On Tuesday 24th June, during Armed Forces Week, we co-hosted the first-ever Bigger Breakfast at Ipswich YM Rugby Club alongside our Patron and football legend, Terry Butcher.
The morning brought together over 500 community members, including serving military personnel, veterans, cadets, and their families, who shared breakfast in an atmosphere of connection, support, and shared purpose.
The Bigger Breakfast aimed to shine a spotlight on a long-overlooked group – the families of military personnel who are indirectly affected by the mental health challenges faced by their loved ones.
This morning marked what we hope will become a permanent part of Armed Forces Week – a national Community Day dedicated to recognising and honouring the silent heroes among us: the families of our armed forces personnel.
A committed advocate for veterans’ mental health, Terry Butcher’s involvement is deeply personal.
In 2017, he lost his son, Christopher, an Army captain who served in Afghanistan and was diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) following his service.
Terry shared:
I became a Patron of Combat2Coffee because my son, Captain Christopher Butcher, returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2009 with severe and complex PTSD. At that time, there was nothing that could be done for him – he was on a downward spiral and as a family we felt all alone. There was nothing and no-one we could turn to.
Thankfully today there are many options and charities who have filled that void, organisations like Combat2Coffee and all those present today.
But I still wanted to highlight the incredible work families do behind the scenes.
At first when I suggested the Bigger Breakfast to Nigel and his team, I didn’t realise all the hard work it takes to organise such a great event.
They have worked tirelessly to make this event a success and I’d like to thank every one of them alongside our sponsors and volunteers for making today possible.
We were especially honoured to welcome the Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns, whose presence underscored the importance of this cause.
Alistair didn’t just attend – he got involved, chatting with attendees, serving breakfast, and even making coffee with our team.
During his speech, Alistair shared:
It is not only the individual that served, but the whole family, and so it is our job to make sure they get the right support and we champion them.
It was incredibly moving to see our community unite – from serving personnel and veterans to their families, local businesses, and wider community members.
Over 60 incredible volunteers came together to help us create and host The Bigger Breakfast – from setting up marquees to serving breakfast with a smile, their efforts made all the difference.
Local businesses also used the event to show their support in tangible ways. The ITFC Foundation and Tru7 Group signed the Armed Forces Covenant, recognising the contribution that service personnel, veterans, and military families make to their organisation, community, and country.
Our CEO and Founder, Nigel Seaman said:
I started with one goal to support other veterans and their families, through meaningful community contributions, and, I hope you agree, good coffee.
Since then, we’ve grown not in just size, but in spirit, and we have built something that extends far beyond coffee.
What we have is a powerful network of people who understand each other, stand by each other and look out for each other.
The Bigger Breakfast is an event that perfectly reflects what Combat2Coffee is all about and what we can do.
We have the Minister for Veterans and Peoples Affairs with us today, Al Carns, and his presence here today sends a clear message that our community matters and that support for veterans and their families must remain a priority.
We are deeply grateful to the businesses and sponsors who backed this event, including: Ipswich Town Football Club, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Sizewell C, Sunbelt Rentals, Birketts, StrategiQ, GBS, Signs For You, Optimus, Stoke Sauces, Akira Financial , Bon Appetit, David Button Funerals, and Green Rock Group Manufacturing.
Their support helped create a space of recognition and connection for the families who are so often unseen within the military community.
This event was never just about sharing a meal. It was about standing with those families who carry the emotional weight of service — often in silence — and saying: We see you.
Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and sponsored The Bigger Breakfast – together, you helped make our message loud and clear.
To get involved next year, please register your interest by emailing us at hello@combat2coffee.co.uk