Welcome to
The Veterans Charity
Registered Charity No. 1123149
How we help
We can provide support to Veterans who find themselves battling hardship and the distress it causes. Despite being a small charity, we operate nationally throughout the UK including Northern Ireland. We are able to assist with essentials such as food shopping (including pet and baby products where required), utilities support, clothing and footwear, household items and single appliances, smartphones/tablets and calling credit/data.
The recipient of our support must be someone who has served within UK Armed Forces and can verify their service.
When you support The Veterans Charity:
- you help to feed a Veteran and their family with a comprehensive groceries delivery, preventing them from having to continue staring into empty cupboards.
- you help to provide urgently needed utilities support to heat and power a Veteran’s home, reducing financial pressure and distress.
- you help to provide brand new clothing and footwear for a Veteran, bringing a much-needed morale boost and enabling them to attend interviews or get back into life-changing physical exercise.
- you help us to provide a smartphone or tablet to enable a Veteran to build and maintain vital communications with support agencies or family.
When you support The Veterans Charity, you enable wonderful support which can bring huge and rapid relief to Veterans who have found themselves battling hardship and distress!
RIDE TO HORSA - they did it!
On Thursday 5th September, a group of amazing people set off from former RAF Tarrant Rushton in Dorset, on an epic 3-day cycling adventure to Normandy.
On day 1, the group cycled from Tarrant Rushton to our first camp at Lytchett Minster RFC near Poole. After enjoying a fabulous lunch at The Tank Museum in Bovington, the weather was against the group and with failing light and worsening conditions, we shortened the intended route for safety reasons.
Day 2 began bright and very early as our team grafted to pack up from site and join the cyclists for the short journey to Poole. The ferry departed at 0830 for Cherbourg and once assembled at the port in France, the group set off in sunshine for our second camp at Camping Sainte Mere Eglise.
Day 3, the longest day (pun intended!), involved a 73 mile route along the 5 D-Day beach areas and with stops at Isigny, US Cemetery at Omaha Beach, Port-en-Bessin, British Normandy Memorial, statue of Piper Bill Millin and finally a camp in Ranville. The weather proved to be extremely challenging and the riders battled a huge storm as they made their way from Juno Beach to Sword Beach. However, unlike their clothing, spirits were not dampened and the incredible group arrived safely at Ranville.
On Sunday 8th September, the entire group was joined by numerous VIPs at Horsa Bridge where we were proud to unveil our new memorial dedicated to the heroes who captured the vital bridge in the opening minutes of 6th June 1944.
We were proud to be joined by our President, General Sir Bob Pascoe, the son and daughter of Lt HJ 'Tod' Sweeney who commanded a platoon which captured the bridge, our Patron, Mrs Penny Bates and also Monsieur Jean-Luc Adelaide, Mayor of Ranville.
The Horsa Bridge Memorial serves not only as a tribute to a remarkable group of soldiers but also as a marker to raise the profile of the second objective of a critical D-Day operation.
D-Day 80
On 6th June, #DDay80 we were extremely proud to unveil a memorial to LCpl Fred Greenhalgh of 2 Oxf & Bucks who was the first allied soldier to die on D-Day when he tragically drowned in a pond on the edge of the LZ at Pegasus Bridge.
LCpl Greenhalgh was the no1 in a Bren Gun crew and died shortly after no3 Glider of the ‘Coup de Main’ operation to capture Pegasus and Horsa Bridges, suffered a heavy landing, breaking up on impact. It is not known if Fred was thrown into the pond and drowned due to the weight of his kit or if he had become trapped in the wreckage.
Honouring the history of this remarkable operation is part of The Veterans Charity’s focus and where it all began for us, with the creation of the Coup de Main Memorial which sits next to the original Pegasus Bridge.
Later this year, at the end of our Ride To Horsa we plan to unveil a striking new memorial at Horsa Bridge, to raise the profile of the actions there and to remember the men of 17 and 23 Platoons.
Rest in peace, LCpl Greenhalgh. Never to be forgotten.
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The VC Newsletter!
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
We are very proud to announce a brand new partnership with the Women's Royal Army Corps Association!
The partnership means that women who served within the WRAC and ATS can access immediate needs support via The Veterans Charity who will undertake the necessary casework and delivery of support with funds provided by the WRAC Association.
Our partnership with the RLC Association began in July last year and since then, has enabled us to deliver support to more than 80 Veterans of the RLC and Forming Corps.
If you are or you know a Veteran who served with the RLC or any of the five forming Corps, and may be experiencing hardship, please reach out via the button below.
Our newest partnership is with the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust and since October 2023, has been delivering immediate need support to Veterans and serving personnel of the Royal Navy (including Royal Marines).
The RNBT are providing funding towards each welfare case and enabling us to stand ready to react to the most urgent needs of those who have served in the Senior Service.
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We are very proud to be an affiliate of the Veterans' Lottery which is operated by and in aid of Veterans' Foundation, an amazing charity who support many organisations to deliver support to Veterans.
Joining the Veterans’ Lottery changes the lives of British heroes in need. Our Armed Forces stand together to thank you.
For just £10 a month you can now win a tax free £50,000! 43 cash prizes are up-for-grabs every draw - from £5,000 to £120 - plus a new rollover pot of £45,000.
Each player will also receive a FREE membership to the Gourmet Society worth £79.99 - save an average of £18 on every meal at thousands of restaurants nationwide by simply showing your membership. You'll also receive your own unique Veterans' Lottery card.
Click on the image below to sign up!
