To commemorate the centenary of the First World War, There But Not There has teamed up with the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to help communities host a fully-funded commemorative installation, without having to worry how to pay for it.
The silhouettes represent those lost in the First World War, whose names appear on local war memorials around the country, bringing them back into their place of worship, their school, their workplace or wherever their absence was keenly felt.
Read moreScotty’s Little Soldiers’ founder, Nikki Scott, was kindly flown out to Washington, D.C recently to spend time with U.S. charity TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors). The trip proved to be a memorable one with Nikki returning to the UK with a number of learnings from TAPS.
Nikki founded Scotty’s Little Soldiers in 2010 after the death of her husband Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan. The charity supports children across the UK who have lost a parent while serving in the Armed Forces and has great synergy with TAPS in the US, a charity which offers compassionate care to those grieving the loss of a loved one who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces or as a result of their service.
Read moreA blind veteran from Brighton has rekindled a lifelong passion for cycling as he prepares for a 24 hour cycle challenge around the iconic Brands Hatch racetrack in aid of military charity Blind Veterans UK.
Peter Burbery, 82 and from Brighton, will take part in the challenge on 16 September with three other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women. All four blind veterans will make up a relay team, each undertaking six-hour sections to complete the 24 hour challenge alongside their sighted tandem pilots.
Read moreA blind veteran from Liverpool is currently training to take part in a 22-mile walk along on the Normandy coastline to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day.
Mike Johnson, 55 and from Knotty Ash, will take part in the event alongside five other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women. The challenge will take place on 6 June, the anniversary of the 1944 Allied invasion of occupied France.
Mike says: “I feel very honoured to be taking part because while it’s a physical challenge, the event is really about keeping alive the memory of those brave men who lost their lives on the beaches of France.”
Read moreA very thoughtful young man has donated one of his teddy bears to a local charity to use as their new mascot.
Nine-year-old Harvey Tress, who goes to Seaside School in Lancing, donated his bear to local charity, Care for Veterans, where his Mum works as a Healthcare Assistant.
The bear, which has been nicknamed Valiant, is a fitting mascot for the charity as his fur is patterned with Army camouflage, and he comes wearing fatigues and combat boots.
Read moreFollow this link for all the latest news from Veterans Scotland.
Read moreOur best yet! The largest number of former delegates travelling back to Brathay, allowing almost all of the refreshments stands to be staffed by F4H volunteers (5 of 7). As well as taking part in reinforcement and revision packages: #thejourneycontinues. Three former delegates ‘tabbed’ the marathon and 4 ran it, the remainder (and members of their family) staffed the stands. Great funding raised, thank you all. The second annual stone balancing competition fiercely contested – 3 joint winners! The long weekend enjoyed by all.
Read moreFollow this link for all the latest news from the RAF Families Federation.
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The Association of ex-Service Drop-In Centres (ASDIC) was set up last year for all those like minded organisations who manage veterans’ Drop-In centres. (OVERCOMES REPITITION) All over the UK there is a steadily increasing number of Drop-Ins where veterans and other members of the Armed Forces community may go for help and advice, or simply for companionship. It is a broad community and includes both the Merchant Service and Fishing Fleet whose veterans are welcome too. Currently there are believed to be about 60 Drop-Ins in operation and more are being discovered all the time and 25 have already joined ASDIC. Drop-Ins vary hugely in their modus operandi but all serve the same broad purpose, which is to provide social and welfare support to veterans and their families.
Read moreTramecia Garner, Associate Director for Housing & Residential Programs at US charity Swords to Plowshares, recently spent two weeks in the UK with Veterans Aid. From back home in San Francisco she reflects on her visit:
“Now that my time with Veterans Aid (VA) has ended I am left thinking back on these two weeks, what I have learned and what was the biggest take-away from my time in London. Not only did I learn about veteran homelessness in the UK but I also learned how one agency can have a large-scale impact on veteran care far beyond their doors.
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
