Soldiers offered free tickets as thanks

Tuesday, 3 November 2009 12:00 AM

By Emmeline Saunders

Soldiers from the armed forces will be given free tickets to football matches and gigs in recognition of their services.

Footballer Gary Lineker and David Cameron joined Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC today to launch Tickets for Troops (T4T), which offers tickets to all serving military personnel and veterans who have been discharged through injury since 2001.

Mr Cameron announced his plans to set up the project in July this year, but T4T will not be formally affiliated to the Conservatives.

The leader of the opposition said: "Tickets for Troops is all about people coming together to say to the armed forces: thank you, we respect you and we recognise the sacrifice you are making for us."

The tickets, for events such as football and cricket matches, boxing contests, theatre performances and gigs, will be available from today for a donation of £1 on the T4T website for eligible servicemen and women.

LC Johnson Beharry, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his courageous acts in Iraq, said: "This is a fantastic idea and it is heartening and uplifting for any serving soldier or ex-soldier to know that people really appreciate the work they do and this is a brilliant way of demonstrating respect for our armed forces."

The donations generated from each ticket will be distributed across service charities.

Special event coverage

ESRC logo

Festival of Social Sciences: Celebrating the Social Sciences

Evidence-based policy should not be a radical concept. It needs to be celebrated.

ESRC logo

Festival of Social Sciences: 2 languages: 2 brains, 2 minds, 2 cultures?

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences, the Deafness Cognition And Language Research Centre (DCAL) hosted an event exploring the powerful benefits of bilingualism in spoken and sign languages, for hearing and deaf people alike - benefits that reach hearing and deaf people alike.

Opinion Former Events

Voice: Feeling stressed? Understand yourself? Now, move forward Conference

Application forms are now available for an exciting conference in Manchester. The fun-packed day will give you practical solutions and advice on managing stress and time to help you achieve a work/life balance.

BHA: The Marriage Debate - ‘This house would legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales'

Two weeks before the Government’s consultation on same-sex marriage draws to a close, Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association is participating in a debate hosted by Catholic Voices on the motion, ‘This House Would Legalise Same-Sex Marriage’.

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition and Conference

This one-day event is targeted at professionals operating in the information destruction industry, and aims at keeping delegates updated on recent developments in their sector, providing an opportunity to network with fellow professionals, whilst offering access to an informative exhibition and a comprehensive conference programme.

ABI: The Future of Long-term Savings & Retirement Income - Automatic Enrolment and Beyond Conference

The Future of Long-term Savings & Retirement Income - Automatic Enrolment and Beyond Conference

Take the Gold Challenge for St Dunstan's

We provide lifelong support for blind and visually impaired ex-Service men and women. You can help give more blind heroes an independent future by taking the Gold Challenge

TACT: 2013 Virgin London Marathon

Join TACT at one of the greatest sporting events on the planet and help give a child in care a future to smile about.

Newsletter sign up

By signing-up you agree to the terms of use and privacy policy.

Unsubscribe