but how they do it is changing. We’re adapting to ensure volunteering with SSAFA is meaningful, flexible, and accessible to all whether young or old, or from a military background or not. Put simply, there is a place for everyone in SSAFA.
But through it all, what keeps us going is you, our amazing supporters and fundraisers. You’re the reason we can continue to stand beside our Armed Forces community just when they need us most so that they never battle alone.
How does your work contribute to making the UK a better place?
By supporting members of the Armed Forces community, we’re helping those who’ve served our country live with dignity, security, and independence. Our work reduces homelessness, improves mental wellbeing, strengthens families, and restores
confidence in people who’ve often reached breaking point.
These outcomes ripple outward, all of which contribute to healthier, more connected communities across the UK.
What does being a beneficiary of the ADS Charity Cycle 2025 mean to your organisation?
It means the world to us.
Not only does the event raise vital funds, but it also raises awareness of the issues facing the Armed Forces community. We’re incredibly grateful to ADS and the cyclists for choosing to support SSAFA and helping us continue our mission.
What would you say to someone considering donating?
Your support genuinely changes lives. In fact, in some cases, your support saves lives.
A donation to SSAFA means a member of the Armed Forces community in crisis has someone to turn to. It means a military family can keep the heating on. It means a struggling young recruit doesn’t fall through the cracks. No matter the size of your gift, you’re making a difference.
Thanks to the generosity of people like you, we can help thousands of British Armed Forces service personnel, veterans, and their families when they come to us in times of need.
But we can only do it with your support.
Your donation helps us to continue our work with the Armed Forces community, providing comfort and hope to some of our bravest men, women, and children.
Thank you!
If funding wasn’t a limitation, what would be your dream project or initiative?
If we had unlimited funding, our dream would be to supercharge our organisational transformation, bringing rapid, expert, personalised support to every corner of the UK. Imagine every member of the Armed Forces community, no matter where they
are, being just a phone call or click away from the right help at the right time.
We’d invest in world class digital tools including apps, so that the Armed Forces community could access support 24/7, while our volunteers and employees are empowered with everything they need to respond swiftly and compassionately.
But most importantly, we’d go beyond crisis support. We’d be there earlier, reaching people before things fall apart. Preventing homelessness. Catching mental health struggles early. Supporting families before they’re overwhelmed.
With your support, we’re already moving toward this vision. But if the sky were the limit, we’d make sure no one in our Armed Forces community ever slips through the cracks.
Because no one should ever battle alone.
With you beside us, some may never have to.
Can you share a success story that highlights the impact of your work?
Two recent stories come from Lee and Dean, who generously shared their experiences and the difference SSAFA made in their lives.
Lee
Growing up around crime and gangs, Lee chose a different path and joined the Army. A proud soldier, illness ended his career, leaving him grieving his identity and home. Unprepared for civilian life and facing personal tragedy, Lee was overwhelmed. SSAFA stepped in. Veteran mentor Laurence offered emotional and practical help – securing housing, funding essentials, and providing friendship. With Laurence’s support, Lee and his family rebuilt their lives. When Lee was lost, SSAFA guided him. When he needed a friend, we were there.
Dean
After 25 years in the military, Dean’s battles were far from over. Haunted by memories of Bosnia and struggling with civilian life, he faced flashbacks, loss, and homelessness. At rock bottom, he contacted SSAFA. Caseworker Gayle helped him find housing, secure funding, and rebuild his life. SSAFA gave Dean and his daughter a safe home and a fresh start. He trained alongside veterans and is now an assistant site manager with big ambitions. Dean says, “My life is completely different
now.” When Dean shouted for help, SSAFA answered. When he stumbled, we picked him up. No one should ever battle alone.
You can watch them tell their stories here (Lee and Dean) or read them in full here.
What challenges do the communities you serve face, and how does your charity help?
Our support covers both regulars and reserves in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force and their families, including anyone who has completed National Service. We know and understand the unique demands of service life, whether in the UK or overseas, and in times of need, we help to enable the Forces family to thrive.
Our recent research shows that service leavers aged 25-64 need more specialised support. The challenges they face are complex – from low income to life-changing injuries or hidden wounds, like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Armed with this information, we’re improving our services for younger, working-age veterans, and we will make sure they know we’re here when they need us.
SSAFA helps the Armed Forces family in a number of ways, though our focus is on providing direct support to individuals in need of physical or emotional care.
Addiction, relationship breakdown, debt, homelessness, post-traumatic stress, depression, and disability are all issues that can affect our members of our Armed Forces community. Many of these problems only become apparent when an individual leaves their life in the Forces and join ‘Civvy Street’.
SSAFA is committed to helping these men and women overcome these problems, and rebuild their lives, ensuring no one is left behind.
What are your charity’s goals for the next year?
At SSAFA, we’re entering one of our most exciting chapters yet and its thanks, in no small part, to supporters like ADS and everyone taking on this challenge in July that we can.
Over the next year, we’re rolling out a new way of delivering our casework through regional hubs as part of our Network Delivery Programme. This means faster, more consistent support for those who turn to us; while giving our incredible volunteers the time and tools to focus on what they do best: providing life changing help to our Armed Forces community.
We’re also continuing to evolve our digital services, so we can reach even more people, whether they need us online, in person, or a mix of both. And with new contracts secured in Cyprus and across the RAF, we’re proud to keep growing our
frontline support where it’s needed most.
Everything we’re doing is driven by one goal: to ensure no one in our military community ever has to battle life’s toughest moments alone.
What would you say to the cyclists taking on this challenge to support your charity?
Thank you all, so much, and good luck!
You’re doing something amazing, not just physically, but emotionally and practically for those we support. Every mile you cycle helps us go further for the Armed Forces community.
We’re incredibly proud to have you riding for SSAFA.
