Today we’ve launched our new report, The Overlooked Casualties of
Conflict. The report is an in-depth study of all the challenges
experienced by children who have a parent in the Armed Forces. Over the
last 20 years we’ve seen service children experience the repercussions
of the Falklands War, so we commissioned this report to share our
knowledge as we predict we are sitting on a ticking timebomb of problems
for children whose parents have served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan.
The full version of the report can be downloaded here.
The press release accompanying the report can be downloaded here.
Today we met with the Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP. We had a very interesting discussion about
the needs of service children and what initiatives are currently
underway which can be supported further. We look forward to seeing the
Government lead developments in this respect.
At the end of May we took part in the National Family Week initiative and held a Family Fun Day at Portsmouth Football Club. The day saw an inflatable five-a-side football pitch and speed tunnel provided by the Football Foundation, and the Army put volunteers to the test with a challenging inflatable assault course. For animal lovers, ‘Animal Encounters’ exhibited a range of creatures to touch and feel, and face painting, games, quizzes, fire engine and tank demonstrations, and a gigantic balloon release are just a few of the other events which took place throughout the day.
We would like to thank everyone who attended and provided support for this fantastic initiative.
Monique Bateman, our Director, met with Bob Russell – the MP for Colchester and a member of the Liberal Democrat Defence team – shortly before Parliament ended for summer recess. The meeting was arranged after the MP learnt about the charity through signing our Early Day Motion, and wanted to understand more about our work. The meeting went incredibly well, and we look forward to working with Bob Russell in the future to help alleviate the problems faced by the children of service personnel.
Ex-serviceman Les Roper is running for RNRMCF in the BUPA Great South Run on 25th October. He’s also participating in the Great London Swim as well.
Les said, “I am personally grateful for my own family’s good health and as an ex-serviceman recognise how life would have been much harder if I’d had family health and welfare problems.”
Show your support by sponsoring him at www.justgiving.com/leslieroper
Introducing the newly-formed Royal Navy & Royal Marines Widows Association. You can contact them on 023 9265 4374 or by mailing rnrmwidowsassociation@hotmail.com. Their address is: Castaway House, 311 Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO2 8RN.
Click on the picture to see their flyer.
We are delighted to announce that so far 58 MPs have demonstrated their support for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund by signing Early Day Motion 1054. We would like to thank all those who have signed this Motion over the last month and a half, as well as those who have sent us such wonderful letters of support.
To see which MPs have signed the EDM so far, please follow this link: http://tr.im/jU0L.
On 11th March the MP for Portsmouth South, Mike Hancock, tabled an Early Day Motion (number 1054) in the House of Commons in support of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund. In response we are calling on all MPs to sign the EDM and demonstrate their support for the children of serving and ex-serving Naval personnel.
To view the EDM, click on the following link and look for number 1054: http://tr.im/hibR
Monique Bateman, our Director, recently met our local MP, Sarah McCarthy-Fry to discuss the issues facing children in Portsmouth. Sarah says: “I was very impressed to hear of the work of this charity, the grants that they give (even small amounts) make a real difference to children’s lives. Children of service personnel sometimes get a raw deal with one or even both parents on active service or having to travel round the country or overseas and the work of charities like this is vital.”
On Sunday 26th April, WO1(TSM) Chris Murphy will run the 2009 London Marathon to raise money for us!!
He previously raised over £1000 in 2005 (London Marathon) and over £600 in 2007 (Three peaks challenge).
Please help him to raise even more money for us this year by donating on the following website: http://www.justgiving.com/chrismurphyrn
