What's new this week?

Did you know that we are only 108 days away from Armed Forces Day 2012?   If you want to know what's being planned or if there's going to be an event in your local area, then visit the official website.

More Community Covenants have been signed in South Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.

We are busy working on our next podcast, hopefully to go live later in the month.  It's an interview with Alison Davies, Officer in Charge of the Veterans Welfare Service.    The interview follows the launch of our latest video on the Service, which you can view below . . .





There's details of a Wreath Laying Ceremony at Runnymede Memorial on our what's new page.  There's also an appeal by 360 Productions, who want to interview Second World War veterans from 100 Bomber Group.  Ladies can also be fabulous while raising money for the Erskine charity, at a lunch planned in May with celebrity host Jenny Eclair.

As we are moving closer to Spring (and hopefully warmer months), you might be starting to plan events that would be of interest to the Armed Forces Community.  Please don't forget to add details on our online events calendar.

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.

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]

Countdown to Armed Forces Day begins

Two Royal Navy divers display the Armed Forces Day Flag before commencing a diving job with HMS Bulwark
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Joel Rouse, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

We're just a one month away from this year's Armed Forces Day.

Armed Forces Day 2011 will be held on Saturday 25 June, with events taking place up and down the country over the two-week period from 18 June to 3 July.

Edinburgh are hosting the national event with a full weekend of Armed Forces Day-related activities, starting on Friday 24 through to Sunday 26 June.

Visit the official site to find out about events in your local area or how to get involved.  We're also working on an Armed Forces Day podcast with interviews with key people working on the events, so keep an eye (or an ear) out for our next release in a couple of weeks.

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.

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

SPVA supports Armed Forces Day

The second annual Armed Forces Day will be held this Saturday, June 26. The day provides an opportunity for the nation to show its support for the Armed Forces Community with events being held across the country, with the national event hosted by Cardiff.

In the latest SPVA podcast, Don Goldie and Clare Ellis discuss the latest Armed Forces Day news and interview Cardiff Council Leader Councillor Rodney Berman, on what is planned for the national event. Cardiff has a full day of activities planned from a parade, a concert with performances from The Soldiers and Only Men Aloud to a fireworks display closing the event.

SPVA staff will also be attending some of the Armed Forces Day events, providing information and advice. We’ll keep you updated on where staff will be, via the SPVA Twitter page. You can follow SPVA on Twitter here.

If you want to get involved or find out about an event near you; visit the official Armed Forces Day webpage.

Only Men Aloud will be performing at the National Event

Armed Forces Day 2010 - where will you be?

Cardiff is hosting the national Armed Forces Day event for 2010

Armed Forces Day takes place on Saturday 26 June. Designed to honour our Service personnel, past, present and future; the theme for Armed Forces Day is 'Show your Support'.

The national event takes place on Saturday 26 June and will be hosted by Cardiff City Council. This will be completed by more than 170 community-led events in towns and cities across the UK on or around 26 June. For the full event listing and to see how you can get involved in your local event, click here for further details.
Public support for Armed Forces Day is growing every day. There are now more than 260,000 fans on the dedicated Facebook page and almost 1,300 followers on Twitter. Lots of messages of support are posted every day. Click here to visit the Facebook page or follow Armed Forces Day on Twitter.