A new partnership between the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) and Army Sport intends to promote the value of sport, the value of service, and the two charities’ roles in supporting serving and former soldiers.
The ABF has joined forces with Army Sport to help enhance Army Sport events, promote the value of sport, and increase awareness among the serving Army of the support the ABF provides to soldiers, veterans, and their families.
Sport in the Army helps to maximise the potential of its people and prepare soldiers to fight and win. Sport attracts talent, improves retention, and develops physical and mental fitness, leadership, and teamwork. It fosters purpose, cohesion, the ability to thrive under pressure, promotes continual learning and the courage to overcome fear.
Major General (Ret’d) Tim Hyams, Chief Executive, Army Benevolent Fund, said:
“Sport is about health, belonging, wellbeing, and social inclusion, which is why the ABF, as the Army’s national charity, supports and invests in it for soldiers. Being involved with sport significantly can increase quality of life and reduce the likelihood of people falling into need.
“At the same time, when members of the Army family do fall into need, the ABF is here to help. Last year, we spent £9.2m supporting 80,000 members of the Army family in 52 countries around the world; and a proportion of this expenditure was on programmes that derive positive outcomes through sport, enabling people move forward with their lives and thrive. We are delighted to partner with Army Sport such to shine a light on the value of sport, the value of serving in the Army, and ultimately to help enable more people to experience the benefits of being involved with sport.”
Major General (Ret’d) Darrell Amison, Chief Executive, Army Sport, said:
“I’m delighted Army Sport and the Army Benevolent Fund – two of the Army’s central charities – have decided to enter a mutually beneficial partnership. Through greater collaboration, there’s clear potential for Army Sport to support the ABF’s fundraising activity and to promote brand awareness across the significant breadth and depth of the Army Sport ecosystem. In return, sport can benefit from ABF sponsorship; the deployment of ABF resources to enhance match day and event experience; and the promotion of the value of sport as part of the ABF’s lifetime of support to soldiers, former soldiers, and their immediate families.”