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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.