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

Our Survey Said . . .

I just wanted to let you know reasons why you should be visiting the Veterans-UK website

The SPVA website  holds information that will be of interest to the Armed Forces Community and, if you work as an advisor, may provide you with advice that can help you support veterans.

In a recent survey, more than 300 visitors to the website gave an insight into what they find useful. The results showed:

• 80% would definitely or probably recommend the site to a friend;
• The most searched for information is: Service records and medals information, pensions and compensation, Veterans Community information;
• 76% got some, most or all of what they wanted;
• 92% were content with how easy they found the site to use (69% good/very good, 23% indifferent); and
• 95% were content with how clear and easy to understand the site was (74% good/very good, 21% indifferent).

David Johnson, SPVA External Communications Manager, explained the value of the survey:

“We want the Veterans-UK website to be the focal point on the web for accessing information on support for UK ex-Service personnel and their families. The results show the site is well used and valued by most visitors but we want to do more to ensure we are meeting their needs. We’re really pleased that 75% of those completing the survey were veterans themselves. In January 2010 we introduced a new ‘Veterans Community’ area to the site with a ‘news’ section showing latest announcements, discounts and special offers specially for veterans.

“With this in mind, I would ask readers of the SPVA Blog to consider sending us items of interest to the Veterans Community for publishing online.”

If you would like to submit information to be placed on the Veterans-UK site, contact the External Communications Team.