Express & Star

Fun day at Black Country pub to Help A Squaddie

A Black Country pub owner has raised hundreds of pounds for a military charity.

Published
Trudy Bethell from Willenhall. With her is: James Lloyd 10 and Evie Horobin 8

Simon Moore, who owns The Croft pub on Hydes Road, Wednesbury, organised a fun day to help raise funds for Rugeley-based charity Help A Squaddie.

More than £350 was raised on the day, which will be added to with an upcoming raffle.

Around 10 stalls, live music and a BBQ kept locals entertained when around 150 people came to the fun day on Monday May 6.

Simon said: "It went really well, it was busy.

"We still have the raffle to go, which is being done on Saturday, so we should raise more money from that to add to around £350 we made.

"It was busier than we expected, it was good for the community and to bring them back together.

Trudy Bethell from Willenhal

"We want to make a positive out of negatives here, and people did enjoy themselves.

"100 per cent of the money will go to helping the veterans, and Help A Squaddie came and put a stall up on the day too, the money will make a difference.

"It's something for the community, I'm sick of negatives around Wednesbury so we want positives.

"If I can help I will, it's in my blood, it's nice to support people and we'll carry on these events, we're aiming for another one in August."

Help A Squaddie was founded in September 2015 with the initial aim of helping to re-house ex-service personnel that have been made homeless.

Now, the focus is on tackling the issues that veterans suffer from results in them living on the streets, before giving them support in housing and employment.