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UK Armed Forces Day Gala Dinner Charity Partner Announced

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is delighted to be announced as the Charity Partner of the Armed Forces Day Gala Dinner held by Conwy County Borough Council at Venue Cymru on Friday 29 June 2018.

SSAFA will be working with the council to support the Gala Dinner as well as other activities taking place in Conwy around Armed Forces Day.

This year, the National Armed Forces Day event will be held in Llandudno in Conwy County on Saturday 30 June 2018. The events will be a fantastic focal point for the UK to come together to acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice of those that serve.

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29th March – Talk on Disaster in the Caribbean

Alabaré’s Wiltshire Ambassadors invite you to ‘Disaster in the Caribbean’; a fascinating talk by Lt Col Paul Maynard MA BSc RM on the humanitarian relief mission across the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Jose. The evening will include an Introduction by Commodore Richard Lord CBE RN and be hosted by Commodore Miller CBE RN.

Lt Col Paul Maynard MA BSc assumed command of 40 Commando Royal Marines in March 2017. In September 2017, at just 12 hours’ notice, 40 Commando and Royal Engineers from 24 Commando Regiment were deployed to aid with the relief mission following the devastating effects of hurricanes across the Caribbean. He tells us how the events unfolded.

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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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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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Berkshire man to run London Marathon for military charity he works for

A man from Berkshire is currently training to compete in this year’s London Marathon for the beneficiaries of Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Charlie McAllister, 22 and from Windsor, has long hoped to complete the world-famous course and decided that 2018 would be the year he finally committed. He explains: “It’s always been on my bucket list. Everyone knows about the atmosphere, the significance and, of course, the immense challenge involved. I’m just excited to get out there and experience it firsthand”

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SAS: Who Dares Wins start to compete in SSAFA Midlands Soldier 30:30

TV Star and SAS veteran, Ollie Ollerton, is best known for his recent role in the popular show SAS: Who Dares Wins where he put contestants through a series of endurance tasks. He is now taking on a brand new personal challenge to support SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Ollie is a keen supporter of SSAFA and works closely with his local branch in particular, remembering that giving back to the military community is of vital importance.

On 17th February the challenge kicks off, consisting of a 30 mile or 30 km trek across the beautiful Uttoxeter countryside whilst wearing 30lb backpacks, teams of four will compete to cross the finishing line.

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The Dam Busters with Dan Snow: A gala screening on the 75th anniversary

Be one of the first audiences to see the newly restored Dam Busters film in amazing 4K definition at a special gala screening on the anniversary of the RAF’s most daring raid.

Historian Dan Snow will host the gala evening at London’s Royal Albert Hall where the newly restored film will be played on a 40ft screen. The commemorative evening, on May 17, the 75th anniversary of the raid, will pay tribute to Wing commander Guy Gibson and his comrades in the legendary 617 Squadron.

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Live and Let Dine with local sight loss charity at Bond-themed Murder Mystery

Blind Veterans UK, a local charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, is inviting local residents to join them for a Bond-themed Murder Mystery dinner that promises to leave guests both shaken and stirred.

The evening, titled The Spy Who Killed Me, has been written by A Play Fitted Theatre Company. The event will take place on Friday 13 April at Chateau Rhianfa, Menai Bridge.

Victoria Beech, Regional Fundraiser for Blind Veterans UK, says: “At previous Murder Mystery dinners, guests have always embraced the opportunity to get dressed up and lose themselves in their characters. Selecting the award for best dressed has never been an easy task.

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