Page 11 - The Sandbag Times Issue No:58

All Call Signs

The 12 charities are:
• Homeless Veterans Project SC049441
• Lee Rigby Foundation
• Forgotten Veterans UK
• Woody’s Lodge
• Help for Homeless Veterans
• Outpost Charity
• Phoenix Heroes
• Pilgrim Bandits
• All Call Signs
• 353 Charity
• Pegasus Appreciation Group
• Veterans Aid.
round 6 months ago, former Paratrooper and Falklands
Veteran, Tony Ferguson, facing an all too familiar scenario of In July 2019, Veterans and their children were joined by international
Asuffering from PTSD and homelessness, approached us with an singer and Forces Sweetheart Kirsten Orsborn in a recording studio.
idea to release a charity single promoting awareness of these issues and Kirsten has continuously supported the Forces and Veterans charities
the growing rate of suicides within our veteran community. Money for 11 years. Kirsten was adopted by The Royal Marines Association as
raised would be distributed between smaller charities who provided, their sweetheart in 2014 and the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in
direct, immediate and critical support for veterans facing homeless- 2018. Kirsten is very proud to be the patron to Minds at War and The
ness, mental health, PTSD and addiction problems.
Homeless Veterans Project.
Initially the group was to be called Veterans Aid based on the “Band Charlotte Bailey, owner of the recording studio, Blue Fire Productions,
Aid” concept. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother” would send a poign- said, “I did not have to think twice about helping out such a fantastic
ant message. We subsequently discovered that we could not use the cause. It was great to see so much passion, as well as impressive talent,
Veterans Aid name as it was already a registered charity in England. all in one room. If this single makes a difference to just one veteran,
The Charity Veterans Aid have been very supportive throughout with then it is all worth it.”Charlotte advised on the project and was instru-
help and advice.
mental to the production and promotion.
Recently we approached the charity “All Call Signs” who provide a peer James Beaumont and Max Russell sound engineers helped structure
to peer service for veterans and who successful launched the “Beacon the recording. SAS Legend Rusty Firmin, Patron of the Charity record,
Alert” system via social media immediately alerting as many people as Donna, Anthony, Kirsten and other Veterans sang the song with
possible about missing vulnerable veterans and encouraging people to children and supporters of soldier skilled in action while serving their
help search. The name “All Call Signs” encompassed exactly what we country... Veterans Helping Veterans, Actions Not Words...
wanted to achieve - all services, every man woman and child com-
ing together to prevent further tragedy. All Call Signs were delighted
for us to name our band “All Call Signs” and to become one of the
beneficiary charities. Project Director’s Antony Stephen Malone and
Donna Armstrong asked Nicki Mortimer and her company “All Call
Signs Production LTD” to coordinate PR, Press enquires, finances and
project administration ensuring that funds generated get distributed
equally to the 12 selected charities involved, minus an administration
fee and relevant expenses.

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