Coronavirus: Southsea armed forces charity All Call Signs fears donation crisis

Worried founders at Southsea-based armed forces group All Call Signs have said they are now ‘uncertain’ over the future of the organisation.

It comes as the organisation saw a sudden spike in demand as anxieties over the health crisis gripping the nation continue to soar.

Dan Arnold, co-founder of All Call Signs, said: ‘My calendar is completely empty. It’s really going to affect us. We’re seeing a huge increase in demand of people who are anxious because of all of this – and rightly so.

‘And yet people aren’t spending money. It’s such uncertain times they’re not actually spending money on helping charities. So we’re going to see a big up-rise in the demand but a real drop in our finding.

‘It’s a really uncertain time for us and we’re not sure how we’re going to weather it out other than just by rallying round and supporting the local community.’

The news comes as a major new fundraiser for the charity was axed as the coronavirus crisis deepened.

The Vocal for Veterans music festival was meant to take place at Southsea’s Fawcett Inn pub tomorrow and was tipped to raise in the region of £2,000 for All Call Signs.

But this has now been postponed, as people nationwide are urged to scale back social gatherings by health officials.

Andrew Hollis, a former Royal Engineer who broke his back on operation in Iraq, was behind the event and said he was gutted to have to call it off.

The dejected 40-year-old, of Wellington Grove, Portchester, said: ‘Unfortunately, due to the obvious crisis at the moment, we have had to postpone to the gig, Vocal for Veterans,

‘I am devastated as I have worked so hard for this, but we will be rearranging a date with all the same acts at the Fawcett Inn.’

In a fresh bid to drum up cash, All Call Signs has launched a new weekly online pub quiz.

Taking place every Friday, competitors can enter for £5 to be in with a chance of winning a £100 cash prize.

Stephen James, All Call Signs co-founder, said as well as supporting the charity, the quiz was also giving those isolated by Covid-19 a chance to socialise.

He added: ‘It is all too important, now more than ever, to rally around and support those who are isolated. We really hope people will join us and have fun and boost your wellbeing.’

The action begins tonight at 8pm and will feature 10 quick-fire rounds of 100 questions.

To sign-up, see allcallsigns.org/product/the-big-fat-quiz-of-the-week-entry, or for more details, visit All Call Signs’ Facebook page.