News

2017’s Final Carp Fishing Trip A Huge Success

This year’s final carp fishing trip to Woodlay, Cornwall, was a huge success. The latest trip saw 8 veterans from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Army sharing stories from their experiences in the Falklands, Northern Ireland and the Middle East. With days spent fishing and evenings spent socialising, as one beneficiary said at the end of the weekend, “it really doesn’t matter if you don’t catch a fish, these weekends are all about the comradeship on the lake side and the social banter in the evenings.”

The three weekends we have spent in Cornwall have been hugely successful and much of this is due to the wonderful support we receive from Jon, who runs the complex, and his friend Martyn – both of whom are veterans themselves.

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Stars Rally for Veteran Employment

Joanna Lumley, Ray Winstone and Richard Wilson are some of the celebrities starring in three short films promoting military veteran employment.

The celebrities highlight the skills veterans can bring to employers, and some of the barriers that need to be overcome for them to secure new fulfilling careers when they leave the military. Other celebrity appearances include Claire Balding, Hugh Bonneville, ‘Judge’ Rob Rinder, Larry Lamb, Matt Barber, Nick Knowles, Paul Copley. Some of the biggest veteran employers in the UK are also involved, such as BT, Alexander Mann Solutions, Deloitte, Jaguar Land Rover as well as veterans themselves.

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SSAFA Ambassador Ant Middleton challenges Vogue Williams to complete military fitness test to show the strength of the women in our Armed Forces

SSAFA Ambassador and Special Forces Veteran Ant Middleton will be putting Vogue Williams through her paces to take on the Royal Marines physical fitness test. The test will include a 4.8km run in two parts in under 12 minutes 30 seconds, followed by timed bleep tests including running, press ups, sit ups and pull ups.

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Could an internship be right for you?

Being an intern can help you gain vital work experience and industry insight.

Lisa Jones, an OA Career Consultant, recently ran a webinar with Charlie Perkins and Guy Amir from Goldman Sachs to discuss its Veterans’ Integration Programme. Lisa Jones served in the Army, and then worked in the City before joining the OA. Both Charlie and Guy served in the Army and then joined the Goldman Sachs Veterans’ Integration Programme. As a consequence of the internship they secured full time permanent roles at the multinational Investment Bank.

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OA Supports Poppy Appeal Launch

The Royal British Legion (TRBL) launches its annual Poppy Appeal.

Today (Thursday 26th October 2017) thousands of volunteers will stand on street corners across the UK, asking the public to support the Poppy Appeal. People wear the paper poppies to remember all Service men and women killed in conflict. In 2016, the TRBL raised £146.9 million for the Armed Forces community. This year the TRBL is asking people to #RethinkRemembrance, and recognise the sacrifices made by the military family, past and present.

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Hon Rep Finds Father’s World War Two Grave

Sydney Graham, an OA volunteer, recently attended a memorial service for the father he never met.

Edward Graham was killed during an ambush in Sicily on 13th August 1943. The Royal Irish Fusilier died aged 31, without knowing his wife had given birth to twin sons just 22 days before. Edward was initially posted as missing but was confirmed dead two years later. He was first buried at the roadside before being moved to an unnamed grave.

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The Soldiers’ Charity awards Good Vibrations £5,000 to assist with drum workshops

Last Friday Katie (Media Officer), and Vikki (Grants and Welfare Executive Officer), took part in one of Good Vibrations’ gamelan workshops to see how The Soldiers’ Charity grant was helping those who need assistance.

Good Vibrations is an award-winning national charity that uses communal music-making via the use of a gamelan to support people in challenging circumstances.

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Charity Ambassadors recognised at The Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons

We are proud to announce that today, three of our Charity Ambassadors were recognised for their bravery at The Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons.

Les Binns, Al Hodgson, and Kim Hughes were all shortlisted for the Awards in a ceremony that took place at The Army & Navy Club in London. In total, there were four award categories: Outstanding Military Bravery, Against All Odds, Community Champion, and Hero Pet. The awards celebrated the achievements of exceptional people (and animals!) from varying backgrounds and professions.

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The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo makes a vital grant to our Charity

We are delighted to announce that our Charity has received a significant grant of £286,000 from the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which will continue to assist us in supporting soldiers, veterans and their immediate families, for life.

Following its 19th consecutive sell-out year, the Tattoo announced that it would be donating an impressive £1 million to UK-based charitable organisations, including the three service charities: ourselves, The RAF Benevolent Fund and The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.

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Fundraising Veteran joins pupils to launch 2017 Scottish Poppy Appeal

A veteran and Poppyscotland beneficiary was joined by primary school pupils at the old Forth crossing today to launch the 2017 Scottish Poppy Appeal.

Corporal Andrew McIntosh, 44, who served for 14 years with the 22nd Cheshire Regiment and saw service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and The Gulf, is no stranger to doing his bit for the Armed Forces charity after he travelled from John O’Groats to Land’s End on his mobility scooter to raise £3,000.

Andy, from Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, was confined to a mobility scooter after being diagnosed with a very rare and serious vascular condition in 2009. Poppyscotland provided him with an electric-powered vehicle to give him more independence – and Andy was only too keen to show his gratitude.

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Afghanistan support

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