Christmas Presents For Our Soldiers

[starrs]

We are going to send a shoe box of goodies to our soldiers serving abroad this Christmas. My question is does anybody know if postage is free for such an item. I can't seem to find anywhere that knows the answer.

Obviously, we don't mind paying postage for one or two boxes but if it is free then we can send more boxes.

Thanks for any help.

[skyep]

starrs - I actually don't know, but here's Royal Mails customer service telephone number - 08457 740 740 xx

[starrs]

Thanks for the quick answer. I didn't think of doing that.

[skyep]

starrs -Can you let me know the address to send parcels, also any info you find out about postal charges xx

[4GS]

skyep
simply address it to:
A soldier in Afghanistan
or
A soldier in Iraq

The Post Office and BFPO will do the rest

[starrs]

skyep - no problem, will let you know.

[starrs]

skyep - unfortunately, it is not as straightforward as I had hoped. I got through to the BFPO help line and they said any parcel up to a maximum of 2kg is sent free of charge. The problem is they prefer it if you address the parcel to a certain soldier, in previous years if you address it to an anonymous soldier for distribution then it causes major delays with the rest of the soldiers' christmas post.

The second problem is that the BFPO have just moved offices from Mill Hill to Northolt so there is a major upheaval.

The lady suggested I ring my local barracks or army recruitment office for the name of a local soldier who could benefit from a gift. If I have problems at that end then I should ring the BFPO in a weeks time when things have settled down to see if they can help further.

Hope this helps a little.

PS the phone number for the BFPO help line is 08457 697 978.

I shall keep you informed.

[wolf63]

Maybe some of the national newspapers have some sort of arrangement in place to send stuff to the armed forces.

Might be worth checking the papers or their websites.

[skyep]

starrs - Thanks for all your information! xx

[Bewlay Bros]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Q uestion472980.html

more ideas.

[phil04029]

i did see something the other week in take a break about that...worth picking up a copy im sure it will be in again

[tickledtrout]

A woman at work son goes out to Iraq this weekend and she has asked for people to send out parcels to soldiers who have no family. When she gives the address I will post it on. All I know at the moment is that the regiment will be The Royal Lancashire

[c3136500]

Hey. My Fiance is in the army, there is a support forum for girls whos husbands and boyfriends are in the army. Alot of the girls on there have their Other halfs out in Iraq and Afghan over xmas, if you contact anna whos the administrator [email protected] once she has spoken to you she might be able to get some of the girls to find out the names etc of single soldiers who dont have wives etc to send them parcels, as its usually those guys who need the extra moral boost. Hope this helps xx

[c3136500]

Also the things they love being sent out are, sweets, travel games, dvds, cds, magazines, novelty gifts, then practical things like shower gel, shampoo, razors.

There are alot of things that you cannot send out though so if you go onto the MOD website they will be able to tell you what not to send :D

[pingu97]

try www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk, that'll tell you everything you need to do, oh if someone does this could they let me know the email for the nottingham contact laura please? my email is playing up & wont display it, thanks!

[starrs]

thanks everyone for your replies.

pingu97 - the email address you need is [email protected]

tickledtrout - if you could pass on any details I would be grateful

c3136500 - thanks for the info I shall contact Anna

skyep - the only contact details I have been able to come up with so far is the following:-

Si Doyle (Welfare Officer)
UKLTT, OCS Camp Alamo
BFPO 758

Postage is charged at UK mainland rates and packages must weigh no more than 2kg.

Si will use the gifts sent to decorate the soldiers' recreation hut.

[c3136500]

Postage is meant to be free