Small sacrifices. Real impact. The next generation earns their stripes.
If you’ve worn uniform — cadet, reservist, or regular — you already know what this means.
Cold. Wet. Knackered.
Bergan dumped. Billy Can on.
An Egg Banjo in hand and a brew that tastes like victory.
Those simple moments forged resilience, teamwork, confidence — creating memories that last a lifetime shared with your mates who often become friends for life – friendships forged in shared adversity.
The Ulysses Trust wants to give today’s young cadets those same opportunities through adventure training expeditions that challenge, stretch, and shape them.
To do that, we’re launching the Egg Banjo Fund — a straightforward way for supporters to make a real difference without breaking stride.
Why “Egg Banjo”?
Because anyone who’s been there gets it.
An ‘Egg Banjo’ (fried egg sandwich) isn’t just food — it’s morale. It’s what kept you going when you were tired, hungry, and miles from anywhere.
By giving up the cost of one Egg Banjo a month, you can help fund the experiences that build the next generation of disciplined, capable young people.
How it works – simple, affordable, effective
We often hear:
“I’d like to help, but I can’t give enough to matter.”
That’s wrong. Every pound counts — and it adds up fast. The average cost of an Egg Banjo + a brew is £5-£7.
£6.66 a month for 12 months
- Your outlay: £80
- With Gift Aid: £100 directly supporting cadet adventure training
£6.66 a month for 5 years
- Your outlay: £400
- Total impact with Gift Aid: £500
On average*:
- A UK-based cadet expedition costs between £24 – £1,000 per cadet – an average of £210 per cadet
- A UK-based cadet expedition costs an average £5,900
- An overseas cadet expedition costs anything between £8,000 – £80,000 depending on size and scale.
*Based on grant applications received by the Ulysses Trust in 2025.
The Ulysses Trust aims to support up to 33% of the total cost of cadet expeditions. Our funding model is built on partnership. Our grants are designed to support expeditions, not replace a unit’s responsibility to secure funding from a range of sources. For example, in 2025 our grants covered 25.5% of the total cost of cadet expedition applications, with the remaining funding coming from other sources.
Want to step it up?
£13.32 a month for 5 years
- Total donation: £800
- With Gift Aid: £1,000
- Includes entry into our Odyssey Circle
What you’ll get
All Egg Banjo Fund supporters will receive:
- Regular updates showing exactly how your money is used
- Stories from the cadets you’re backing
- Invitations to events supporting the fund
No fluff. Just impact.
One last thing
You remember what those early experiences gave you.
Confidence. Grit. Belonging. Direction.
You can pass that on.
Give a cadet their Egg Banjo moment | Support the Egg Banjo Fund.
Small sacrifice. Lasting legacy.
And if you didn’t know…
An Egg Banjo is a classic British military slang term for a, usually, messy fried egg sandwich, consisting of a runny fried egg sandwiched between two thick slices of buttered white bread. The name derives from the action of eating it: when the yolk drips onto the eater’s shirt, they lift the sandwich to ear height and use the other hand to swipe at the mess, mimicking playing a banjo.
