News

19 September 2017

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Event, Health, RAF, Royal Air Force, Royal Event, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Fife amputee set for Invictus Games

An RAF Regiment veteran, who will take part in this year’s Invictus Games, has spoken out about how sport helped turn his life around when an accident left him with life-changing injuries.

Michael Mellon, of Cardenden, was just 17 when he joined the RAF in 1997 following his father, sister and brother into military service.

In 2001, while playing in a RAF Rugby match, Mike fractured his tibia and fibula bones which resulted in compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome is a painful and potentially serious condition caused by bleeding or swelling within an enclosed bundle of muscles – known as a muscle “compartment”.

19 September 2017

SSVC, The Royal British Legion

Army, Charities, Courses, Employment, Grants, Navy, RAF, Royal Air Force, Royal Marines, Royal Navy, Transition, Veterans, Welfare

Ex-service men and women take steps towards a career in media this Freshers’ Week with the new Forces Media Academy

On the 26th September, 15 service leavers and veterans will embark on a free one-year Higher National Certificate (HNC) Media Production Course, provided by the newly created Forces Media Academy.

Service leavers are often highly renowned for their strong ability to communicate, but in spite of this the world of media has remained fairly un-traversed territory for them, with only 1% starting media careers in the last two years*.

Through this course, the Forces Media Academy, which is part of the Services Sound & Vision Corporation (SSVC), aims to provide 15 ex-service personnel with the training, experience and qualifications they need to forge successful careers in videography, digital, TV or radio.

19 September 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Competition, Disability Support, Navy, Royal Navy, Veterans, Welfare

Blind veteran from Hampshire set to take Baking Blind project global following Holman Prize win

A blind veteran from Fareham, who won inaugural Holman Prize, is set to take her baking project, Baking Blind, on a global tour across six continents.

Penny Melville-Brown OBE, who receives support from Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, was selected as one of the three winners and won $25,000. She says: “This is an extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to combine my love of cooking and travel. I’ll be a standard bearer for blind people, demonstrating that blindness isn’t a bar to ambition.

18 September 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Disability Support, fundraising, Sport, Veterans, volunteer, Welfare

Saltdean writer and poet competes in Brands Hatch Cycle Challenge for military charity he volunteers for

A writer and poet from Saltdean has competed 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 and a long time cycling enthusiast, grew up in Brighton near the charity’s training and rehabilitation centre, and has therefore been aware of the work the charity does for a long time. He says: “Since my early childhood I’ve been fully aware of the wonderful work Blind Veterans UK does in providing opportunities for blind veterans to regain their confidence and lead fulfilling lives.”

18 September 2017

SSAFA

Ambassador, Celebrity, Charities, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Joanna Lumley OBE accepts role as SSAFA Ambassador

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has awarded Joanna Lumley the role of Honorary Ambassador, for her work with its Gurkha beneficiaries.

Speaking about the appointment of the actress and charity campaigner, Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Gregory, chief executive SSAFA said:

“Joanna’s commitment and unswerving support for the Gurkha community is an inspiration to us all and something that we felt should be formally recognised. Joanna has done so much to support our Berkshire branch and in particular its literacy programme for Gurkha wives and widows; we are delighted to announce her as a SSAFA Ambassador.”

18 September 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Disability Support, fundraising, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Magazine editor from Surrey completes 24-hour cycle on Brands Hatch Circuit for military charity

A magazine editor from Surrey has completed Revolve 24, the Brands Hatch Cycle Challenge, for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Chris Bennett, 54 and from Bookham, admits the terrain of the course took him by surprise. He explains: “The race itself was much hillier than I thought, which just made the entire event tougher than I expected.

“The track isn’t lit up at all so you had to depend on your bike lights, which meant that in the small hours of the morning, just when the tiredness was kicking in, you had to really, really concentrate!”

18 September 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Awareness, Disability Support, Health, Veterans, Welfare

National sight loss charity targets eye health professionals with new video featuring prize-winning beneficiary

Blind Veterans UK has launched a new video aimed at ophthalmologists, sight loss advisors and other eye health professionals, to increase the referral of blind veterans to the charity as part of National Eye Health Week (18 – 24 September).

The short video, filmed at St Helen’s Hospital, features Maria Pikulski, an Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) based at the hospital, who is also a beneficiary of the charity.

Maria was recently recognised by the sight loss sector when she won the 2017 Eyecan Awards run by Galloways. The awards were created to celebrate what can be achieved by people of all ages when they are given the right opportunities, encouragement and support.

18 September 2017

WRAC Association

Families, News, Transition, Veterans, Welfare

WRAC Association becomes Information Partner within the Veterans’ Gateway

The WRAC Association is proud to have become an Information Partner with the Veterans’ Gateway. With many ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) and WRAC (Womens’ Royal Army Corp) veterans, inc TA & TAVR veterans, not being aware of the Association or it’s Benevolent Fund it’s important that the Association has a visible presence wherever veterans may go to seek out assistance when they are in need of help. For our members, this underlines our mission to support all those who served with the ATS & the WRAC through not only our Benevolence Fund but also through the valuable work of the Association including the bi-annual publication of Lioness.

18 September 2017

Army Benevolent Fund, BLESMA, Ministry of Defence, Royal British Legion Industries

Health, Housing, Remembrance, Veterans, Welfare

Opening of the RBLI Invictus and Victory Houses

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon gave a speech and officially opened Victory and Invictus Games Houses built by the Royal British Legion Industries.

Excerpt from Sir Michael Fallon’s speech:

It’s a huge pleasure to be here today to open these magnificent new apartments and meet their future occupants who I look forward to chatting to in a few minute’s time.

I remember standing across the road from here three years ago not long after I’d been appointed Defence Secretary. Back then there was nothing but a barren patch of land and set of ambitious plans.

18 September 2017

Ministry of Defence

Army, Marines, Navy, RAF, Royal Air Force, Royal Marines, Royal Navy, Serving, Veterans, Welfare

Updated – Armed forces service complaints process

Making a service complaint

Serving or former members of the UK armed forces can make a complaint if they feel they have been wronged on a matter that arises when they are subject to service law. This can include complaints of bullying, harassment, discrimination and biased, improper or dishonest behaviour.

Items 841 to 850 of 1557

« 1 … 83 84 85 86 87 … 156 »