David Cameron has helped to launch Tickets for Troops, a new initiative which offers the Armed Forces free tickets to big events including football matches and top music acts.
Thousands of tickets will be made available to all serving military personnel and to veterans who have been discharged through injury since 2001 at the new www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk website.
David explained that Ticket 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 Conservative leader first announced his ambition for this scheme in July 2009, and Tickets for Troops has since been set up as an independent not-for-profit company with huge support from the sports and entertainment worlds.
Tickets have been donated for top football and cricket matches, boxing contests, snooker, horse-racing events, theatre, and both classic and rock music concerts around the country.
Speaking at the launch, where he was joined by Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC, Gary Lineker and Joss Stone, David said:
“I’m proud of the part the Conservative Party has played in getting this off the ground and want to thank everyone for generously lending their time and support to this great cause.”