Defence Discount Service (DDS), the official MoD discount service, has contributed over £275,000 to military projects that support current and former members of the armed forces in the last 12 months. Since its launch in 2012, DDS has given a percentage of all revenue to charitable causes that support the wellbeing of the Armed Forces community, endeavouring to help those who’ve served our nation both at home and abroad.
In the last year, DDS has donated funds to The Army Central Fund, RAF Central Fund, the Permanent Joint Headquarters Operations Welfare Fund and The Royal Navy. The funds will be used for a range of projects, including providing mobile workout stations to deployed RAF personnel, supporting physical activity, and addressing social isolation with children and young people. Money will also go towards the Defence Medical Welfare Service, which provides practical and emotional support to members of the Armed Forces community on a health treatment pathway; the Warrior Programme, which offers mental strength and resilience training to those affected by stress and anxiety; and the Army Welfare Service, which provides community support through various initiatives.
One example of an activity providing this support is Out of School Adventures, which offers high-quality activities for children and young people during school holidays, promoting wellbeing and addressing social isolation.
Speaking about the contributions, Tom Dalby, CEO at Defence Discount Service, said: "We are thrilled to be able to support these important initiatives aimed at improving the wellbeing of military personnel and their families," “From the very beginning, we have been dedicated to supporting the members of our Armed Forces community who have served both domestically and internationally. As a result, we consistently strive to allocate a portion of our revenue towards this cause, making a meaningful impact on the lives of those who serve our country." The Army Central Fund secretary, LT Col Julian Panton, said: “We continue to be extremely grateful to Defence Discount Service and its members for the generous donations we have received over recent years. This financial backing enables us to fund dedicated, practical and immediate support for the Army community and help to change individual lives for the better.”
Royal Air Force Central Fund Operations Manager, Karen Hansford, said: “Thanks to the invaluable donation from the Defence Discount Service and our partnerships with health and fitness providers, the RAF Central Fund is able to provide more opportunities for serving personnel to access sports and physical activities. With the help of the fund, thousands of personnel have trained and participated in hundreds of sports and physical activities at all levels, improving their mental health and wellbeing.” Tom Dalby continues: “We are honoured to support all of these projects and look forward to seeing the positive impact of these initiatives on the wellbeing of military personnel.”
Defence Discount Service enables its members to access savings on a variety of items such as holidays, cars, days out, fashion, electronics and more for free through its website. The veteran community makes up approximately 3.8% of the UK population. To give members access to discounts at shops, restaurants, and venues, a Defence Privilege Card can be purchased for £4.99, and is valid for five years. The card is available to Armed Forces personnel, veterans, military spouses and members of the defence community.
With a wide range of offers, including discounts on holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance and tech, members can also sign up for free online to access hundreds of digital deals. For more information on eligibility and the discounts available, visit www.defencediscountservice.co.uk
