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Celebrating Armed Forces Day

Published on 26 Jun 2023

We celebrated Armed Forces Day at events across the country this weekend.

Armed Forces Day is an opportunity for everyone to come together and show their support for those who make up the Armed Forces community including serving members of the military, reservists, veterans, cadets and their families.

Newport

Newport was the host of this year’s Armed Forces Day event in Wales which included a parade through the streets of the city centre and a military concert at the Welsh Rugby Union stadium in the city.

Blind Veterans UK Community Team Leader for the area Ffion said:

“Our veterans had a fantastic time and loved being involved in the day, especially the military concert at the Rodney Parade Stadium which is home to the Dragon’s rugby team. A special thank you to the team who kindly gave our veterans their chairman’s box so they could shelter from the heat of the day.”
Picture taken from behind a group of veterans as they look down onto the rugby pitch to watch the concert
Blind veterans enjoying the Armed Forces Day concert at Rodney Parade Stadium in Newport
Table with leaflets and Blind Veterans UK items set up inside with staff and veterans around it
Blind Veterans UK stand se up at Newport Armed Forces Day event

Plymouth

In Plymouth, we had an information stand within the veteran’s village area alongside other charities and organisations offering advice, information and support to veterans and their families.

Community Team Leader Aaron said:

“It was an extremely hot and busy day, but it was fantastic to be a part of the event."
A Blind Veterans UK display stand set up with leaflets and posters with members of staff and blind veteran David stood in front
Blind Veterans UK staff with blind veteran David at Plymouth Armed Forces Day event

Other events

Staff and volunteers from the charity were joined by our blind veterans at events around the UK.

Blind veteran wearing cap and blazer holding the Blind Veterans UK standard
Blind veteran Brian taking part in Armed Forces Day in Scarborough
Angela and Tony waving flags in front of a table covered in a Blind Veterans UK table cover
Volunteer Coordinator Angela and volunteer Tony at Scunthorpe Armed Forces Day celebrations
Chris and Michael are stood beside each other. Chris has his white cane in his hand and Michael is wearing a suit jacket and displaying his medals
Blind veterans Chris and Michael enjoying the celebrations at the Armed Forces Day event in Leeds

Our supporters

Our supporters also got involved in the action on Armed Forces Day. In North Wales, the West Conwy Volunteer Police Cadets set themselves a challenge to walk six miles from Colwyn Bay Pier to Llandudno Pier. The group aged between 13 and 18-years old raised £404 for us.

Participants from this year’s Veteran Banger Rally which is taking place in September were also out and about at events fundraising for us.

The Banger Rally challenges teams of two to four people, one of which must be a veteran, to buy a car for less than £1,000 and work together to jazz it up. They will then use their mechanical skills (and a bit of determination!) to hopefully travel 1,500-miles across Europe to Gibraltar.

A group of police cadets resting on the grass by the 'Llandudno Welcomes You' sign.
West Conwy Police Cadets arrive in Llandudno
Supporter stood shaking hands with a large soft toy monkey sat in the driver's seat of his Citroen car
John and his car for the Veteran Banger Rally

If you were unable to take part in an Armed Forces Day event to show your support for our forces community this year, you may like the opportunity to get a head start on Remembrance.

It’s a significant time for our blind veterans and we are inviting individuals and groups to start thinking about how they will mark this occasion and ensure the fallen – and those left behind – are not forgotten while raising vital funds for our veterans.

Find out more