Veterans

Two new signees welcomed at Mission Motorsport event

Staff from our Association joined many other exhibitors at Mission Motorsport’s recent National Transition Event & Troop Track Day, held at the Silverstone circuit. This unique event offers service leavers, veterans and their partners opportunity to find out about the possible career paths, access a range of support, meet over 50 different companies and talk to veterans who are employed in these jobs….

Colour Sergeant Watchman V laid to rest

Born on the 8th March 2009 in Cannock, Watchman V, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier mascot of the Staffordshire Regimental Association, lived with his owners and handler, Mandy and Greg Hedges, in Staffordshire.  During his life Watchman took part in over 900 events including parades, national events, Remembrance services, charity events, school visits, funerals and weddings; and was well loved by his community and…

University College Birmingham signs up to support forces

Discussing how veterans, Reservists and those in the military community can bring tangible skills to the civilian workforce was a key theme for an online event hosted in partnership with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Moving the annual event to the virtual sphere to allow for Covid-19 safety, employers from around the Greater Birmingham region were invited to listen to inspirational key…

Motorbike conservation gets veterans on the road to recovery

A new health and wellbeing project for ex-servicemen and women at Birmingham Museums has helped four local veterans get back on the road to recovery by conserving vintage motorbikes from the city’s collection. Volunteering for Veterans was set up by Birmingham Museums in 2021 to support former members of the local Armed Forces community by providing skills development opportunities alongside social and wellbeing…

Armed Forces friendly employers take home Gold Award

Fifteen businesses from the West Midlands region have been presented with the prestigious Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award at a special ceremony in Cardiff. The joint regional event held on 17th November at HMS CAMBRIA saw employers from Wales, West Midlands and Wessex Reserve Forces & Cadets Associations’ (RFCA) recognised for the outstanding support they give to the Armed Forces community….

School gives thanks to those who serve

A Birmingham-based school is one of the latest education providers to formally pledge its support to the wider forces community. King Solomon International Business School in Aston teaches children from foundation year through to sixth form.  Offering a wide and vibrant curriculum, the school’s key visions and values are to promote diversity, peace, kindness and mutual respect – based on the virtues associated…

Shropshire businesses sign up to support forces

Over 70 members from Shropshire’s business and voluntary sectors came together for a breakfast event to share best practice and learn more about supporting the Armed Forces community. Held at Bligny House Army Reserve Centre in Shrewsbury, home of E Company 8 Rifles, the early morning Shropshire Business Breakfast networking event was a joint partnership between our Association, Shropshire Council and Telford &…

Herefordshire walking football sessions for the forces community

The Herefordshire Football Association has recently confirmed details of free weekly walking football sessions, with food and drinks afterwards. Two walking football sessions have been launched on the 3G pitch off of Widemarsh Common in Hereford, for those connected to the Armed Forces community and those connected to the men’s mental health community. These sessions are being run in partnership with the Defence…

The Wigley Group support Gold medal dreams of Paralympic athlete

Three times World Champion cyclist Jaco van Gass — who is sponsored by Midlands property investment company The Wigley Group — has been selected to represent Team GB at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The former paratrooper has been a brand ambassador for the company since their sponsorship of him began in 2018, and is a driving force behind the Wigley Support…

West Midlands employers recognised by Ministry of Defence Awards for support to Armed Forces community

After what has been a challenging 18 months for all businesses, West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (RFCA) are very pleased to announce that 41 organisations in their region are confirmed as Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award winners for 2021. In addition a further nine employers have had their ERS Silver Awards from 2016 revalidated for their continued commitment. This Ministry…