SPVA news round up

There are a number of items on our website that are likely to be of interest to the Armed Forces Community, so I thought I might point out a few for you to look at over the weekend.

Our survey said . . . over 3,000 people have taken part in our Customer Satisfaction Survey, which closes in a couple of weeks.  It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete online, so please consider taking part.

We launched our Charity Hub a couple of weeks ago, it's a work in progress with new charities being researched and added.  It's there for you to get information on charities and organisations that are supporting the Armed Forces Community.  If you work for a charity supporting veterans, then consider contacting us to add your details to the Hub.

Have you taken a look at our online Events Calendar?  We've added some new events recently and the aim of the calendar is to raise awareness of events across the UK.  There might be an event being held in your local area, so it's worth taking a look.  The calendar is free and simple to use, so if you are organising an event, then consider adding your details to the calendar.

If you are a veteran, then our online Veterans Community webpages could have news that you'd like to know; whether its an appeal from an ex-Service charity for volunteers or the chance to tell your story in a TV documentary.

I also found out this week, that over 800,000 HM Armed Forces Veterans Lapel Badges have been issued to date.  So, I thought our Veterans Today video on the badge might provide you with some further information.  If you haven't got your badge yet, don't forget to apply.

Have a great weekend!

Still a chance to have your say

Our Customer Satisfaction Survey closes at the end of February.  so there's still time to take part.  It's an opportunity to have your say on SPVA and our services available to the Armed Forces Community.

The survey is available online 

Over 3,200 people have taken part so far, with over 1,600 surveys completed online.

It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete, so consider putting the survey on your 'To Do' list today.

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. 

New support package for the Welsh Armed Forces Community

A soldier of The Royal Welsh is welcomed home from operations in Afghanistan by his son (stock image)
[Picture: Sergeant Ian Forsyth, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

A package of support for the Armed Forces Community in Wales has been launched by the Welsh Government.

There are estimated to be at least a quarter of a million members of the Armed Forces Community in Wales including serving personnel, reservists, cadets and all their families as well as ex-Service personnel.

The package of support sets out commitments to the Armed Forces Community on devolved matters.  These include ongoing as well as new commitments and range from healthcare and housing to education and childcare.

New map to help services to veterans

If you provide or are planning to provide services to veterans in Scotland, then a new online resource is available for use.  A Map focusing on veterans aged between 26 and 65, where the greatest need for additional support lies, can now be found online, along with maps showing veterans in receipt of an AFPS occupational pension and those in receipt of a War Disability pension.

The Maps, which reveal where concentrations of veterans are to be found, are derived from a  Scottish Government study on the health of veterans and on data recently released by the MOD and were launched on 4 October 2011.

The maps will be made available to health boards, local authorities and charities to help them plan and deliver their services to veterans in the future.

A chance to say Thank You

Crackit Productions are looking for inspirational people who have dedicated a lot of time to helping others, who they will reward with a special treat on their new Channel 4 show. They are asking people to nominate a person who has touched their lives in some way and would like to say Thank You. The deserving people could be foster parents, carers, volunteers, charity workers, or even community heroes and they would like to talk to those whose lives have been touched by these people. It’s a fantastic opportunity to reward someone whose hard work may not previously have been recognised.

There may be many worthy nominees within the Armed Forces Community, so please help raise awareness of this appeal. If you can think of someone you would like to nominate, please get in touch and remember the treat for the person being nominated is a surprise, so they must not know they are being nominated!

 To put their name forward for this show either email  or call 0207 292 3581 / 07531 834 187.

StartHere . . . again!

StartHere provides online signposting for help and support

Our second podcast about the online information service is now available,

If you don't know where to go . . . then you should start here

In this second podcast, presenter Clare Ellis interviews Harvey Tilley, Assistant Director - Welfare Services from The Royal British Legion.

The Royal British Legion is one of the partner organisations working with StartHere

Harvey said:


“Helping our beneficiaries find and locate information to help them help themselves is key to our long term strategy. StartHere provides quality, trusted information that is not easily available anywhere else and it is very easy to use. The Royal British Legion has received extremely positive feedback on StartHere and we aim to build on this as part of our new strategy.”  

The podcast and other SPVA products are available to access on the SPVA Social Media Hub via our website and on various social media sites such as iTunes and YouTube.

Do you support veterans?



Communications Team members working on the Charity Hub

If you work for a charity or organisation providing support and advice to veterans then you may be interested in a new page that's being developed on our website.

Some of my colleagues on the Communications Team are working on a new charity hub that will be housed on our website and is part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The charity hub pages will hold a greater amount of detail, than before, and is designed to assist you, if either YOU need help or you're helping someone else.
This is where we need your help... If you work for an organisation, charity or service that can or does provide support to veterans, in either the community or voluntary sector, then please send us your details so we can add you to our hub.

Our website has on average 40,000 to 50,000 visitors per month. Just think of how many people could find out about your services and how you support the Armed Forces Community.

And it doesn't end here... if you, indeed, just know of a service that veterans could benefit from, then we also would like to hear from you, please just drop us an email and we will endeavour to contact the service provider for more details. We need the following details:

• Logo
• Title
• Background
• What kind of help and advice can I get?
• Who can get the help and advice?
• Contact us
• Image (Optional)

We hope this new hub will allow services to reach more of the Armed Forces Community, so they know of the valuable and vast amount of help that is available to them.

If you don't know where to start...StartHere!

Our latest podcasts focus on this online information service.
 
StartHere is an online information service where you can search for information on help and support services that are available locally or on a national basis.

A number of organisations, including SPVA, have been working with the StartHere charity to provide specific guidance for the Armed Forces Community.

Spanning two podcasts; the first podcast is now available. It features presenter Joanne Lowe interviewing Jane Gammage, Community Partnerships Manager from StartHere, as she explains more about this innovative service.

Jane said:

"Providing access to reliable information about the services available to them is a crucial step to help people get the support to really make a difference to their lives. This is what StartHere is all about and we are really pleased to be able to make that difference to members of the Armed Forces Community. After listening to the podcast, take a look at StartHere".

The second podcast will be released next week and features presenter Clare Ellis speaking to Harvey Tilley, Assistant Director - Welfare Services for the Royal British Legion to find out about their involvement.

The podcast and other SPVA social media products are available to access on the SPVA Social Media Hub via the Veterans-UK website, and on various social media sites such as iTunes and YouTube.

The September Issue

The September issue of Veterans WORLD is now online.

In this issue, you might notice some further changes to the format.  With some tweaks to our News in brief section on pages four and five, we are hoping to make the articles here short soundbites on news affecting the Armed Forces Community.

We've got a great feature on Tedworth House, the newest Army Personnel Recovery and Assessment Centre based in Wiltshire.  There's also news on Skillforce, the Education charity that's utlising ex-Service Personnels' skills and knowledge to support children in schools.  We're also reporting on a new project that's aiming to protect war memorials across the UK.   That's just a taster of what in store for you . . . find out more by reading the issue.

And don't forget, we have two ways to view Veterans WORLD online - either download the standard PDF or choose the option to view the issue via ISSUU (a leading digital publishing platform that's free to access).  ISSUU provides you with a more interactive, digital version of Veterans WORLD.

Enjoy the issue and let me know what you think.

How personal do you want your profile to be?

The third video for the MOD Online Security Awareness Campaign is now online.

An MOD Civil Servant is using LinkedIn to share her personal information, but how personal does she want her profile to be?

Armed Forces Community Covenant signed in Catterick

Representatives for each service and local council members at the Catterick Garrison leisure centre
[Picture: Corporal Gary Kendall RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

An Armed Forces Community Covenant, a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces community, was signed at Catterick Garrison on Friday.

The Community Covenant initiative was one of the key measures in the Armed Forces Covenant published in May 2011, which outlined the moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces, and aims to improve support to the Armed Forces Community (which includes serving personnel, their families and veterans).

Community Covenants have already been launched in Oxfordshire, the Vale of Glamorgan and Hampshire, and one is due to be launched in Portsmouth soon.

The aims of the Community Covenant include:

• to encourage local communities to support the Armed Forces Community in their areas, and vice versa;
• to promote understanding and awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the Armed Forces Community;
• to recognise and remember the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces Community; and
• to encourage activities which help to integrate the Armed Forces Community into local life.

Build up to Armed Forces Day continues . . .

Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, pictured with veterans of the Armed Forces who now work within the Palace of Westminster [Picture: Sergeant Andy Malthouse, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

More events are being celebrated in the lead up to Armed Forces Day this weekend.

An exhibition of photographs provided by veterans working in the House of Commons - 'Standing Next to You' - was opened yesterday by John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons.

The exhibition features past and present photographs of veterans alongside their remarkable stories. It was the idea of Madeleine Moon MP who wanted to highlight the fact that people who have served are all around us, and show support for Armed Forces Day.

Over twenty veterans volunteered for the exhibition from all departments and sides of the House and representing all three Services. They include Members of Parliament, Police Constables, doorkeepers and security officers. These individuals have retained the ethos they gained during their time in the Armed Forces, which remains relevant to the jobs they do today.

Many of the volunteers who contributed their stories and photographs for the exhibition attended the exhibition launch and Mr Bercow presented eight of them with Veterans Badges.

To promote recognition of veterans by the wider British public, the unique and unifying symbol of the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge is available to all those who have served in HM Armed Forces.

The HM Armed Forces Veterans’ Lapel Badge was launched in May 2004 by the then Minister for Veterans, to raise the profile of veterans by assisting the wider public to recognise them. Our videocast provides more information on the badge.



Information on how to apply for a Veterans Badge can be found here.

New Armed Forces Community Covenant Scheme Launched

The launch of a Community Covenant scheme is one of the key measures of the Armed Forces Covenant

The first Armed Forces Community Covenant scheme was launched yesterday in Oxfordshire. The covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community.  £30million of Government funding has been allocated over the next four years to support the scheme.

The aims of the Community Covenant include:

• to encourage local communities to support the Armed Forces Community in their areas, and vice versa;
• to promote understanding and awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the Armed Forces Community;
• to recognise and remember the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces Community; and
• to encourage activities which help to integrate the Armed Forces Community into local life.

The launch in Oxfordshire will be followed by launches in the Vale of Glamorgan, Hampshire and North Yorkshire in the next couple of weeks. A scheme will also be launched in Portsmouth at a later date. 

Picture: Harland Quarrington, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010

Fly the flag

An Armed Forces Day Flag flies over buildings in London
[Picture: Harland Quarrington, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Yesterday saw the start of the celebrations for Armed Forces Day, with many buildings across the UK flying the Armed Forces Day Flag.

Flying the flag has become part of the celebrations in the lead up to the main day.
 
The flags were hoisted to show support for members of the Armed Forces, veterans, cadets and their families.

Armed Forces Day is a chance for the British public to show their support for the men and women of the Armed Forces Community - from currently serving troops to Service families, and from veterans to cadets.

As well as raising the Armed Forces Day Flag, communities across the country are hosting hundreds of events to celebrate the Armed Forces, with the national, three-day celebration taking place in Edinburgh from 24-26 June 2011.

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.

Wear your uniform to work

Royal Naval Reservist Able Seaman Ritchie Wilkinson speaks with presenters Phillip Schofield and Jenni Falconer on ITV1's This Morning [Picture: Copyright Ken McKay 2011]

Now a regular event as part of the build up to Armed Forces Day, Uniform to Work Day will be held on June 22. 

The day is a great opportunity to highlight the the important role that Reserves play in serving their country.

Uniform to Work Day will mean many reservists leaving their suit and tie at home and donning their Forces uniform to wear to work instead. Last year, thousands of reservists took part in the initiative to show their pride in giving their time for their country.

Three reservists are already preparing for Uniform to Work Day, see more on their story online.

Senior Aircraftman Dave Haygarth of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force wears his RAF uniform during his day job as the Energy Manager for the London Borough of Hillingdon. [Picture: Sergeant Andy Malthouse RAF, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Free carvery meal for Armed Forces: past and present

Heroes getting ready to 'tuck in'

Crown Carveries is supporting the Armed Forces Day 2011 by offering a free carvery meal to all Armed Forces, past and present, between Monday 20th and Saturday 25th June.

With 117 restaurants nationwide, Crown Carveries plans to salute the thousands of Service people enlisted to Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, by offering them a free carvery meal in the week leading up to, and on Armed Forces Day itself (Saturday 25th June). The offer is also open to all forces veterans.

Enjoying the free carvery couldn’t be easier. All past and present Service people simply need to visit their website and download the ‘free carvery meal’ voucher and present this along with their current ID card (or veteran lapel badge) to staff at their local Crown Carvery restaurant.

The Veterans Lapel Badge is required for proof of Service if you are a veteran

Sharing information online

The Teaser for the second video to be released as part of the new MOD online security awareness campaign.

The Mother of an Airman in the RAF is using Facebook but it may not be friends and family reading her status updates.

The new online guidance provides tips on how to keep secure when online, the information is useful for all members of the Armed Forces Community.