Former England Captain urges veterans to seek support as Suffolk marks Armed Forces Day
Hundreds of people are expected at events around the county.
Former England captain Terry Butcher has urged veterans and their families to seek help if they are struggling, as communities across Suffolk prepare to mark Armed Forces Day this weekend.
Butcher was speaking at Combat2Coffee's Bigger Breakfast in Ipswich, an event designed to bring together veterans, serving personnel, military families and supporters while raising awareness of mental health support available to the Armed Forces community.
The event comes ahead of Armed Forces Day celebrations taking place in Stowmarket on today (27th June 2026) and Ipswich on Sunday.
Supporting veterans and their families
Combat2Coffee was founded to support veterans, serving personnel, first responders and others affected by mental health challenges.
Butcher said the organisation's aim is to help people access support before they reach crisis point.
"The mission that we have with Combat2Coffee and obviously myself is to get help to the veterans and their families and anybody else who has a mental health problem," he said.
"We just want to help people."
The former footballer has previously spoken publicly about the loss of his son Christopher, a former Army officer, and said his family's experiences had highlighted the importance of ensuring support is available.
"We know what it's like for families to suffer and we don't want that," he said.
"So we've got to work all together with all the charities."
'If you can help one person'
Butcher said raising awareness remains one of the biggest challenges, particularly for people who may be reluctant to seek help.
"We've got to try and make the veterans come to us or come to other organisations where they can get help," he said.
"It's just getting awareness, getting that awareness to people."
Asked what more could be done, he said support often starts with individual conversations.
"If you can help one person, then you've done a really good job, and then that person can help somebody else and so forth," he said.
Looking to expand across the country
Combat2Coffee already runs a number of initiatives, including its Medals to Matches programme, which helps veterans attend football matches during the Remembrance period.
Butcher said the organisation hopes to expand its reach in the coming years through partnerships with businesses, charities and community groups.
"We're very ambitious," he said.
"We feel we're on to a good thing here.
"We'd love to have more partnerships with a lot more charities and a lot more companies as well."
However, he said maintaining strong roots in Suffolk would remain important.
"We've got to make sure that we have a good footing in Suffolk, especially, and then around North Essex and around Norfolk," he said.
Armed Forces Day celebrations
Suffolk's official Armed Forces Day event takes place at Stowmarket Recreation Ground today from 11am until 3pm.
The free event will feature military displays, live entertainment, forces charities, community organisations and family activities.
Ipswich Borough Council will also host an Armed Forces Day celebration at Christchurch Park's Mansion Lawn on Sunday, featuring live music and activities for all ages.