Belfast International Tattoo puts spotlight on SSAFA’s support for Armed Forces community in Northern Ireland

01 September 2026

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is using its role as featured charity at this week’s Belfast International Tattoo to shine a light on the support available to serving personnel, veterans and their families across Northern Ireland.

For more than 140 years, SSAFA has been a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need. Today, volunteers across Northern Ireland continue that work in local communities, providing personalised support to people facing difficult circumstances and helping them access the assistance they need.

Everyones circumstances are different. SSAFA’s trained volunteers take the time to understand what is happening in someone’s life and work with them to identify the right support. This can include practical, financial and emotional assistance, with the aim of helping people regain independence and move forward with dignity.

The charity’s work in Northern Ireland is delivered by volunteers who give their time to support people with a connection to the Armed Forces, often working one-to-one with individuals and families at challenging points in their lives.

This weekend, that work will be put firmly in the spotlight as SSAFA Northern Ireland joins thousands of visitors at the Belfast International Tattoo at The O2 Arena, Belfast.

SSAFA has been chosen as the Tattoo’s featured charity for 2026, giving its volunteers an opportunity to meet members of the public, speak to the Armed Forces community about the support available to them and encourage more people to get involved with the charity locally.

Robert Dunne MBE, Branch and Regional Chair for SSAFA Northern Ireland, said: “People can sometimes be reluctant to ask for help, particularly those who have spent their lives being expected to cope with whatever is put in front of them. One of the most important messages we can get across is that support is there and there is no shame in asking for it.

“Here in Northern Ireland, our volunteers give their time to listen, understand what someone needs and help them find a way forward. That support is personal to the individual and can make a genuine difference not only to veterans and serving personnel, but to their families too.

“Being chosen as the featured charity for the Belfast International Tattoo gives us a fantastic opportunity to make more people aware of that work. There will be thousands of people under one roof who care deeply about our Armed Forces community, and we want them to know who SSAFA is, how we can help and, perhaps, how they could become part of what we do.

“We’re very proud of our volunteers across Northern Ireland and I hope people coming to the Tattoo will take a few minutes to come and meet them.”

The Belfast International Tattoo returns to The O2 Arena on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September, bringing together local and international performers for two nights of military music, culture and pageantry.

The spectacular combines military bands, massed pipes and drums, precision performances and contemporary entertainment, with the 2026 line-up bringing performers from home and overseas to Belfast.

Tickets for the Belfast International Tattoo are still available here: belfastinternationaltattoo.com/tickets