On the 9th December 2020, NAAFI reached the momentous occasion of our 100th Birthday.
We would like to wish all our customers and employees, old and new, a very happy NAAFI Birthday!
Best Wishes The NAAFI Team
Coronavirus (COVID-19) update 1st April 2021 – We have all been living with COVID-19 restrictions for over a year now and whilst UK now has a roadmap out of lockdown, cases continue to rise in a third wave across Europe and the rest of the world.
At NAAFI our focus remains on keeping everyone safe while they are visiting our outlets or are recipients of our services. As the situation continues to evolve we will continue to work with each host country and maintaining a close action plan with local Command to ensure that our services are prioritised for those that need them the most.
Safety for everyone
Our support employees are working from home where possible - however this is clearly not an option for the vast majority of our employees serving in retail, catering, leisure, cleaning and on-board Naval ships. In order to protect our key workers, who remain in customer facing roles we, have implemented multiple controls. These controls also protect the health of our customers and those visiting our outlets.
Due to our geographical spread, our CV-19 controls vary by location and we ask all visitors to our sites to follow the appropriate CV-19 preventative measures as directed on site to protect themselves and others. These preventative measures may include the following:
Social distancing to minimise the risk of infection for both our customers and employees.
One-way systems in our smaller outlets to support the social distancing rules.
Card and contactless payments are encouraged in all locations to reduce cash handling.
Strict hygiene routines and regular cleaning daily cleaning is in place.
Hand sanitiser or hand washing stations are in place at all entrances and exits.
Our Customers
We are directly engaged with local Command groups on a regular basis, as well as providing regular updates to our customers on our local social media. We are grateful to our customers around the world for their continued support during this period.
Our Teams
We would like to thank all our NAAFI teams who are working tirelessly to maintain service to the Armed Forces wherever they need us, whether that is on board HM Ships or in far off locations such as Ascension Island, Falklands Islands, Gibraltar or Brunei. We would like to reassure our customers that we will continue to do our best so that the Armed Forces can continue to do what they do best.
Your NAAFI team
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The NAAFI Fund makes grants to British Armed Forces bases in the UK or overseas, for projects that improve the quality of life for serving personnel and their families living.
Round 1 of the NAAFI Fund opened in September 2020 and was very well received. We saw over 400 requests for £4.2m of funding. Every bid had merit and had to go through a stringent assessment process which resulted in 66 applications being approved. The lucky recipients of the awards were informed in March and we look forwards to catching up with each of them and sharing their progress with you in the coming months – watch this space!
Deadlines And Dates To Note
In April 2021, we will begin round 2 of the Fund with a plan to announce and award the successful bids in October 2021. The dates of the funding rounds will be announced on here and on the Armed Forces Covenant Trusts Trust’s website.
Find Out More
Full programme details, guidance and resources are available via the Trust’s website, www.covenantfund.org.uk
NAAFI was established by the British Government in 1920 when the Expeditionary Force Canteens (EFC) and the Navy and Army Canteen Board (NACB) were combined to run the recreational establishments needed by the Armed Forces, and to sell goods to servicemen and their families.
NAAFI expanded its operation over the next 17 years, supporting military bases and deployments across the world, from Bermuda and Jamaica, to Singapore and China. At the outbreak of WWII NAAFI grew exponentially to support the troops on active service, with the number of employees rising from 8,000 to a peak of 110,000 and the number of trading outlets growing from 1,350 to nearly 10,000.
Post war, NAAFI rescaled its operations, closing canteens at a rate of 200 per week and the number of employees reducing to 65,000 by 1947. From the 1950’s onwards, NAAFI has supported the British Forces at home and abroad, including the conflicts in The Falklands, the two Gulf Wars and Afghanistan amongst many others. Today NAAFI operates in far fewer locations but is present in Germany, Gibraltar, Brunei, the South Atlantic Islands and on board HM Ships, providing convenience and a ‘taste of home’ to our Forces and their families overseas.
NAAFI’s Naval Canteen Service provides a taste of home through our retail and wholesale service for ships alongside...
NAAFI’s Naval Canteen Service provides a taste of home through our retail and wholesale service for ships alongside and deployed in overseas waters. In addition, we also offer a wholesale service for RFA’s, submarines and small ships, thus supporting the entire Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel worldwide.
The Gurkhas have been based in Brunei since the 1960’s where NAAFI continues to provide a taste of home for both the...
The Gurkhas have been based in Brunei since the 1960’s where NAAFI continues to provide a taste of home for both the British as well as the Nepalese community. As well as operating a retail, leisure and wholesale business, Brunei is also home to the only Chinese restaurant, the Chautari, within NAAFI.
As a key operating and training base outside of the UK, NAAFI provide a mature, long-term retail, leisure, catering and...
As a key operating and training base outside of the UK, NAAFI provide a mature, long-term retail, leisure, catering and facilities management offer, to support the services and their families stationed in northern Germany.
British Forces Gibraltar is the name given to the Armed Forces stationed in the British overseas territory of...
British Forces Gibraltar is the name given to the Armed Forces stationed in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Gibraltar is used primarily as a training area and a stop-over for units and ships en route to and from deployments. NAAFI currently has a number of facilities in Gibraltar, providing an important link to home for service personnel and their families overseas.
Whilst many miles away from home NAAFI provides a retail and leisure offer to serving personnel and contractors in the...
Whilst many miles away from home NAAFI provides a retail and leisure offer to serving personnel and contractors in the Falkland Islands, providing a real ‘taste of home’, something we have done since 1982.
As a key stopping off point on route to the Falklands and part of the South Atlantic operation, NAAFI has provided services in Ascension Island since 1982.
Steve Marshall joined NAAFI in 2006 having held various senior roles within Tesco's international business in several countries. Steve joined the board in 2011 and was appointed Chief Executive in 2016.
Registered address: NAAFI Building 1/150, Room 103, Murrays Lane (PP19B), HM Naval Base Portsmouth, Portsmouth Hampshire, PO1 3NH