Latest news with #SSAFA
Daily Record
a day ago
- General
- Daily Record
Stirling pupils earn £3000 for Armed Forces charity
Bannockburn High School's young people handed over cheque to the Forth Valley branch of SSAFA after an impressive presentation at a competition. A team of six pupils from Bannockburn High School have secured a £3,000 donation for its local branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. The team won the school's Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) Project final with a powerful and moving presentation on the charity's work. The students, who each chose SSAFA individually as the charity they wished to champion and were then formed into a single group, researched, created, and choreographed a deeply thoughtful presentation that impressed the judging panel and won top prize at the recent school final. The YPI empowers secondary school pupils to engage with social issues and advocate on behalf of charities they feel passionate about. Each school's winning team secures a £3,000 grant for its chosen charity. In this case the £3,000 will go to the Forth Valley Branch of SSAFA, helping the branch to continue its vital work supporting local members of the Armed Forces community, whether serving or retired, Reserves or Regulars, regardless of rank or regiment, ship or squadron. Ian McAlister, Branch Chair of Forth Valley who attended, said: 'It was a real pleasure to see how much effort and understanding the students brought to the project and I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with them as they prepared their presentation for the final. 'The pride they took in presenting SSAFA's story was heart-warming. It means so much to us that a younger generation not only took the time to learn about our work, but chose to advocate for it with such energy and empathy.' One of the winning group, Kenzie McLeod, said during the presentation: 'SSAFA is a charity that has directly supported families within our school community. 'Because my uncle was in the Army, this project felt personal to me. I can say that SSAFA supported my relative after a serious battlefield injury left him reliant on a cane. We all learned so much and felt proud knowing we were helping to make a difference.' Ian added: 'This is a great opportunity to build lasting relationships and raise awareness of SSAFA's mission among young people. We're excited to see what can grow from this success.' SSAFA has been supporting veterans, serving personnel, and their families for 140 years. Those in the Stirling, Falkirk, and Clackmannanshire area who are interested in volunteering or fundraising for the charity, or who wish to get support from it, can search online for 'SSAFA Forth Valley' or call 0141 488 8552.
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow couple to abseil 30m down Kelpies for SSAFA
Carol and Charles Diaper, from St George's Cross in Glasgow, will climb the inside of one of the Kelpies before abseiling down the 30-metre-high sculpture on June 27, as part of the SSAFA Kelpie Experience. The event raises funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. It offers participants a guided aerial climb up the world's largest equine sculptures, with the option to descend via a free-hanging abseil or "Quick Flight" rope drop. Carol and Charles will climb and abseil the Kelpies to raise money for charity (Image: Supplied) Read more: Glaswegians urged to 'light up the longest day' and help feed hungry children Carol, a professional trumpeter, said: "We both feel passionate about supporting the people who serve in the Armed Forces, both home and abroad. "SSAFA does such good work with serving personnel, veterans, and their families, so when we saw the Kelpie event, we thought this was the perfect way of challenging ourselves whilst also raising vital funds for the charity." This challenge marks yet another adventure for the brave couple who are both PADI Rescue Divers. Carol recently completed her 500th dive in Fiji last year and has raised more than £50,000 for charity through fire walks, freefall parachuting, Everest Base Camp treks, and a 500km cycle ride in China. The adventurous couple are both PADI rescue divers (Image: Supplied) The couple's choice to raise funds for the Armed Forces is tied to their personal links to the organisation. Charles's uncle served as a Group Captain in the RAF and was Commandant of the now-closed Headley Court rehabilitation hospital. The couple also have a close friend who is an engineer in the Royal Navy. To support Carol and Charles' fundraising, visit The Kelpies Experience takes participants into the horse's mouth via cables, ladders, and suspended platforms. Designed for families, schools, and children aged ten and above (with under 17s accompanied by an adult), the event places a strong emphasis on safety. All climbers will be securely attached to a safety cable throughout and supported by professional guides. The couple are keen to raise funds for SSAFA due to their personal links to the armed forces (Image: Supplied) Read more: 'We never knew when she'd have a seizure': Mum on raising child with rare condition Carol said: "To anyone thinking about doing the challenge, I would say, just be brave. "It's an amazing feeling to challenge yourself both physically and mentally. "I know we'll both be a bit nervous from the heights, but that's what all the safety systems and guides are for. "The best feeling is knowing that all the money raised will go towards people who serve our country." The Kelpie Experience will take place on June 21 and again during Armed Forces Week on June 27. Individual registration costs £50, while a family of four (two adults and two children) can take part for £70, with a fundraising target of £250.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Spitfires, parachutists and cavalry at palace's nostalgia event
Staff at stately home Blenheim Palace are getting ready to stage the annual Battle Proms next month. Each year, the Woodstock visitor attraction hosts the military nostalgia event. The Battle Proms takes place overlooking the Column of Victory in the palace grounds, which include 2,100 acres of formal gardens and 'Capability' Brown-landscaped parkland. READ MORE: Heatwave coming to Oxfordshire This year's Proms will take place on Saturday, July 5. (Image: Blenheim Palace) The Battle Proms Concerts are the longest running picnic proms series in the UK, attracting about 30,000 visitors a year since the first concert in 1997. Proms concerts are also held at Burghley House, Peterborough, Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire, and Highclere Castle, Hampshire. At Blenheim, gates will open at 4.30pm, and there will be a cavalry display at 6.15pm, followed by a parachute display from The Red Devils at 6.45pm. There will be an evening gun salute featuring more than 200 cannons at 7.55pm, followed by a Spitfire display at 8pm. (Image: Oxford Mail) The musical programme runs from 8pm to 10.30pm and there will be a fireworks finale. Entry to the palace and gardens is not included in the Battle Proms ticket, but Battle Proms ticket holders can purchase palace entry with an exclusive 30% discount if they plan to visit the palace during the day. The website says: "Widely regarded as the most exciting summer proms concert in the country, the Battle Proms is a firmly established favourite that thousands of fans return to year after year. "Pack up a picnic, stock up on fizz and join the party; whether you're planning a romantic evening as a couple, a celebration as a group, or want to enjoy an informal concert as a family then this could be the unique experience you have been looking for." The event will support armed forces charity SSAFA. SSAFA said in a statement: "A full programme of unforgettable entertainment will ensure your evening goes off with a bang. "You will enjoy daring cavalry performances, hair-raising parachute displays and hear the unmistakable rumble of the Spitfire as it flies overhead and if that's not enough, this perfect summer evening will conclude with a ground shaking firework and cannon display as the orchestra perform Beethoven's 'Battle Symphony'. "Whether you're planning a romantic evening as a couple, a group celebration, or want to enjoy a fun filled day out as a family, this could be the unique experience you've been looking for." Assistance dogs are the only dogs that are permitted at the event. Blenheim Palace annual pass holders are entitled to a 10 per cent discount on standard advance adult and child tickets.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sale of Barnsley military properties 'dishonours' war hero
A former army veteran has spoken out over the decision by an armed forces charity to sell off military cottages built in honour of his brother in bungalows, known as the McKay VC Memorial Cottages, in Hoyland, were built in 1988 and dedicated to Sgt Ian John McKay, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria being built to house disabled military veterans the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) sold the properties in 2024 to Mountview Estates. While veterans still living on the site have been told they can stay for the rest of their lives, Mr McKay's brother-in-law John Vickers, 58, said he did not want his relative's memory "tainted". Sgt McKay, from Wortley, served in the Falklands and died aged 29 during the Battle of Mount Longdon in 1982 while trying to save his fellow soldiers from enemy was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the UK's top military Vickers said: "He was obviously a fair bit older than me but he was a magnificent calm individual, warm and loving""He was the reason I joined the army" he served with the Queens regiment on tours in Gibraltar and Northern Ireland before leaving the force in 1991 after suffering an injury in Cyprus. Veterans currently living in the bungalows on Pine Close in Hoyland told the BBC last year how unsettling the sale had been for September SSAFA said they had a "binding stipulation" that all current residents could live in their properties for as long as they wished but that the sale "would free up more financial resources to help more people through the charity's core work".Mr Vickers described the approach by the military charity as "commercial short-termism dishonouring my brother-in-law's name"He added: "If you dedicate a series of buildings to the care of veterans in the name of someone who was a veteran it is behoven on the organisations involved to maintain that legacy "I'm exceptionally disappointed that this has not happened."SSAFA had an obligation to maintain them as memorial cottages, not just for one generation or just the existing residents but for a legacy of at least 125 years." In a statement a spokesperson for SSAFA said:"We understand the strength of Mr Vickers' feelings, and would like to make clear that the lifetime protected tenancies the residents of the McKay VC Memorial Cottages signed nine months ago are just that: protected and for life."They continued, "Further, the sale of the Pine Close properties is leaving a legacy of help and support to many in the military family past, present, and future, not only the residents of those properties."A spokesperson for Mountview PLC said they did not wish to comment. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
The Independent
08-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Wartime star Dame Vera Lynn would want young people to help others
The daughter of forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn has stressed the importance of 'duty' for young people and said her mother would have thought it is 'very important' they help others. Dame Vera lifted troops' spirits with concerts in Egypt, India and Burma during the war in which she sang songs including The White Cliffs Of Dover and We'll Meet Again, which were heard at the Westminster Abbey service on Thursday. She died in 2020 aged 103, having had a celebrated career as a singer and entertainer that spanned more than 90 years. Her daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones was at the VE Day 80th anniversary party at the Royal Albert Hall when she spoke to the PA news agency. Asked about lessons for the younger generation, Ms Lewis-Jones told PA: 'I think that if they can learn that duty is very important, that if you can do anything to help anybody please do so. 'It doesn't matter if it's Gertrude next door who needs her shopping done or whatever, but it's very, very important for the young people to help other people as much as possible'. That is what her mother 'would have thought, and that's what I think as well', she added. The Royal Albert Hall party, presented by the SSAFA Armed Forces charity in association with the Daily Mail, heard music from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra as well as a performance from Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova. Ms Lewis-Jones told PA: 'Obviously this is an extremely, extremely important day – it should always be remembered. 'Especially for the young people to remember what people sacrificed for them for today, and the freedoms that we've got now are purely due to the people that not only fought, and did a lot of other things in the background of the war, but also afterwards.' She added: '80th anniversary, you know there won't be a lot of veterans left for the next 10 years so it's a very, very important day and my mother would have reiterated that and said how important that was. 'She was very keen on young people to be able to appreciate what happened during and after the war as well.' Dame Vera worked with many charities to ensure people were aware of the events before, during and after the Second World War, Ms Lewis-Jones added. She is currently fundraising for a memorial to her mother to be installed near the White Cliffs of Dover. It will also pay tribute to other artists who travelled the world boosting moral by entertaining troops and families. Dame Vera was born March 20 1917 and started singing in working men's clubs at seven years old. During the war she captured the hearts of the nation with her uplifting musical performances and recordings. In 2017, aged 100, Dame Vera became the oldest living artist to be in the UK's album chart top 10.
