An RAF welfare charity today revealed it has helped more than 1,000 people access £1.5million in unclaimed benefits after identifying that a large number of veterans were not receiving what they were entitled to.
The RAF Benevolent Fund launched its Advice & Advocacy Service two years ago after research that the charity carried out indicated many of its beneficiaries were not receiving eligible state benefits, such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or Universal Credit.
Read moreThis year’s Kop Hill Climb motoring extravaganza will feature one extra special car – a red Aston Martin Vanquish S.
The £275,000 car is a representation of a spectacular Red Arrows Vanquish S model which the RAF Benevolent Fund is raffling off this December. The car is one of just 10 unique cars which will roll off the Aston Martin production line later this month, created by the iconic carmakers in a tribute to the world famous aerobatic display team.
See the car for yourself Kop Hill, Princes Risborough, on Saturday and Sunday (September 16 and 17) as it joins hundreds of others taking the historic trip up the hill.
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Read moreHampshire County Council and its partners have secured funding from the Armed Forced Covenant Fund to encourage support to the Armed Forces community and strengthen local government’s delivery of the Covenant. The Council decided to use part of the fund for staff training delivered by the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) to increase understanding and awareness of the Armed Forces.
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund funds projects that support military communities. With around 20,000 serving personnel and 60,000 veterans currently living in Hampshire, the county has one of the largest military communities in England. Due to this significant high number of residents with a military background, Hampshire County Council identified the benefit for further funding to train staff on different aspects of service life.
Read moreResidents at The Royal Star & Garter Homes were delighted to welcome RAF nurses stationed at Headley Court, the Armed Forces Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), when they recently visited the Surbiton Home.
The disabled veterans shared a morning with the nurses participating in various activities together. After taking a tour of the Home, the nurses joined in with a lively dance session, aptly titled “wheels and heels on fire”, before taking a much needed break and an opportunity to chat with residents.
Read moreA local military charity is inviting residents to take part in the creation of a blanket of poppies, which will serve as a tribute to the fallen soldiers of our nation.
Blind Veterans UK, the charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, is calling on local residents to knit, crochet and stitch together a beautiful tribute to our fallen soldiers. The Poppy Field Project, now in its second year, will be a blanket spread of poppies created by the charity and its supporters.
The charity, which provides free lifelong supporter to vision-impaired veterans, first undertook the project last year, with staff, veterans and supporters alike working together to create the blanket of poppies.
Read moreThis National Eye Health Week (18 – 24 September) a Beeston RAF veteran who was signposted to national sight loss charity Blind Veterans UK by his Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) is urging others to seek support.
Norman Green, 87, said: “It’s hard to admit that you’re going blind, particularly when you’re used to being independent. I’ll admit my pride stopped me seeking help when I probably needed it the most. I wish now that I’d got in touch with Blind Veterans UK much sooner.”
Read moreA writer and poet from Saltdean is currently training to compete in Revolve 24, the Brands Hatch Cycle Challenge, for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-service men and women, for whom he is a volunteer.
David Attree, 44, has long been a cycling enthusiast and admits that the opportunity to take on the iconic track was simply too good to turn down. He explains: “The prospect of racing on a track as iconic as Brands Hatch was too good to be missed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly a tough task, but I completed the London to Amsterdam ride both this year and last, so I’m ‘bike-fit’ as they say!”
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The aim of the event is to provide ex-servicemen and women with access to job opportunities, work experience, training and volunteering. The day will provide the opportunity to network with many distinguished organisations such as Barclays UK, XPO Logistics and FDM Group amongst others. It will also provide useful links to organisations that provide veteran support in the wider community.
Read moreIn May 2017, a breakfast club pilot was launched in Glasgow with the aim to bring together veterans in transitional and permanent accommodation. The idea stemmed from wanting to improve engagement and lessen veteran isolation within the community.
Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR) began the 6 month pilot at Bellrock Close residences in Glasgow with the hope to develop peer-to-peer support. The residence is home to 31 beneficiaries who require transitional support, and 21 permanent beneficiaries in affordable two-bedroom flats. The central block provides ex-servicemen and women with a specialised services and support facility – it’s here that the breakfast club meets in the café.
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📢The @Cobseo Executive Committee is delighted to announce that Lt Gen Sir Nicholas Pope KCB CBE will succeed Genera… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
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