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Category: Careers

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  • Charity Fundraiser Awarded MBE

    Charity Fundraiser Awarded MBE

    It has been announced that the Captain Wadsworth CGC has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List in recognition of both his role in the military and his charitable work…

    Serving as a bomb disposal expert within the British Army, Capt. Wadsworth received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for extraordinary courage in 2008. Wadsworth has also worked tirelessly to raise money for his chosen charity, Felix Fund, which helps bomb disposal and search personnel and their families.

    Capt. Wadsworth said: “I am so honoured to have been recognised and hope to achieve so much more in the future to help those who have served in the Army. I have dedicated my life to my country and work tirelessly to raise money for those who need it most, and don’t expect anything in return, so I’m privileged to be receiving an MBE.”

    Capt. Wadsworth raises money for the Felix Fund primarily through The Captain James Wadsworth Challenge. This challenge offers endurance events that see participants competing in a number of events throughout the year including cycling, running, and swimming.

    In 2018 alone, the challenge raised £13,100 for the Felix Fund. Capt. Wadsworth, it seems, isn’t content with that and he has already announced three endurance events to raise even more money in 2019. These events include:

    • Tour de Troops, a cycle ride from Edinburgh Castle to Cardiff Castle, stopping at Windsor Castle en route
    • The Soldiers Pass Run, a chance for participants to run between 5k-100k, starting and finishing in Didcot
    • Victory Swim, an epic swim across the English Channel either as a solo swimmer or as part of a relay team
    • Victory Swim, The Lake, for those wanting to experience open water swimming

    The calendar for 2019 is pretty much full for the Captain, who prides himself on being able to help support recuperating British soldiers and their families. He is no stranger to endurance events, and he really does practice what he preaches. In 2014, he completed the Spartan Race Trifecta, a series of gruelling obstacle events.

    He has also competed in events such as Man Versus Mountain, Coast to Coast, and Marathon des Sables, in which he ran across 251 KM of the Sahara Desert in just one week whilst also carrying 10.5 kilos. To date, he has raised almost £75,000 for charity through his activities.

     

     

     

     

     

  • 9,000 Christmas Boxes Sent Worldwide

    9,000 Christmas Boxes Sent Worldwide

    Operation Christmas Box, formerly uk4 Thanks!, sent nearly 9,000 Christmas gift boxes to unaccompanied members of the Armed Forces overseas around the world away from their families and friends this Christmas as a ‘gift from the nation’…

    With over 20 items, it is a universal box and the contents are carefully considered so that they are acceptable to all the recipients, regardless of gender or religion and that it does not offend the host country.

    A mix of novelties, useful items, games, Christmas hat, questionnaire and Christmas card are in the box. The items are refreshed each year to maintain interest, and to reflect comments received from recipients via the questionnaire in each box plus comments via Facebook and emails.

    Although they receive no financial support from the MOD, Operation Christmas Box do obtain tremendous assistance determining the total requirement; agreeing the box contents; locating the personnel overseas, and getting the gifts to theatre.

    The Operation Christmas Box Team rely on sponsors to provide the necessary funding each year so that they can continue to support our Armed Forces at Christmas.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Service To The Armed Forces Community Recognised

    Service To The Armed Forces Community Recognised

    David Cowley, Chairman of The Not Forgotten Association, was appointed an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List in recognition of his remarkable service to the beneficiaries of the Association for over 3 decades…

    For the past 3 years David has been the Chairman of the NFA but has been actively engaged in all aspects of the charity’s works since the 80’s.

    The Chief Executive, James Stopford, said: “David has been a voice of reason and a force for progress for this charity for almost a third of its existence.

    “But his contribution goes beyond just good governance and oversight; he has personally delivered many of our events, takes a close interest in the beneficiaries and genuinely cares, and is driven by and proud to help enrich the lives of injured service personnel.

    “This is wonderful news for both David and the Not Forgotten – it is the perfect way to start 2019 and the lead up to our centenary year in 2020.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Taxi Charity Appoints New President

    Taxi Charity Appoints New President

    The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans is delighted to announce that Eddie Hillery has been appointed President. Eddie has been involved with the Taxi Charity since 2008, and as a veteran and a retired taxi driver was the natural choice for this role…

    In 1954, aged 18, Eddie was called up under the National Service Act. He joined the Royal Signals at Catterick in Yorkshire and trained as a wireless operator. He volunteered for airborne forces, transferred and trained as a parachutist and served the remainder of his service with 16th Independent Parachute Brigade Signals Squadron until 1956.

    After a few years in different driving roles, Eddie signed up for The Knowledge in 1965 and became a qualified taxi driver in 1966. He spent 42 years as a London taxi driver and was a founder member of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association. He became a Taxi Charity volunteer in 2008, supporting the bucket collections at stations throughout London, and has been an active charity committee member since 2013.

    Gary Belsey, Chairman of the Taxi Charity, said: “As a long serving charity volunteer, veteran and an ex cab driver Eddie was the obvious choice for President. We are delighted that he is in post as we begin 2019 and the important 75th anniversary year of the D-Day Landings.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Charity Worker Receives New Year’s Honour

    Charity Worker Receives New Year’s Honour

    Carol Sales, HighGround’s first Horticultural Therapist at Headley Court, has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year Honours for ‘services to rehabilitation and injured service personnel…

    Anna Baker Cresswell HighGround’s Founder and Executive Director said: “We are all so delighted that Carol’s immense contribution has been recognised and her legacy is in good hands at Stanford Hall where Jane Taylor, generously funded this year by Help4Heroes, continues her excellent work.”

    HighGround helps Service Leavers and Veterans to find jobs, careers and vocational opportunities in the land- based sector.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Troops Send Their Loved Ones Messages For Christmas

    Troops Send Their Loved Ones Messages For Christmas

    Thousands of Armed Forces personnel are working across the globe to help keep Britain safe at home and abroad have begun to send Christmas messages home…

    Whilst families at home celebrate Christmas, UK troops are involved in 35 operations in more than 30 countries across the world in multiple time zones from Somalia and South Sudan to Kuwait and Ukraine.

    In total 14 Naval vessels will be at sea from Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dragon in the Gulf to Type 23 Frigate HMS Argyll in the Asia Pacific. Since 1969 the UK has had a submarine on patrol for every minute of every day, providing the UK’s nuclear deterrent and this Christmas is no different.

    In the South Atlantic, over 1000 personnel are stationed in the Falkland Islands along with survey ship HMS Protector. Whilst in the Caribbean, RFA Mounts Bay has been on alert over the hurricane season and remains overseas.

    In total around 11,000 sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen and airwomen are serving on operations overseas.

    Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “We should all take a moment to think of our armed forces personnel and their families, whose selflessness and support at this time of year is vital. This Christmas, like any other day, our servicemen and women will be displaying their unique professionalism around the world and at home.”

    Head of the Submarine Service Rear Admiral John Weale said: “While everybody is enjoying their Christmas I ask that you remember those submariners we have deployed, we have submarines deployed 24/7, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They will not be able to dial home this Christmas so to their family members I wish you all a happy Christmas and to all submariners, thank you and happy Christmas.”

    The Armed Forces will also be busy at home. As ever the Squadrons of the UK’s Quick Reaction Alert will be on duty at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby, many of them ready in their green flight suits waiting for the call to scramble and protect UK airspace. Also on duty at home will be troops of the Household Division keeping guard outside Royal residences in London and Windsor.

    In Europe, 150 UK personnel of the Queen’s Royal Hussars are deployed to Poland and around 850 British personnel of the 1 YORKS are in Estonia on NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence deployment.

    In Africa 120 Army troops are deployed to wildlife reserves in Malawi to assist local forces with counter-poaching and halt the population decline of many of Africa’s animals, including elephants, rhinos and lions.

    Troops will also be in peacekeeping missions in Somalia and South Sudan. In Mali RAF Chinook helicopters from RAF Odiham are supported by around 90 British troops to support French counter-terrorism operations.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Navy In Largest Ever Gulf Drugs Bust

    Navy In Largest Ever Gulf Drugs Bust

    Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon has seized and destroyed ten tonnes of hash worth more than £75m in a record-breaking drugs bust in the Gulf…

    In a highly fruitful 48-hour window, the Type 45 destroyer – which will remain on operations in the Gulf throughout the Christmas period – intercepted two boats carrying the huge haul of illicit drugs on notorious drug smuggling route known as the ‘Hash Highway’.

    It marks the biggest seizure of illegal narcotics ever recorded in the history of the Combined Maritime Forces – the multi-national organisation in charge of policing that stretch of sea. They are the third and fourth hauls for the Portsmouth-based destroyer in the space of a month, taking the total drugs seized to 13.3 tonnes during the first three months of the ship’s deployment.

    Gavin Williamson said: “Seizing four hauls of this magnitude is a remarkable achievement and represents a significant dent in the pockets of criminals who seek to put these drugs onto our streets. The global narcotics network is a scourge that we are absolutely committed to tackling, as part of our commitment to security in the Gulf and across the world.”

    Dragon’s sailors and Royal Marines were launched on fast boats to halt the two dhows – a type of vessel common to the Middle East – in two separate missions over a demanding two-day period. Boarding and painstakingly searching the boats, personnel removed hundreds of sacks of narcotics worth a UK street value of more than £75m.

    One of Dragon’s Boarding Officers, Lieutenant Jonathan Bennett, was in the heat of the action in both raids. He said: “To achieve two major drugs busts in under 48 hours is a massive achievement. Our Royal Navy and Royal Marines boarding teams worked long hours in very challenging seas to remove nearly 10,000kg of narcotics.

    “During the second boarding, the sea deteriorated resulting in increasingly hazardous conditions for our searchers. We had to endure heavy seas, large amounts of ship movement and a dangerous working environment, all while removing over 300 heavy bags of narcotics and transporting them back to Dragon successfully.”

    As weather conditions worsened, Dragon deployed her Wildcat helicopter to aid the boarding teams’ work. It allowed them to return the drugs back to ship quickly, with their work complete before midnight.

    Royal Marine Lieutenant Elliot Titman, from Juliet Company, of Devon-based 42 Commando Royal Marines, said: “These recent operational successes represent a positive start to this deployment and are the result of the efforts of the whole ship together with support from our combined task force partners.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Preparing For Christmas With Deployed Parents

    Preparing For Christmas With Deployed Parents

    The charity Reading Force aims to help 1,000 military families stay closer this Christmas holiday by giving children and deployed parents stories to share…

    The Ministry of Defence estimates 11,000 Service personnel will be deployed over the Christmas period, meaning many families will be separated. Serving personnel will be continuing the fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria, taking part in UN peacekeeping activity in South Sudan and maintaining a reassuring presence in the Falklands, to mention just a few key missions this December.

    Reading Force aims to help families keep close by giving children stories to read and talk about with their absent parent during phone and video calls that can otherwise feel awkward. The charity is inviting Forces families to request books and spread the word to the wider community to encourage donations to help the charity continue its work keeping families close and connected.

    Alison Baverstock, Army wife for nearly 30 years, mother of four, and founder of Reading Force, said: “I know from my own experience what it feels like to say goodbye to a partner and parent who’s in the Forces, especially when you know they’ll be away for Christmas. Precious calls home can become high pressure with everyone wanting them to be loving and positive. Children – and many adults – can clam up.

    “But sharing what you’ve been reading and what you all thought about the book is a really simple and effective way to break the ice and get conversations flowing. Stories often provide great opportunities for fun and being silly together and that can help soothe the sense of separation. Stay close and connected and join Reading Force this Christmas by requesting a book and scrapbook for your children, or, if you feel able, make a donation.”

    Forces families face many challenges including frequent moves of home and school, children having to say goodbye to friends and extended family, as well as the emotional strain of having a parent working in a war zone. Sian La-Borde and daughter Amelie, 4, are preparing for their first Christmas since Amelie was born without husband and father, Ryan. Ryan is on a four-month deployment to the Falklands. Sian said:

    “Amelie loves reading and so sharing stories and thoughts about stories with daddy over Facetime is brilliant. We usually get three 10-minute calls a week but factor in the time difference and the attention span of a child and Ryan can easily spend the call looking at the back of Amelie’s head if she’s tired and not particularly engaged. We plan to use the Reading Force story and scrapbook to give her and Ryan something special to share this Christmas.”

    Reading Force aims to help at least 1,000 Forces families separated this Christmas via a Crowdfunder campaign to raise £4,000. This would allow the charity to post out story books and colourful scrapbooks for children and their whole family to get involved with by sharing thoughts, notes, letters, drawings and photographs.

    The shared nature of the scrapbook activities help families feel close even after phone and video calls have ended. The scrapbooks often become precious family mementos.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Deaf Student Praises Veterans’ Charity

    Deaf Student Praises Veterans’ Charity

    A deaf man is hoping his work placement at The Royal Star & Garter Homes encourages other people with auditory problems to achieve their goals…

    Gary Cutmore says he is proof that barriers can be overcome after completing a three-week placement as part of his Trainee Nursing Associate course. Gary, from Dagenham, worked at the Charity’s Surbiton Home in November, communicating with people using sign language and an interpreter.

    He said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time here, I’ve learned a lot and felt very involved. The residents, staff and volunteers have been very approachable. I’ve really enjoyed my placement.”

    Gary works as a Health Care Assistant in adult deaf services at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, and admitted feeling nervous ahead of his first shift at The Royal Star & Garter Homes. However, he was made to feel comfortable and soon settled in.

    “They have treated me like a normal student and told me things I wanted to know and needed to learn,” said the 34-year-old. “I’ve felt very involved throughout. I always thought that as a deaf person this would be too much of a barrier. But I’ve realised there are no barriers. I’ve had loads of support and the placement has been fantastic.

    “It’s really important to me to show deaf people like me can get involved and support residents. I’m not different to any other nurse really. I hope this helps opens the door for other deaf people to become nurses or qualified associates in the future.”

    The Royal Star & Garter Homes cares for ex-Servicemen and women living with disability or dementia. Many residents suffer from hearing loss, and Gary hopes staff have learned from him how to be more deaf-aware.

    The Charity’s Director of Care, Pauline Shaw, agreed: “I feel our team has a better understanding of the deaf community following Gary’s placement. Like Gary, we don’t think hearing loss should stop anyone from achieving their goals. I’m delighted he found his placement with us beneficial. We wish him well.”

    Gary’s Ward Manager at the NHS Trust’s adult deaf services is Jean Pierre Foo Kune. He said: “Gary is an example to us all. We endeavour to fully support and empower all deaf staff throughout their career, ensuring maximum communication support is provided throughout their professional pathway.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • 2019 Christmas Card Competition

    2019 Christmas Card Competition

    Every year Operation Christmas Box produces a unique Christmas card which goes out to all serving personnel who are overseas on operational duty during the Christmas period…

    The team at Operation Christmas Box are asking you to help them design the 2019 Christmas card which will go out as part of the box delivery next year.

    The team will provide a 2019 Christmas Box which goes to all serving personnel out on operations during the Christmas period, and will include your card as a prize in each category.

    The categories are:

    • Up to 5 years old
    • 6-11 years old
    • 12-16 years old
    • 17 years old and over

    Pictured above is a previous Christmas card as an example. The card design is completely yours to decide but you must remember that it is for our unaccompanied UK Armed Forces overseas who are away from their families and friends on 25th December.

    The closing date for entries is 31 March 2019 and the prizes will be sent early in 2020.

    Please send your entries to: Operation Christmas Box, The Teasel Barn, Belluton, Pensford, North East Somerset BS39 4JJ or email your design to charles.wookey@operationchristmasbox.org