News

Defence Minister Visits OA London Office

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP, met OA staff and volunteers, while visiting several military charities in London on Thursday 6th July.

The Minister, who is responsible for Defence People and Veterans, spoke to Lee Holloway, OA Chief Executive Officer, and Nigel Hare, OA Head of Benevolence, about how we support transitioning and former officers, as well as their dependants. The Minister has a personal interest in the OA, having served as a Captain in the Royal Green Jackets.

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OA to develop new training programme with BITC to help employers become military friendly

The Officers’ Association is developing a new training programme, in conjunction with Business in the Community (BITC), which aims to support businesses to develop sustainable military employment programmes.

The structured training will help employers to understand the benefits of hiring ex-military personnel. According to research by Deloitte, the OA and FIMT, 72% of organisations with active ex-military recruitment programmes recommend employing veterans; 53% of organisations that employ veterans find they are promoted more quickly than other colleagues and 79% find they take less sick leave.

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Blind veteran from Wrexham receives prestigious medal for helping liberate France from the Nazis

A blind veteran from Wrexham has been formally presented with the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur for his part in the liberation of France.

Eric Andrews, 92, was presented with the prestigious honour in Llandudno, North Wales by French Honorary Consul, Mrs Aude Auclair. The ceremony was arranged and organised by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, from whom Eric receives support.

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Blind veteran from Hampshire wins prestigious Holman Prize

A blind veteran from Hampshire who was invited to compete in the inaugural Holman Prize has emerged victorious as one of the three winners.

Penny Melville-Brown OBE, from Fareham, was selected as one of the 11 finalists from over 200 original entries. Run by the San Francisco Lighthouse organisation, the three winners will be awarded $25,000 to achieve their ambitions. Penny’s goal is to cook across six continents with her online Baking Project, Baking Blind. The two other winners are Ahmet Ustunel and Ojok Simon from the United States and Uganda respectively. Ustunel is planning on completing a solo kayak from Europe to Asia, while Simon is aiming to build a blind-led social enterprise for beekeepers.

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New studies reveal risk of considerable mental health impact on partners of veterans with PTSD

Combat Stress has developed a pilot intervention programme to support partners of veterans diagnosed with PTSD, after research revealed the burden of caring for a veteran can put them at risk of developing a mental health condition themselves.

In the first study of its kind, Combat Stress, the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans, surveyed the mental health needs of 100 female partners of former servicemen diagnosed with PTSD. Of the women surveyed, 45% had alcohol problems, 38% had depression, 37% had anxiety and 17% showed symptoms of PTSD.

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Visit to RAF Halton: Future for Heroes (F4H) / The Brathay Trust – Recruit Graduation Parade

The CEO of F4H and The Brathay Trust’s Senior Learning and Development Consultant had the honour of being invited to RAF Halton to witness the latest recruit Graduation Parade. It was a moving and humbling experience, bringing back memories from May 1983 for this particular individual! It was a privilege to share the obvious pride and joy being shown by so many Mums, Dads, friends and families as their sons and daughters began their careers in the RAF. Many thanks to Station Commander RAF Halton for his hospitality.

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RBLI’s specialised dementia programme to train 120 carers

Royal British Legion Industries will provide specialised dementia training to their 120-strong nursing workforce based in Kent, following a government grant, in order to tackle the growing lack of care for dementia patients.

The military and disability charity are set to receive £350,000 for the programme which will be delivered in partnership with Dementia Care Matters and will see all of those who care for elderly veterans in RBLI’s Aylesford village receive year-long dementia care training – while more than 30 staff members will receive university-level tuition.

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Blind veteran gardener from Southampton visits military charity’s Hampton Court show garden

A blind veteran from Southampton who receives vital support from Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, has visited the charity’s gold medal-winning show garden at the prestigious RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

Keith Ott, 90 and from Hedge End, visited the garden as part of a special week of gardening activities for blind veterans with green fingers held at the Blind Veterans UK training and rehabilitation centre in Brighton.

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Blind veteran gardener from Berkhamsted visits military charity’s Hampton Court show garden

A blind veteran from Berkhamsted who receives vital support from Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, has visited the charity’s gold medal-winning show garden at the prestigious RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this July.

Stanley Grace, 88 and from Northchurch, visited the garden as part of a special week of gardening activities for blind veterans with green fingers held at the Blind Veterans UK training and rehabilitation centre in Brighton.

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Afghanistan support

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