News

The Rangers Charity Foundation is delighted to announce three services-related charities have been selected for our Armed Forces Partnership for season 2021/22.

The Foundation has pledged to raise £15,000 to be split among the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, RAF Benevolent Fund and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Supporters will be able to help raise funds for the partnership at Ibrox at this weekend’s Armed Forces Day match against Hibernian FC, by donating to volunteers at the turnstiles who will have collection buckets.

The Foundation has donated over £190,000 in cash to armed forces and veterans’ charities to date, as well as providing significant in-kind support.

Foundation Director Connal Cochrane said:

“This is a significant year for Rangers Football Club as it celebrates its 150th anniversary and as joint gold award holders (alongside the Rangers Charity Foundation) in the MOD’s Employer Recognition Scheme, we are pleased to be able to celebrate the service, dedication and sacrifice made by the armed forces on Sunday 3rd October but also to make a lasting difference via our Armed Forces Fund and continuing our charitable work throughout the year supporting veterans in the community.”

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is the RAF’s leading welfare charity. They exist to support current and former members of the RAF and their families. In 2020, they spent £26M supporting more than 63,700 members of the RAF Family.

Gavin Davey, Area Director at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: 

 “We are absolutely delighted to be one of the chosen charities to benefit from the Rangers Charity Foundation’s Armed Forces Fund during the 2021/22 season.

“The commitment to support serving personnel and veterans through its Armed Forces Fund is commendable and mirrors the RAF Benevolent Fund’s mission to be there for the whole of the RAF Family. Our work wouldn’t be possible without organisations like the Rangers Charity Foundation, so from all of us here at the Fund, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you.”

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity is the principal charity of the Royal Navy. It supports sailors, marines and their families, for life. 

 Adrian Bell, chief executive of the RNRMC, said:

“The support of the Rangers Charity Foundation is a tremendous boost for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, particularly for our work in Scotland where the serving Royal Navy and Royal Marines population is greater than in the other branches of the Armed Forces.

“The Charity’s complete modernisation of the Drumfork Community Centre, at the heart of naval family accommodation in Helensburgh on the west coast of Scotland, was recently completed. Largely unchanged for 60 years, the refurbishment constituted the biggest single capital investment project ever undertaken by the Charity and coincided with the complete relocation of the Submarine Service – and therefore all of the families of Royal Navy submariners – from Plymouth to HM Naval Base Clyde. We very much hope that our association with the Rangers Charity Foundation will enable us to continue to support all members of the Royal Navy family in Scotland past and present and provide them with the support which their service deserves.”

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the Army’s national charity; here for soldiers, veterans and their families for life and has existed since 1944. Regional Director for Scotland, Charles Dunphie added:

“Following 18 months when soldiers have provided vital support to the nation’s Covid response, I am delighted that Rangers FC and the Foundation continue to provide such staunch support to the Armed Forces in return.  It’s great to be standing with Royal Navy’s and Royal Air Force’s own charities as Rangers Charity Foundation partners this year.”

Find out more about our Armed Forces Charity Partners.