Armed Forced veteran in Warwick buzzing after landing fundraising recognition

A former Armed Forces veteran based in Warwick as been praised for his life-changing fundraising with Wasps.

Kevin Bowman, branch secretary at Warwick-based military charity SSAFA, has been recognised with the charity’s Sir James Gildea Award after driving a long-term fundraising initiative with the Black and Golds that has raised more than £12,000 over four years.

The award is named after the charity’s founder, Sir James Gildea, which recognises a volunteer or employee’s contribution and commitment to SSAFA.

Kevin’s efforts in coordinating bi-annual fundraising events on Wasps match days, providing opportunities for veterans to attend rugby matches together for free, as well as arranging veteran visits to the Club’s training ground to meet first-team players, prompted SSAFA senior management to recognize Kevin.

The fundraising has contributed to SSAFA Coventry and Warwickshire’s £18,000 annual fundraising target, which answers more than 300 annual pleas for help from ex-serving Armed Forces personnel and their families across the county.

The funding enables SSAFA to provide financial and emotional support for Armed Forces veterans transitioning into civilian life. This includes providing mobility equipment, modifying homes with stairlifts, paying bills, and counselling among other services.

In a letter to Kevin confirming his award, SSAFA Chairman Lieutenant General Sir Gary Coward said: “You have been described as kind, knowledgeable, tenacious, diplomatic and practical - the very model of a SSAFA ambassador.

“Your unswerving focus over a long period of time to develop the relationship with Wasps Rugby Club and Ricoh Arena has brought much-needed and sizeable funds into SSAFA and makes you a unique and indispensable volunteer.”

Kevin served in the British Army between 1985 and 1995 across Europe in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, until he retired from frontline duty after suffering serious leg and spinal injuries following a 30-foot fall.

The 53-year-old, who joined SSAFA in 2001, said: “This award is the highest accolade you can receive within SSAFA, so I’m extremely honoured.

“SSAFA is a national charity with 96 offices and in my 19 years with the charity, this is the first time that the Coventry and Warwickshire office has had this level of recognition, which makes me especially proud and also goes to show what a great team I have behind me.

“If working with Wasps has taught me anything, it is the power that building relationships can bring.

“Many organisations tend to have their charity of the year and alternate, but with Wasps the support has been constant, and I can’t thank them enough.

“SSAFA relies solely on donations to continue to operate, and it’s not just the veterans that we support, it’s also their immediate family who have been impacted too.

“Loneliness is a big issue that we are tackling at the minute, so while donations pay a crucial role in funding our helpline and other specialist services, providing activities that like-minded veterans can attend together, such as Wasps matches, has really made a difference to improve their social lives.

“We’re aiming to raise at least another £18,000 in 2020; demand seems to rise for us every year. We will be out in the community as often as possible this year, given the current circumstances. With the help of Wasps we can give veterans and their families the support that they need.”

Verity Brown, Marketing Manager at Wasps, has worked with Kevin over the past four years to support his fundraising drive at SSAFA.

She added: “You can’t help but admire Kevin’s passion for supporting the Armed Forces community. It’s an area of the community that is close to a lot of people’s hearts at Wasps, from the first team all the way through to the boardroom, which is why we signed the Armed Forces covenant a couple of years ago.

“I am not surprised in the slightest that Kevin has picked up this award - it’s well deserved and hopefully this can spur them on to even more fundraising success with our support.”