WIREDGOV

For the second year running, the Ideal Home Show is showing its support for the UK's Armed Forces by giving free entry to this year's show to all Service personnel.

All servicemen and women will be able to take their families to the event at Earls Court in London, from 11 to 27 March 2011, thanks to the show's support of the Tickets for Troops charity.

Troops can attend the event on any day, as well as supporting the official dedicated Troops Day on Saturday 12 March 2011, when the Ideal Home Show will present a schedule of activity throughout the day as a tribute to troops.

The Ideal Home Show is also supporting The Soldiers' Charity for the second year running with an 'Ideal Homes for Heroes' appeal. Last year this appeal raised £102,000 for the charity to fund home adaptations for injured troops.

These adaptations helped serving personnel and veterans to remain in their own homes and included a newly-refurbished bathroom for a 92-year-old veteran which provided him with a walk-in shower to help maintain his independence.

This year the show is aiming to raise £150,000. And the organisers will also donate 50 pence from every ticket sold to continue to help with vital home adaptations and improvements, general housing needs and homelessness for those who have suffered injuries.

Last year's show saw the 30-piece Royal Signals Band performing and activities included a traditional British street party and other military band performances.

The show will also be packed full of the latest trends, technological advancements and design innovations embracing the social attitudes of 21st century living.

To get free tickets all troops need to do is go to the Tickets for Troops website at Related Links and register their details.

The Tickets for Troops charity is also being supported by the Football Association (FA) again in 2011. Last year the FA donated 5,000 tickets for England fixtures and the FA Cup semi-finals to troops via the charity.

Earlier this month Stuart Pearce, England Under-21 Head Coach, visited troops in Afghanistan with the FA Cup where he revealed the continuation of the partnership with Tickets for Troops for the next 12 months.

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