Local Armed Forces charity reminds Glasgow to back its veterans this Christmas 

12 December 2024

While Christmas is a joyous occasion for many, it can be an especially tough time of year for Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families. 

Families may have lost loved ones or have near and dear deployed on service; feelings of isolation may worsen for veterans; and serving personnel may feel the distance more intensely when deployed away from home over the holidays. 

That is why Glasgow’s Helping Heroes (GHH), a partnership between SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity and Glasgow City Council, is preparing Christmas gift bags for veterans across the city, who may otherwise go without a present this year. 

Ryan MacDonald, Operations Manager at Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, said: “The idea that veterans who served for our country will go without gifts this Christmas simply does not feel right. Our team identified several veterans we have helped who are otherwise unlikely to receive gifts and have sourced a range of items to bring a little festive warmth to their doors. We want them to know that we are there for them, and that they are in our thoughts this Christmas. We’d encourage anyone who may know a veteran in Glasgow to reach out to them this Christmas.”

Prepared by the GHH team with items secured using some of a donation from the Yarrows Recreational Club, dozens of veterans in Glasgow will receive a gift bag with a tin of shortbread, winter socks, Christmas candle, shower gel or lotion and a hot water bottle. For those with children, the gift bags will also include socks, chocolate and an activity book. 

Ryan added: “Donations help us support the Armed Forces community in Glasgow, and we are very grateful to the ladies bowling section of Yarrows Recreational Club for their backing.”

Glasgow’s Helping Heroes provides hands-on support to serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families facing problems with housing and homelessness, employability and training, finances, benefits and physical and mental health.