A CAMPAIGN commemorating the centenary of WWI has raised £1.8m for armed forces charities through a nationwide art installation.

There But Not There campaign features six-foot silhouettes of the ever-recognisable Tommy which have been erected around the UK, and since its launch earlier this year has raised £1.8m in the same of 10-inch replica perspex versions.

The campaign is led by former Chief of the General Staff and Help for Heroes president, General The Lord Dannatt and supported by Birdsong novelist, Sebastian Faulks, and has been given a £2m boost by the Government’s Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.

The money is being made available to school, community and faith groups wanting to host their own installation of seated silhouettes.

Help for Heroes is one of the charities benefitting from the sale of the Tommies, and one of the six-foot versions can be seen at Phoenix House Recovery Centre in Catterick Garrison.

David McNeill, Help for Heroes' head of recovery north, said the life-size Tommy has become a talking point for all who have seen him.

“We are honoured to be able to host a Tommy. It currently stands as a focal point at the front of our Recovery Centre to commemorate 100 years from the end of WW1, and to remind people of the sacrifice made by those who have put their lives on the line for us and those who continue to do so.,” he added.

“But we also plan to take Tommy out and about with us around the North of England and Scotland to reinforce this message.

“Help for Heroes is incredibly proud to be one of the benefitting charities of the project and will be using our share of funds raised to help heal those wounded in recent conflicts to give them a second chance to be a Force for Good.”

The funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust comes in response to the overwhelming groundswell of support from grassroots, community-led campaign groups and places of worships keen to host their own installations.

The £2m will be made available in grants and applications are open from June 1 to 30.

The silhouettes have been designed by conceptual photographer and installation artist Martin Barraud, who first created the Perspex men in 2016.