Follow this link for all the latest news from the RAF Families Federation.
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Follow this link for all the latest news from the RAF Families Federation.
Read moreKeith Brown MSP visited Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, in Edinburgh, earlier today to help launch a stunning new commemorative poppy, which will be distributed and worn during the 2018 Scottish Poppy Appeal.
As part of the leading Armed Forces charity’s programme of activity to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, Poppyscotland has commissioned a Centenary Poppy, which has the text “1918-2018” embossed in gold across the traditional and iconic red paper poppy. It will be the first change to the poppy in decades.
Read moreRichmond residents and beyond are invited to an afternoon at Trumpeters’ House on Saturday 2nd June, 2pm to 5pm, in support of The Poppy Factory – the country’s leading employment charity for veterans with disabilities.
The charity, based in Richmond, supports veterans with mental and physical health conditions get back into work.
Read moreAs part of an ongoing commitment to support the Armed Forces community, Aramark Defence Services has announced a new five year partnership with SSAFA. Aramark Defence Services (ADS), who operate under the Side by Side brand will bring together an enthusiastic workforce of more than 4,000 with the oldest, tri-Force charity to bring about positive change in the military community.
Starting with a wave of Big Brew Up events held across the company during Armed Forces Week, ADS is set to commit to an annual calendar of activities, driven by its team members and the company’s management.
Read moreToday marks 75 years since the RAF’s now legendary Dambusters set off on their audacious raid to destroy three German dams at the heart of the Nazi war machine.
Fifty-three pairs of gloves laid out by the RAF Benevolent Fund at the Bomber Command Memorial were a stark reminder of the lives lost that night, the families left without a loved one. RAF Chaplain Michael Chatfield paid tribute to the 133 brave airmen who set off on the raid in 1943 and RAF bugler Corporal Andrew Lofthouse signalled a minute’s silence with the Last Post.
RAF Benevolent Fund Director of Fundraising and Communications John Trampleasure laid a wreath in memory of the airmen killed.
Read moreTwo Conwy blind veterans are currently training for a 22-mile walk along on the Normandy coastline to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day.
Carl Adamson, 44, and Steve Thomas, 46, will take part in the event alongside four 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.
Carl, originally from Widnes but now living in Llandudno, says: “We’ve been training on the North Wales costal path, which I think should put us in good stead for the Normandy beaches.
Read moreFormer servicemen and women who are struggling to cope with life outside of the military are being urged to sign up to a Peer Support Service, delivered by veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress.
Led by veterans for veterans, it’s the first UK-wide service of its kind for those with mental health problems. The Peer Support Service, funded by The Royal British Legion, helps those veterans whose mental health has been affected by their time in the Armed Forces, and who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation after leaving the military.
Read moreA new tri-service youth participation project which aims to improve support and services for children and young people from armed forces and veteran families living in Scotland has been given the green light today thanks to funding from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.
The national youth participation project, which will run for 3 years is being launched by Scotland’s Armed Forces Children’s Charity, the Royal Caledonian Education Trust (RCET). The project has been informed by the success of a pilot series of mini-conferences, as well as a number of other ‘listening to the voices of children and young people from Armed Forces families’ initiatives that have been rolled out by the charity in recent years.
Read moreA local Navy veteran is taking on the ultimate SAS selection challenge to raise money for the charities that have supported him after being diagnosed with PTSD.
John Mew, 60, from Dinnington in Newcastle is taking part in the gruelling 24km Fan Dance Race, which sees participants run over the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons, Pen Y Fen, not just once – but twice.
John served in the Royal Navy for 12 years as a physical training instructor, ships diver and as a member of the Portsmouth Command Field Gun Crew.
Read moreIt was a fun event that captured the imagination of the city in 2017, but organisers of this year’s Aberdeen Poppy Day are already hard at work behind the scenes to make it even bigger and better this time around. And to boost this worthwhile event further, they are sending out a plea in the hope of recruiting more volunteers.
Matt Fyfe, who is the Poppyscotland Area Organiser for Aberdeen, said: “We have a great team of volunteers here in Aberdeen, but we need a few more willing individuals or groups to come forward to lend a hand on the day.
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