A Driving Force Awarded SSAFA Sir James Gildea Partnering Award 2023/4
We are extremely proud to announce that yesterday our Directors Steve Shaw MA, FCILT, CMCIPD and Benn Laidler MBE were presented on behalf of A Driving Force for SSAFA with the SSAFA Sir James Gildea Partnering Award for 2023/24 by their President, HRH Prince Michael of Kent at SSAFA’s Annual Members’ Meeting held in London at the Victory Services Club. on 11 July 2024.
SSAFA’s Sir James Gildea Awards were created to recognise the staff – voluntary and paid – for their exceptional contributions and commitment to SSAFA’s activities and values.
Benn and Steve have spent decades in the British Armed Forces. Benn served 23 years in the Army Air Corps and was deployed in conflict zones around the world from Bosnia to Afghanistan to Iraq. Steve spent more than 40 years in the Royal Navy, serving in operations in the Mediterranean, the Gulf, the Barents Sea, and the Far East. They have fundraised for military charities since 2010, and first approached SSAFA in 2014.
In 2022, the two joined forces to create Torque Events with three Directors of Company X Consulting Group, who were substantial investors in Steve and Benn’s 2022 charity event. It made sense to combine the financial power of the Company X Consulting Group with the motoring, fundraising passion and drive of Benn and Steve. Together the five Directors have created something exciting and unique, which is Torque Events.
Torque Events arrange the ultimate luxury, fully escorted, driving events and tours across the UK, Europe and beyond, ensuring unforgettable experiences of the best roads, destinations, and hotels.
Speaking about their fundraising and partnering with SSAFA, Benn said: “To date we have raised over £750,000 for military charities. We first approached SSAFA in 2014 and were so impressed with their wide range of work across the breadth of the Armed Forces community. SSAFA have been a fully supportive partner over the last 10 years.”
We are now gearing up for the 2024 edition of our flagship event, A Driving Force for SSAFA. This biennial charity event involves one hundred people, in fifty vehicles, including participants and support vehicles, on an exhilarating 10-day journey across scenic European routes. This year’s route will cover the Iberian Peninsula and Gibraltar from 30 July to 9 August 2024, with the aim of raising £120,000 for SSAFA.
SSAFA said,
“A Driving Force for SSAFA has been nominated for their outstanding commitment to advocating for the Armed Forces community and their wavering and continued devotion to fundraising for SSAFA through the Rally for Heroes events.
Since aligning with SSAFA in 2014, they have raised a phenominal £700,000 for the charity.
This was achieved through the outstanding commitment and continued devotion of the founders, alongside all participants, and with the support of the fundraising team at SSAFA. By raising over £700,000, they have supported hundreds to fundraise and continue to be exemplary SSAFA ambassadors.”
