News

NAVCA: a bitesize brief on the Fundraising Regulator for smaller charities

If you qualify as a ‘smaller charity’ you can register directly with the Fundraising Regulator for a fee of £50, rather than being subject to the levy applied to those who spend over £100k pa.

After a recent round-table event the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) put together a bite-sized briefing note.

The main point to be aware of is that whilst registration with the Regulator is voluntary, compliance with the Code and the Regulations it embodies is not, no matter how small a charity’s annual spend on fundraising OR their annual income overall.

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Two World Record Attempts in the Bomb Suit

For many of us running a half marathon in shorts and a running top would not be easy. Imagine running it in full bomb suit, with helmet!

This is exactly what Capt Mark Gibbs, a trainee Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO) is doing at the Bath Half Marathon. Not only that he is attempting to beat the current World Record all in aid of Felix Fund – the bomb disposal charity.

Capt Gibbs “The suit weighs 55lbs and the helmet is an extra 10lbs and to get the World Record you need to wear both. The biggest problem we have had is the lack of heat dissipation in the suit. It gets rather hot in there.”

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PTSD Resolution Joins Cobseo

Armed Forces’ Veterans mental health charity PTSD Resolution has joined Cobseo, the Confederation of Service Charities, which provides a single point of contact for communication by Forces’ charities with Government and other organisations.

Colonel Tony Gauvain (Retired), Chairman of PTSD Resolution says:
“We are delighted to be accepted to join Cobseo, which represents the serving and Veterans community of some six million people and their dependants. Membership enables us to promote and further the mental welfare and general interests of the Armed Forces community.

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New plans for military flexible working become law

Service personnel will be able to apply for enhanced flexible working opportunities after the Armed Forces (Flexible Working) Bill became law on the 8th February.

The measures, which achieved Royal Assent on Thursday, will allow some military personnel to serve part-time for defined periods.

Consultation within the Armed Forces has found that personnel want more choice over the way they serve when their personal circumstances change, such as having young children, needing to care for elderly relatives, or taking on further training and education.

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Soldiering On Awards 2018 Finalists Reception

Last night saw the 2018 award finalists gather together for a special celebratory reception held at the House of Lords.

The evening’s host, Soldiering On Awards President, General the Lord Dannatt, welcomed 170 guests, including our 41 finalists along with their nominators, to the Cholmondeley Room and Terrace at the Palace of Westminster.

Speaking during the event, Lord Dannatt praised all the finalists. “Now into its eighth year, the Soldiering On Awards exists to unite all of our community, together in a common purpose. Our aim is to recognise the achievements of the entire diverse group of people who have served their country, including our Reserve Forces and Cadets.”

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Step up for our Armed Forces community this summer and join Walking With The Wounded for the Balmoral Challenge 2018

Walking With The Wounded is descending on Her Majesty The Queen’s stunning Balmoral Castle and Estate for the second year running this June. Take on the wee Cairn Chaser to explore the forests above the castle. If you’re after an orienteering adventure, how many checkpoints can you collect before time runs out in The Prince’s Stone? Or perhaps you’ll take on the Triple Crown, a 30km race back to the castle over 3 Munros, starting from a secret drop-off location. There’s a route for all abilities, and at the heart of it all, a brilliant cause – to support our ex-servicemen and women who have struggled with their transition from the Armed Forces into civilian life.

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Former soldier gets fit to take part in nine fundraising challenges in aid of veterans’ mental health

Having lost six stone, a former soldier from Derbyshire will now be taking on nine fundraising challenges in 12 months to raise money for Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health.

When Paul Thompson left the Army in 2009, he stopped exercising and began drinking heavily. Six years later and weighing 19 stone, he set himself the challenge of taking part in his first duathlon in 2015 to motivate himself to get fit again.

Paul said: “I realised that something needed to change, so I stopped drinking and started training. I lost six stone in 2015 and set myself the challenge of taking part in a duathlon – it really helped me to have a goal to focus on.”

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How to research for a successful transition, by Lisa Jones

Lisa Jones is a Career Consultant at the OA. She shares her top tips on researching to find the right career after leaving the Armed Forces.
The earlier you start the more time you will give yourself, and be able to do justice to your ‘reconnaissance’. There are so many opportunities out there, and it will take time to research them fully and identify where you feel you would fit in best.
You can start by doing some research online, where there is of course a huge amount of material and information. People will be impressed if you can demonstrate a certain level of knowledge. Read blogs, follow organisations on social media and look on their website.

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What You Need to Know About Starting Salaries

Getting the right salary for your next civilian job role can be difficult, but there are practical steps you can take.
Nick Everard, a former Army officer and Managing Director of J1 Consulting, and Fiona Jackson, an OA Career Consultant, share their advice.
Before negotiating the salary for your new job, understand the full pay package being offered. In addition to the salary, your pay package can include pension, company benefits, equity and bonuses. You can research what the pay package could be in other industries by visiting The Job Crowd and Glass Door. You can then compare this with your full military pay package, using the MOD Benefits Calculator.

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By @Cobseo 56 years ago

Afghanistan support

In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here