Community Covenants signed in Birmingham and Fife

The signing of Fife's Community Covenant [picture MOD copyright]

Birmingham and Fife are the latest regions to sign up to the Armed Forces Community Covenant, committed to supporting members of the Armed Forces

Representatives from the Fife Partnership and the Armed Forces met on 21 February, in Glenrothes to sign Fife's Armed Forces Community Covenant while at the same time Birmingham's civic leaders also joined with representatives of the Armed Forces in England's second city.

The important new agreements will build on existing good relations between the Armed Forces and public sector organisations in both Fife and Birmingham and follow several other such agreements signed in communities up and down the country.

The aim of the Community Covenant is to encourage organisations across the UK to support the Armed Forces community in accessing the assistance they might need.

In Fife, for example, this could include support from the charity and voluntary sector as well as organisations including Fife Council, NHS Fife, and Fife Constabulary.

Shropshire Union Canal in Birmingham [picture MOD copyright]

In Birmingham, the Covenant will benefit both serving and ex-Service personnel, covering vital areas including housing, employment, education and health. Under the Covenant, the council will establish a set of principles which will set out how it will support veterans in making the transition back into civilian life.

In addition, as part of the Covenant, members of the Armed Forces will be encouraged to do as much as they can to support the communities they live in and promote activities which help integrate the Service community into civilian life.

Armed Forces Tribute for the Diamond Jubilee

The custom of the Armed Forces paying tribute to a monarch during a jubilee year is an established tradition

 

The Armed Forces are to mount a spectacular tribute to the Queen to mark her Diamond Jubilee year, 

In honour of Her Majesty The Queen's 60-year reign, Armed Forces personnel will parade through Windsor and muster at the castle on Saturday 19 May 2012.  Nearly 2,500 troops from the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force will parade through Windsor in the presence of Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh.

They will then muster in the castle grounds for a unique event before an audience of more than 3,000 Armed Forces personnel, their families, and veterans. An impressive, tri-Service flypast of current and historic aircraft will conclude the celebrations.

More Community Covenants signed

Representatives of the Military and Community Leaders were present at the signing of the Gateshead Community Covenant 

Armed Forces Community Covenants signed in Gateshead and Preston

In two separate signing ceremonies local members of the Armed Forces, both past and present, together with their families, have received a public promise of support from the people of Gateshead and Preston.

Last week, Gateshead Council signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant, pledging to work with local charities and voluntary groups, businesses and private individuals to support current and ex-Service personnel throughout the borough.  Preston City Council became the latest local authority to pledge its support to the military through its signing of a Community Covenant this Monday.

The Community Covenant initiative was one of the key measures in the Armed Forces Covenant published in May 2011. 

Find out more about the Veterans Welfare Service

Late last year, we released our newest video.  The five minute film, the latest in the Agency’s ‘Veterans Today’ series, aims to raise awareness of the one-to-one help provided by Veterans Welfare Service, in the home if needed, to anyone who has served in the Armed Forces.

In the film, Presenter Don Goldie investigates the origins of the service nearly a century ago, when its role was to look after the welfare needs of First World War casualties, Service widows and orphans, though to the current day and those affected by operations in Afghanistan. The video explains how the Veterans Welfare Service has retained its core principles, whilst adapting to a much wider role as part of the Government’s commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant. It shows how welfare support is provided automatically to those medically discharged and for those bereaved by service, with an ‘on request’ service to all other members of the veterans community, including dependents and families.

Alison Davies, Manager of the Veterans Welfare Service for the UK and Ireland, explained how important the video is to raising awareness about the service among generations of veterans:

“The Veterans Welfare Service has been providing help and support to the veterans community for almost 100 years and through two World Wars. Our more recent work includes helping those who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq but we are still here for veterans of any age, no matter when or for how long they served. This video will really help us raise awareness of our services and I hope it encourages any veterans who need welfare support to get in touch.”

The Veterans Welfare Service works in partnership with the Armed Forces, Service and ex-Service charities, local authorities and local Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees to deliver a quality welfare service that promotes independence and dignity via continuous support. Veterans requiring welfare help or assistance can contact the service by calling the Veterans-UK helpline, free, on 0800 169 2277.

Our ‘Veterans Today’ videos are available on the SPVA Social Media Hub that can be accessed via the Veterans-UK website -  . They are also available via the SPVA channel on YouTube

The 2011 Poppy Appeal

From left: Lance Corporal Ryan Idzi, Staff Sergeant Ritchie Maddocks, Gethin Jones and Sergeant Major Gary Chilton
[Picture: Peter Luckhurst, Crown Copyright 2011]

The 2011 Poppy Appeal was launched yesterday.

Members of  the Armed Forces  attended the launch of The Royal British Legion's 2011 Poppy Appeal, which aims to break previous years' fundraising totals.

 

The Poppy Appeal raises funds needed to support those currently serving in Afghanistan, veterans of past conflicts, and their families.

As the UK's leading Armed Forces charity, the RBL revealed today that it hopes to raise £40 million as it celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.

New online mental health forum launched

The Big White Wall has been designed so it's easy to use with plenty of tips on how to get the best out of the site.

Today an Armed Forces online mental health forum was launched,  So, when it comes to dealing with mental health issues, Service personnel, veterans and their families now have access to specialised online help and support.

The online well-being network Big White Wall is equipped to support the mental health needs of the Armed Forces Community.  The site is staffed by professional counsellors who can be contacted who can be contacted 24-hours. 

Among the services available is the opportunity for Big White Wall users to chat anonymously to others who may have gone through similar experiences. 

The Department of Health has also launched an e-learning package it has funded for GPs so they can better identify mental health problems and support veterans and their families.

The course was developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners as part of plans to improve veterans' mental health services.

It will raise awareness with GPs of the need to ensure that those seriously injured when discharged from the Armed Forces continue to receive the best possible care. It will also ensure that GPs are able to offer the right support to families of those currently serving or who are veterans.

Countdown to Armed Forces Day continues

It's just over a week to go until Armed Forces Day 2011, so how are you planning to spend the day?

One of Britain's most successful Paralympians of all time, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, is encouraging people to go and support troops during Armed Forces Day.

It’s an opportunity to do two things. Firstly, to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, Secondly, it gives the nation an opportunity to Show Your Support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families and from veterans to cadets.



Armed Forces Day will be on Saturday, 25 June 2011.

With the National Event being held in Edinburgh and other events being organised across the UK, make sure you know what's being planned and how to get involved by visiting the official website.

Armed Forces Day 2011 - plans for the big day

In our latest podcast release, our presenters asks the planners how they are planning to celebrate this year's Armed Forces Day.

We are just a matter of weeks away from the third national Armed Forces Day. This year, the National event is being hosted by Edinburgh.

Our podcast provides an update on the events planned across the UK to celebrate the day and we have interviewed Air Vice-Marshal David Murray, the MOD’s lead on the events and Edinburgh Council Leader Jenny Dawe on what the city is preparing for the national event.

The press release for the podcast can be found here.

SPVA will be supporting Armed Forces Day by providing display stands, posters and information leaflets at many events around the country. Veterans Welfare Service advisors will be on hand at the national event in Edinburgh as well as nine other events throughout the UK to offer one-to-one help and support.

To find out where we’ll be, take a look at our on-line events calendar.
The podcast and other SPVA social media products are available to access on the SPVA Social Media Hub.

Who's reading your status?

The second video for the MOD Security Awareness Campaign is now online:

The mother of an airman in the RAF is using Facebook, but is it may not just be friends and family reading her status update . . .

Another Veterans WORLD issue hits the stands

The June issue ready to view

The June issue of Veterans WORLD is now online.

With articles on the Military Covenant, the changes to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and further information on the Bereaved Children's Scholarship Scheme, you can find information on issues affecting the Armed Forces Community.

There's also details on the new mental health helpline that's recently been launched and what's being planned for Armed Forces Day 2011.

We've also got some great features on Sea Sanctuary, a unique charity based in Falmouth, Cornwall, which combines Sail training with other therapies to support veterans.  We've also got an update on the Be The Boss scheme which is celebrating its first anniversary this month (perfect timing for this issue).  We've also news of a new Home and Money programme, employment support providing by two charities and a new centre in Scotland providing services to Scottish veterans with a visual impairment. 

Hopefully, there's something for everyone is this jam-packed issue, so why don't you take a look today.

You might also notice that we now have two ways to view Veterans WORLD online; you can either view the magazine as a standard PDF or you can use our new option to view Veterans World via ISSUU, a leading digital publishing platform that’s free to access. This new option will provide you with a more interactive, digital version of Veterans WORLD, which we hope will give you a more enjoyable and accessible way to read the magazine

We've also launched our latest podcast; in a role reversal the magazine designer Kris Blacow interviews Laurie Manton, our Editor-in-Chief about the June issue.

Help for Armed Forces to step on the property ladder

Service accommodation at Woolwich, South East London (stock image)
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010] 

Members of the Armed Forces will from now on be given top priority for housing help.

The move follows a Military Covenant Housing Summit chaired by Housing Minister Grant Shapps and means that serving members of the Armed Forces, as well as those recently retired, will be able to benefit from the FirstBuy Scheme, providing £400 million to help 10,000 families across the country get on the property ladder over the next two years.

The Minister has also signalled that the Government will ensure that all low-cost home ownership schemes will now routinely place members of the Armed Forces at the top of their priority lists, and that government housing agents will be instructed to go out and actively recruit military personnel for such schemes.

Edinburgh prepares for UK's biggest-ever Armed Forces Day

Preparations are in full swing to host a three-day celebration of the UK's Armed Forces in Edinburgh this summer which takes on the mantle of the national centrepiece for 2011's Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Edinburgh is gearing up to lay on the biggest-ever Armed Forces Day national event from 24 to 26 June 2011, with a parade, musical entertainment, exhibitions, aerial displays and a Royal Navy ship open to visitors.

To find out how Edinburgh is celebrating Armed Forces Day, visit their website.

We're current developing a podcast for release early June where we interview a couple of people involved in organising Armed Forces Day, so watch this space.

Events are being held across the UK to celebrate the day, if you want to find out what's being planned in your local area then it's worth checking out the official website.

From Tudor times to present day

Our latest video was launched today and is available to view now, it's the fifth video we've launched and our previous films can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Our new release looks at the history of the War Pension Scheme, the first formal scheme to compensate battle casualties and their families was conceived during the reign of Elizabeth I over 400 years ago. Today the scheme is run in conjunction with the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

We've also recently released podcasts explaining the recent changes to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme that you might find interesting, they can be downloaded via our Social Media Hub. 

Join in 10th anniversary celebrations at the Arboretum

Armed Forces Memorial at Dawn (courtesy Nick Mott)

As part of the National Memorial Arboretum’s (NMA) 10th anniversary celebrations, members of the public are being invited to attend a very special Summer open evening event.

Taking place from 6pm on this Wednesday, you will have the chance to explore this remarkable site, which is set in over 150 acres of wooded parkland and has over 200 memorials, at a time when visits are not normally allowed.

Laying wreath on Armed Forces Memorial (courtesy Driftwood Images)

The evening will feature a talk by Chief Executive Charlie Bagot Jewitt. He will reflect on what the Arboretum, which is part of The Royal British Legion family of charities, has achieved over the last ten years. He will also explore the vision for the Arboretum and explain the current status of the £8million NMA Appeal and landscape plans.

Armed Forces Memorial at the NMA (courtesy Red Devil Photography)

For more information,  contact the NMA. Gates are open from 6pm and the presentation will start at 7.30pm. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated. Guided tours are available, however a charge applies and advance booking is recommended. Light refreshments will be available from the Arbour Restaurant until 9pm and gates close at 10pm.

New directory is quite ‘handy’



The go-to guide on Service charities

 COBSEO, The Confederation of Service Charities has just published its 2011 directory or ‘handbook’ of Members.

COBSEO currently comprises some 180 member organisations ranging from the larger charities such as The Royal British Legion, SSAFA FH, Seafarers UK, ABF-The Soldiers Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund, through the medium sized charities including St Dunstan’s’, BLESMA, Combat Stress, Help for Heroes, Forces Pension Society, Officers’ Association, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Royal Air Force Association to smaller charities and Regimental Associations.



The book contains details of around 180 organisations

 It’s a handy size that can easily fit in your briefcase or bag, so you can always have it to hand when you need details of organisations that support the Armed Forces Community.

The handbook been designed to be an easy and complete reference identifying COBSEO’s member organisations, contact details and scope of operation. It tells you what each member organisation does and the specific needs they cater for, in a clear page-per-organisation way. It is designed as a go-to guide and reference book.

The online version of the handbook can be found here and there is a web-based search engine which enables users to easily search and access the handbook, using keywords or phrases. So if you were looking for help with housing, the search engine can provide those member service charities which could provide that specific help, it’s that simple to use.

If you want further information, or a copy of the handbook (£5 each to cover production costs, including postage and packaging) then call Sophie Lucas on 0845 504 6633 or email officemanager@cobseo.org.uk

Roll of Honour updated

Our website holds information about the Armed Forces Memorial (AFM) and also houses the AFM Roll of Honour (RoH) search facility.  Inclusion on the Armed Forces Memorial and the Roll of Honour is determined by the AFM Trustees Inclusion criteria. 

The RoH details deaths in Service since 1/1/48 which meet the AFM Trustees Inclusion criteria.  Its search facility potentially allows you to search for a person who died whilst they were Serving, 

The AFM RoH is normally updated on a monthly basis and it potentially provides details about Service personnel who died over 2 years ago. Partial RoH records are normally reviewed two years after the date of death when more information may be available.

The RoH is straightforward to use, requiring either the surname, forenames or initials, and/or the Service No.  Once you have found the Service person you are looking for there is an option to print an AFM Certificate

The RoH has just been updated and potentially records the details of Service personnel up to and including 28/02/09.  Partial RoH records are potentially available for those who died from 01/03/09/ to 28/02/10.

Planning for Armed Forces Day?

Armed Forces Day parade at the 2010 National Armed Forces Day event in Cardiff

If you want to know more about what's being planned for Armed Forces Day 2011, then visit the official website.  Details for some of the events planned and due to take place on Saturday 25 June 2011 are now available on the site.

The aim of Armed Forces Day, which is now in its third year, is to boost public support and appreciation of all those who serve and have served in Her Majesty's Armed Forces.

It provides an opportunity for the UK public to recognise the contribution that the Armed Forces (serving personnel, veterans and cadets) make and have made to the nation, and for the Armed Forces and veterans to know that they are valued and enjoy the respect and support of both the Government and the nation.

The city of Edinburgh has been chosen to host the 2011 national event and, as with previous years, this will be complemented by a variety of community-led events in towns and cities across the UK.

To find out about details of events planned in Edinburgh and elsewhere, as well as how you can show your support, then visit the Armed Forces Day website.

Details of some activities planned to mark Armed Forces Day can now be found on a Defence online article released today.

Picture: POA(Phot) Mez Merrill, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010

Defence Minister visits SPVA



Lt Col (Rtd) Peter Lockyear (Left) with Andrew Robathan MP (right) at the SPVA Medal Office at Imjin Barracks

The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan MP, today paid tribute to staff working in support of the Armed Forces in Afghanistan during a visit to our offices at Imjin Barracks, near Gloucester.

The Minister first visited the Agency’s Medal Office which over the last year has issued some 44,000 medals to Service personnel and veterans. He saw first hand the research necessary to confirm entitlement, as well as the preparation, engraving, cleaning and despatch of medals to their rightful recipients. He was especially interested in the work undertaken to prepare and issue the Elizabeth Cross, which is granted to the next of kin of Armed Forces personnel killed on operations, or as a result of terrorism, in a mark of national recognition for their loss.

Andrew Robathan MP (right) and Lt Col (Rtd) Peter Lockyear watch a medal being engraved

The Minister then moved on to see our Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCCC) and talked to personnel dealing with some of the 90,000 calls the centre receives each year. The JCCC’s operations room receives information on all UK Armed Forces casualties (both injuries and deaths) from around the world, including operations in Afghanistan, and ensures the families of those involved are quickly informed and offered appropriate support. Where death has occurred JCCC staff also support the families of those involved by providing advice on funeral entitlements, arranging the marking of Service graves and assisting the executor with resolution of the deceased’s estate.

Mr Robathan also saw how the JCCC authorises and arranges immediate travel back to the UK for servicemen and women in the event of a family crisis such as the sudden hospitalisation of an immediate family member.

Later, he visited the JCCC’s Commemorations team. This specialist group arranges the tracing of families, repatriation and appropriate funeral services following the discovery of the remains of UK Service personnel on battlefields and aircraft crash sites around the world, often dating back to World War I and beyond

The full press release can be viewed here.

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Laughter is the best medicine

free copies of the book have been sent to troops serving in Afghanistan

If you're compiling your Christmas gift list, want to raise money for charity or find a fun present for someone you know, then The Laughing Soldier Jokebook might be right up your street.

Project 65 - The Veterans Charity have produced a collection of jokes and messages of support for the British Armed Forces serving around the world.

Jokes have been sent in by people all over the world, including Service Personnel, veterans and their families, the general public and famous figures including Alan Titchmarsh and George Osbourne.

A donation from the sale of each book will go to the charity to help them continue with their work in funding the vital care and support of the Armed Forces Community and establish new initiatives to offer more support to those who need it most. 

The book, priced at £6.99 and published by Casemate,  goes on sale from 26th November and will be available from Project 65, Casemate, all good bookshops and online retailers.

The book includes a foreword from triple amputee former Royal Marine Mark Ormrod which highlights how important humour is for Service Personnel:

Being able to tell a joke or "crack a funny" when morale is low can help even the worst of situations seem that little bit better...

Here's a taster of what the book has to offer . . .



The book is split into sections to suit all comedic tastes



Remember the fallen

Two online ‘Books of Remembrance’ have been launched, commemorating all those members of the armed forces who have died serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Visitors can post memories, pictures and anecdotes about each individual, forming a record of the sacrifices made by Armed Forces personnel and their families that is accessible to all. The tribute books are supported by the three armed services’ charities: the RAF Benevolent Fund, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.

The creator, Jonathan Haward, has provided brief biographies for many of the fallen, but wants the general public to make their own contributions by visiting the online books. In this way he hopes the online tributes will form a broader public testament to the bravery and sacrifice of Britain’s military.

Jonathan Haward, creator of the online 'Books of Remembrance'

Jonathan has strong personal reasons for wanting to create the online spaces:

“My mother worked in a radar station during the Battle of Britain, directing fighter planes to intercept the enemy. The RAF was an important part of her life and holds a special place in the heart of our family. Both of my elder brothers, Chris and David, became pilots. Sadly David was killed on exercise 11 years ago, shortly after being appointed a Station Commander.

Jonathan's mother, who worked in a radar station during the Battle of Britain

“A few years ago a friend emailed me some pictures of my brother that I had never seen. I forwarded these to my relatives and they brought such joy that it inspired us to set up  website where families can leave tributes to departed loved ones, post images and share memories. The Books of Remembrance are a logical extension of this idea, giving everyone the chance to take an interactive, personal approach to Armistice Day. It’s also an opportunity to raise awareness of the three Service charities and their vital work."

Jacqui Thompson, whose husband Gary died in Afghanistan, has shared her memories in the online tribute

Jacqui Thompson lost her husband Gary in 2008. He was killed at the age of 51 whilst serving as a reservist in the RAF Regiment, when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Jacqui has added her own pictures and memories to Gary’s page in the Afghanistan Book of Remembrance and encourages others to do the same:

“Since I lost Gary all I have are cherished memories – that’s why Remembrance is so important to me. The online Books of Remembrance are a lovely way of keeping Gary alive - recognising his actions and collecting together my memories, and those of all the people that knew him. It helps to keep him with us, in our hearts.”

Please take time to visit the books during this time of Remembrance.