Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo gives £1M donation to military charities

Although the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a charity, each year it gives some of the money it has raised away to other causes. The organisation has managed to give its biggest donation to date, with £1 million being promised to charities throughout the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

The Tattoo is a yearly event that takes place on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, drawing thousands people every year. This year, the Tattoo also performed shows in Wellington, New Zealand and Melbourne, Australia. With 460,000 tickets being sold over 34 days.

It has been able to donate increasing amounts to other charities each year, with 2016's pledge being double what it managed in 2015. This means that it has donated a total of £9 million since being set up in 1950.

Of the money being donated by the Tattoo, half is to be split between 11 UK-based services and Arts charities. These include, The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF – The Soldiers' Charity, Combat Stress, The RAF Benevolent Fund, The Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League, the Venture Trust and Seafarers UK. 

The other half of the money will be donated to seven charities across Australia and New Zealand.

Chief executive and producer of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo told the Edinburgh Reporter: "Although we have made sizeable and sustained charitable donations over many years, most people do not appreciate this important part of our business; it is one of our principal ‘reasons for being’. The aim each year is to deliver the best Tattoo that we can and, if we can make a surplus, it is a huge privilege to be able to support those serving and retired of the Armed Forces and the Arts.

“Being able to contribute to the welfare of the men and women of our Armed Forces is incredibly important to us. The annual award of donations creates a real buzz amongst our Trustees and across the staff. This year has been particularly rewarding as we have also been able to make grants in Australia and New Zealand."