The Veterans Association

16/06/2026

📣 An Incredible Surprise from Aramark! 👣❤️

Today, we were genuinely blown away.

Over the course of four days, the fantastic team at Aramark set themselves an ambitious challenge… to walk 1 million steps in support of The Veterans Association.

Well, they didn’t just reach their target.

They absolutely smashed it. 💥

Together, they clocked up more than 2 million steps and, in the process, raised an incredible £2,816.24 for the veterans we support every day.

Today they surprised us with a cheque presentation at the Hub, and we’re still smiling.

What makes this so special is that this isn’t the first time Aramark have stepped up for our veterans. Over the last year they’ve volunteered their time, supported events, rolled up their sleeves and consistently shown what genuine community partnership looks like.

To everyone who took part in the challenge, sponsored a colleague, volunteered their time, or helped make this happen… thank you.

Your support helps us continue providing practical assistance, community connection, welfare support, grants, activities and a place where veterans know they’re always welcome.

And after 2 million steps, we’re guessing a few of you might be due a sit down and a cup of tea! ☕😅

From all of us at The Veterans Association, thank you Aramark. We’re incredibly grateful for your continued support and friendship.

💙🇬🇧

12/06/2026

📢 A Quick Update From Us

Unfortunately, we’ll need to close the Community Hub on tomorrow Saturday 13th June at short notice.

Although this is unexpected, we will be open as normal from Tuesday.

We know many of you enjoy popping in on a Saturday, so we’re sorry for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding.

💙 Thank you for your continued support.

11/06/2026

🌞🧺 CRAFT & BRIC-A-BRAC SALE 🧺🌞

Join us for a wonderful summer morning at The Veterans Association Community Hub!

Whether you’re looking for a hidden treasure, a handmade gift, or simply fancy a browse and a chat, we’d love to see you there.

📅 Saturday 4th July
⏰ 10:00am – 12:00pm
📍 The Veterans Association Community Hub
2 Surrey Gardens, Birchington, CT7 9SA

🛍️ Interested in having a stall?

Tables are just £10 per pitch and we welcome crafts, handmade items, bric-a-brac, collectables and more.

Please bring your own table if possible.

📧 To book a stall, email:
[email protected]

Come along, support local sellers, enjoy a friendly atmosphere and help us continue supporting veterans within our community.

Please feel free to share this post with friends, family and local groups.

10/06/2026

❤️ 50 veterans are now receiving support through our Careline 365 programme.

Over the past few months, The Veterans Association has funded and provided Careline 365 watches and pendants to veterans who would benefit from additional reassurance and support in their daily lives.

Importantly, this isn’t simply about providing a device. The charity also funds the ongoing 24/7 monitoring and response service behind it, helping veterans remain safe, independent, and connected to support whenever they may need it.

For some veterans, it provides peace of mind when living alone. For others, it offers reassurance to family members and loved ones. For all of them, it means knowing that help is never far away.

Reaching 50 supported veterans is a milestone we’re incredibly proud of, but we know there are many more veterans who could benefit from this kind of practical support.

As we look ahead, we’d love to hear from businesses, organisations, and supporters who may be interested in helping us extend the programme and reach even more veterans in the future.

You can read more about the initiative and get in touch through our website:
www.theveteransassociation.org

Together, we can continue supporting veterans through life.

06/06/2026

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.

On 6 June 1944, thousands of Allied servicemen crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy in one of the most significant operations in military history.

Many never returned home. Others carried the memories of that day with them for the rest of their lives.

Today, we remember the courage, sacrifice and determination of all those who served, and we honour the generation whose actions helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today.

From all of us at The Veterans Association, thank you.

We will remember them.

🌺

28/05/2026

Today, Helen, who is a veteran and part of our support team is representing The Veterans Association at the Thrive After 50 event at Hartsdown Academy in Margate 💙

The event brings together organisations, support services, community groups and wellbeing initiatives from across Thanet, all focused on helping people stay connected, supported and thriving later in life.

It’s brilliant to see so many local services under one roof, and we’re proud to have Helen there today chatting with visitors about the support, community and services we offer to veterans and their families.

If you’re attending today, be sure to pop over and say hello 👋🇬🇧

22/05/2026

✈️🇬🇧 We recently had the privilege of taking 22 veterans on a fantastic trip to the Royal Air Force Museum in London.

What started as a day out quickly became a day full of stories, memories, laughter, and reflection. From standing beneath iconic aircraft to exploring inside historic planes together, the visit sparked conversations and moments that will stay with many of us for a long time.

Trips like these are about far more than just getting out for the day. They help bring people together, reduce isolation, strengthen friendships, and create lasting memories within the veteran community.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the trip possible, along with the wonderful staff at the RAF Museum for making our veterans feel so welcome throughout the visit.

We’ve now shared the full blog post along with more photos from the day below. 🇬🇧✈️

This week, The Veterans Association had the privilege of taking 22 veterans on a special trip to the RAF Museum in London.

19/05/2026

Today we welcomed Kent County Council Community Wardens to The Veterans Association hub for an informative scam awareness and community safety talk.

It was great to see veterans, members, and visitors come together to learn practical advice on staying safe from scams, doorstep crime, and fraud tactics that sadly affect so many people today.

A big thank you to Jason Gordon and the Community Warden team for taking the time to support our community and provide useful information, resources, and guidance. 🤝

These sessions might look calm on the surface… but they quietly protect people from a lot of stress, loss, and worry down the line. That kind of community support matters. 💚

16/05/2026

Today’s the day for Kevin and Lewis Dove as they take on the Brands Hatch Inflatable 10K in support of The Veterans Association 💪🇬🇧

A huge thank you to both of them for putting themselves through the obstacles, the running, and probably a fair bit of regret halfway round the course 😂

If anybody would like to help support them and The Veterans Association, we’ll pop the JustGiving link below ❤️

Every donation helps us continue supporting veterans and their families through difficult times, and support like this genuinely makes a difference.

Good luck lads… go smash it 👏🔥
https://www.justgiving.com/page/kevin-dove-3

15/05/2026

🌊⛵ We’re incredibly proud to see Richard “Roch” Rochester continuing to make waves on the Hansa sailing circuit whilst flying the flag for The Veterans Association.

Competing in extremely challenging gusty conditions at the Frampton on Severn Hansa TT 2026 event, Roch put in an outstanding performance, leading the Hansa 303 one-person fleet across both races aboard his boat CRY HAVOC .

With winds approaching 30 knots at times, this was no gentle afternoon on the water. It was proper grit, determination, and skill territory… the kind of weather that makes tea taste better afterwards and tests absolutely everything before then. 🌬️🌊

Seeing veterans and adaptive sailors pushing boundaries like this is exactly why support and sponsorship matter. Roch continues to represent resilience, focus, and the incredible opportunities that adaptive sport can create.

Massive congratulations from all of us at The Veterans Association, Roch. We’ll be cheering you on every nautical mile of the way. ⚓💙

You can read the full event write-up here: https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/295952/Frampton-on-Severn-Hansa-TT?fbclid=IwY2xjawRyivZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeM4hIbOHb4o7l8yAf95QdxQihXhnqbdYhg-2FsfP7gLdNHYwVyBz7u9hs6QQ_aem_IlEA7n2toCgeev6Q1sbQJw

25 competitors originally registered for this first event of the 2026 Hansa TT series to be held at Frampton on Severn Sailing Club. However, on the day before the event, it was clear that competitors were keeping a keen eye on the weather forecast.