The Lord Mayor’s Big Curry will be served for the first time in Birmingham on June 25 in aid of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (formerly the Army Benevolent Fund).

All profits from the event, at the Council House in Victoria Square, will go directly to the charity, which provides practical and financial assistance to soldiers, former soldiers and their families. The event is also timed to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the formation of the Army Cadet Force.

This is the first time that the Big Curry event has been held in the Midlands and follows hot on the heels of a similar event hosted by the Lord Mayor of London.

Organisers of the Birmingham event are now inviting West Midlands companies, organisations and individuals to join them and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham to help raise much needed funds.

Colonel Tony George MBE TD DL, Birmingham committee chairman of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, said: "We have seen a 30 per cent increase in applications for help from the charity in the last year.

"With the army at the forefront of conflicts around the world, it is important that we gain the support of the West Midlands to allow us to continue our work with soldiers, former soldiers and their families, now and long into the future."

Money raised from the Birmingham Big Curry will help to contribute towards the Current Operations Fund which means that it will directly assist those who are applying for help currently. This year, more than £7 million is needed by the charity to help provide this lifeline of medical, technical and financial support.

“Our soldiers put everything they’ve got on the line and it’s our job to ask for something from those of us that they serve to defend,” said Colonel George.

“At the same time, we want people to enjoy a curry with us and the Lord Mayor in the truly magnificent surroundings of the Council House”.

Tickets for the event cost £25 and are available from here or by emailing birminghambigcurry@soldierscharity.org directly.

More details can found at www.bigcurry.org.