01 April 2025
Throughout March, FirstPort colleagues joined hundreds of people across the country to take part in The Great Tommy Sleep Out, raising vital funds to support homeless veterans.
The campaign, led by the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), sheds light on the struggles faced by veterans who don’t have a safe place to call home.
The fundraising efforts kicked off with FirstPort Managing Director Martin King spending a night in -2°C temperatures on the deck of HMS Cavalier.
Colleagues from the Tembani Court retirement development in Paignton also took on the challenge, spending the night on the seafront near to the development.
Resourcing Partner Zara and her family took part in The Great Tommy Sleep Out in tribute to her late grandfather. She said: “Supporting the Armed Forces is incredibly important to me and my family. My grandad was an active member of the Royal British Legion and marched in local parades until he passed away in 2017. We were so proud of him.”
Whilst many took part in single-night Sleep Outs, FirstPort Property Manager Damian took things to the next level. He became the first and only person in the UK to sleep outside for the entire month as part of the campaign.
Having spent years interacting with veterans and military personnel before joining FirstPort, Damian says: “I understand the sacrifices they made as soldiers and the long-lasting impact it had on their lives. The Great Tommy Sleep Out is my way of giving something back and will hopefully help those less fortunate than me.”
Damian has endured freezing temperatures, frost-covered mornings, and the 4:30am wake-up calls of chirping birds throughout the course of the fundraising.
To round off the month of fundraising, a group of colleagues joined 70 other fundraisers at the Detling Showground in Maidstone and slept in a recreated World War I trench.
Among those in the group is Sean, a Development Manager from Essex, who knows firsthand the challenges many ex-service personnel face after leaving the military.
After leaving the military, Sean was homeless, unemployed, and battling severe depression and anxiety. It wasn’t until military charities stepped in, providing mental health support and essential funding, that Sean was able to rebuild his life.
Sean explained:
“Veterans are often forgotten about when there are no conflicts being reported. The battle doesn’t end when we take off our uniforms. Many of us are fighting battles that last a lifetime.”
This experience is why Sean is passionate about supporting FirstPort’s charity partner Tommy Club, which is part of the RBLI. He adds: “The work Tommy Club does is lifesaving. Many forget that military service isn’t just a job, it’s a whole way of life.
“Transitioning back to civilian life is incredibly difficult, and many veterans need support to navigate that shift.”
Making a difference
Whether donating, spending a night in a trench, a month in a tent, or camping out in their gardens, colleagues at FirstPort have shown unwavering support to raise funds for veterans who don’t have a safe place to call home.
If you’d like to find out more about FirstPort’s work with Tommy Club, go to: https://tommyclub.co.uk/firstport/
