The Not Forgotten

05/06/2026

✨Every event, every smile, every moment of connection happens because volunteers chose to give up this time of theirs to others.✨

This week is ! In recognition, we are celebrating the outstanding contribution that volunteers make to The Not Forgotten throughout the year. Giving their time, energy and enthusiasm to help ensure that veterans and service personnel feel seen, supported, and never forgotten.

Whether collecting at one of our railway station or supermarket collections around the country; manning stalls at festivals and shows; or supporting our staff at our day or week-long events: without these incredible people we would not be able to fund and facilitate our full events programme impacting over 10,000 veterans and serving personnel every year.

In 2024-25, TNF volunteers selflessly gave over 1,000 volunteering days in total between them, helping at collections and supporting our events.

This outstanding commitment is absolutely vital in raising donations, spreading awareness, and making our beneficiaries feel safe and supported at our events.

Many of these volunteers are beneficiaries of The Not Forgotten themselves and want to give back to a charity which has meant a lot to them. Others are family members, or simply people with whom our mission resonates.

Other volunteers from our corporate partners and partner organisations attend our events as teams to provide ‘on-the-ground’ assistance like handing out refreshments, their contribution forming part of their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Not forgetting the hundreds of serving Armed Forces personnel and cadets who volunteer at our events - they can often be seen setting up events, directing, assisting and reassuring guests, or performing military music. And last but not least our entertainers who often provide their acts for free to lift the spirits of our veterans.

Every event, every smile, every moment of connection happens because volunteers chose to give up this time of theirs to others.

To every volunteer: thank you. Your impact reaches further than you know.

If you’re curious about joining our amazing volunteer community, go to https://thenotforgotten.org/support-us/volunteer/ to find out more.

04/06/2026

Opportunity for Young People (aged 9–18): Outward Bound Week August 2026

We are pleased to share an opportunity, in partnership with the Forces Children's Trust, for up to three young people from the Armed Forces community to take part in a fully funded Outward Bound residential week in the Lake District.

As The Not Forgotten is not usually able to support children of military families in this way, we are excited to be able to offer this opportunity via our extended network.

The residential week is open to young people aged 9–18, whose parent has died or has sustained life‑changing injuries while serving or as a veteran. They must be able to participate safely in a group outdoor setting.

The week in the Lake District is run and funded by The Forces Children's Trust, and runs from 17–21 August 2026. Travel from London Euston is fully funded, as is accommodation and all meals. The outdoor activities are a structured programme focused on confidence, resilience and teamwork., with professional supervision and support throughout. The only expense required is to buy the young person a hoody and t-shirt from the FCT online store.

If you work with or know a young person who would benefit from this opportunity, please get in touch with the Forces Children's Trust directly, quoting Then Not Forgotten advertisement. Email [email protected] as soon as possible (all places must be allocated by 17th June).

Please include the name and age of the young person, a brief description of their background and connection to the Armed Forces community, and any relevant supporting information.

03/06/2026

ARMED FORCES DAY - CAN YOU HELP?

On on Saturday 27th June, The Not Forgotten has been offered a stand at both the Scarborough Armed Forces Day event, and the Huntingdon Armed Forces Day event.

We just need a few more volunteers to help run these stands - can you help?

If you live in the Scarborough or Huntingdon areas and can spare a few hours to represent The Not Forgotten at these vital regional events, we need you!

For full details or to volunteer, please email [email protected]

Thank you so much, from the TNF team 🙏

02/06/2026

☀️New Regional Connect events this summer! ☀️

It's nearly time for our Regional Connect Weeks 2026 to kick off for the summer...if you haven't yet seen where we are coming for weeks of Garden Parties, Afternoon Teas and 28 For 28 Parties, head over to the Events page on our website to find out more.

We are delighted to announce TWO NEW EVENTS on our Regional Connect calendar:-

🍰 Barnstaple Afternoon Tea, Devon, Monday 22 June

Join us at The Barnstaple Hotel for a fun afternoon of tasty food, great company, and excellent music from Annie and Lloyd. A wonderful opportunity to get out and socialise amongst like-minded veterans and forget your troubles for a few hours.

🥳Veterans Community Garden Party, Basingstoke, Weds 15 July

In Partnership with Care UK and the Basingstoke Veterans Hub, Dashwood Manor Care Home are very kindly inviting veterans along to their Garden to enjoy a Veterans Community Garden Party, with afternoon tea served in a marquee and entertainment by Annie and Lloyd.

To register your interest in attending these events please visit https://thenotforgotten.org/events-new/

PLEASE NOTE, YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED BENEFICIARY OF THE NOT FORGOTTEN IN ORDER TO REGISTER FOR OUR EVENTS. IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO OR ARE NOT SURE, PLEASE VISIT https://thenotforgotten.org/how-we-help/get-our-help/

01/06/2026

What does being at The Not Forgotten Buckingham Palace Garden Party mean to the veterans and injured serving personnel who attend?

Hear the impact first-hand from just a few of the incredible guests we chatted to at this year's event...



The Royal Family

28/05/2026

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Peter Hewitt, Co-Chair of Universal Defence and Security Solutions, as Ambassador for The Not Forgotten.

Peter’s appointment was marked at our annual Buckingham Palace Garden Party on Tuesday 19th May 2026, hosted by our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

For more than a century, The Not Forgotten has supported serving personnel and veterans living with injury, illness and isolation. Peter’s support will help us continue raising awareness of this work and championing the Armed Forces community.

Pictured: Peter Hewitt with our Chief Executive, Richard Walker OBE, outside Buckingham Palace and beside our elephant statue, the emblem of The Not Forgotten.

Welcome to The Not Forgotten family, Peter.

23/05/2026

🌺 Remembering the Iraq War, 15 Years On 🌺

Yesterday The Not Forgotten was honoured to join a beautifully moving ceremony held by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 15th anniversary of the conclusion of the Iraq War (Op TELIC) on 22nd May 2011, when the last British personnel departed the country.

We were proud to join hundreds of service men and women, veterans, families, the bereaved, and their supporters to honour the extraordinary service and sacrifice of the British Armed Forces during operations in Iraq.

Many words have been written, and the details debated, regarding the Iraq conflict. What is not in dispute is the professionalism and dedication of the British Armed Forces during Operation TELIC. 179 British Armed Forces personnel lost their lives. And as our community knows well, thousands more were wounded, many with life-changing physical injuries, or are still living with emotional or mental ill-health as a result of their experience.

The Remembrance ceremony at the NMA yesterday was a poignant tribute to all those involved in the conflict, across all the military services - and those coping without them at home. With powerful readings and reflections, music from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, a helicopter flypast and a wreath laying at the Armed Forces Memorial and the Basra Wall.

We will remember them.

21/05/2026

👑Buckingham Palace Garden Party 2026 - the official photos have landed! 📸
With thanks to photographer Jeff Gilbert.

Here are just a few of our favourite shots from a wonderful afternoon spent by 2,200 veterans and serving personnel and their guests in the gardens of Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

The whole album of photos can be viewed on our website at:
https://thenotforgotten.org/image-gallery/buckingham-palace-garden-party-2026/

Please download any photos you wish from the TNF website, by kind permission of the photographer Jeff Gilbert. If you would like a higher-resolution version of any image please email [email protected]
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We were honoured to be invited by His Majesty The King to hold our Garden Party at the Palace on Tuesday 19th May, a tradition which dates back to 1921 and for which we are deeply grateful.

The Garden Party is our largest annual event and a highlight of our calendar. We collaborate with over 150 military organisations to invite veterans from all three military services and the Merchant Navy, from every military campaign since the Second World War.

We were delighted to be hosted this year by our Patron, HRH The Princess Royal and her husband Sir Tim Laurence. The Royal couple spent a long time talking to many of the veterans about their experiences and achievement, and sharing moments of real warmth and humour.

We enjoyed beautiful al fresco performances from Jedburgh Pipe Band and award-winning classical trio Blake, and the Beating of the Retreat by The Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth.

Even the weather smiled on us despite a wet forecast, with just one short shower during the whole afternoon, and even sunshine peeking through!

The joy and excitement the Garden Party brings our guests is almost immeasurable, providing the experience of a lifetime, countering isolation and loneliness, and reinforcing to veterans that their service continues to be remembered, valued and celebrated.

The Royal Family

21/05/2026

Join us at The Not Forgotten charity garden tea part in the beautiful gardens of Buckingham Palace (and yes, royalty does make an appearance so watch to the end!).
The Not Forgotten is a fantastic charity for wounded veterans who help them with entertainment and activities and have been going for over 100 years!

20/05/2026