Last week at RMA – The Royal Marines Charity

Edinburgh marathon

Over the weekend, three current serving Royal Marines- Jonny, Will and Ethan ran the Edinburgh marathon in rig, boots and a daysack. Their aim was to complete the run in 4 hours, and smashed this targeting, achieving the run in 3hr30minutes- great effort lads.

Operation Frankton, the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ reenactment

In preparation for next week’s D-Day paddle to commemorate 80 years since the start of D-Day, the RMA Paddle Sports Group took to the Thames to reenact Operation Frankton, the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’. The team was made up of 8 paddlers including RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s Vice-Patron, Keith Breslauer. The group commanded 4 Klepper folding kayaks as part of the Paddle Group Royal Marines, attended HMS Belfast to pre-launch their latest extraordinary event, the D-Day 80 English channel crossing.

At first, there was a potential for the operation to be postponed due to the speed and strength of the incoming spring tide; however, the skill and experience of the paddlers ensured that the operation was underway safely, overwatched by hundreds of spectators, and flying His Majesty’s Royal Marines Corps colours proudly from the rear Klepper.

Snowdon at night challenge

Book to join a challenge like no other, The Snowdon at night challenge offers a unique experience when summiting Yr Wyddfa (Mt Snowdon). Beginning in the town of Llanberis, in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park, this spectacular challenge will see you and fellow fundraisers trekking to the top of Snowdon….at night! 

You will be fully supported all the way by our experienced Mountain Leaders and then celebrate at the finish line with a celebration breakfast.

This night time challenge will test your physical and mental limits but your efforts will be rewarded by knowing that all your hard work is going towards raising money to help your chosen cause.

Royal Marines 360 Post Box Topper

Last week was the unveiling of the newest post box topper in the Strand, Exmouth, as part of the Exmouth Mail Trail.

A special thanks goes out to Bryony Crump and the Exmouth Yarn-Bombers for creating this wonderful piece of art in celebration of 360 years of the Royal Marines.

This topper is the latest edition designed to celebrate 360 years of the Royal Marines and features a Royal Marines Commando’s famous ‘Green Lid’ and a hat as worn by the Royal Marines in 1664. There is also a band around the edge striped in Corps colours with the words ‘Per Mare, Per Terram’.

The collaboration and consensus project

As was mentioned a couple of weeks ago in a previous newsletter, our health and wellbeing team is conducting project work alongside their day-to-day delivery.

The Collaboration and Consensus Project is funded by a £300,000 Transformation Grant from The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (AFCFT) and is being led by the charity’s Director of Health & Wellbeing, Danny Egan. The project aims to develop and implement a Common Assessment Framework, preventing beneficiaries from having to repeat and re-explain their challenges and issues time and time again through multiple agencies before receiving any much-needed support. 

Last week (16 May 2024), the team was at Northumbria University hosting a second face-to-face co-production event, with stakeholders attending from across the sector. The event brought together 33 participants from a wide range of organisations who represented various charities, coupled with representation from the OVA, statutory service providers from both NHS services, and the Local Authority. Serving personnel, veterans, and family members that have experienced the process of being assessed to gain support also attended and participated in the discussions. This provided us with a full range of perspectives, enabling challenges to be identified as well as looking at solutions to these challenges.

The day was split into two sessions. The first session was focused on exploring the barriers and solutions to data sharing from the perspectives of the service user, the practitioner, and the service provider. The second session explored the education and training that would be needed to support a common assessment framework, also from the perspective of the service user, the practitioner, and the service provider.

The feedback from the event has been excellent and has provoked a lot of reflection on how the sector can look to improve the pathway to support. For example, this is a quote from a veteran who attended the co-production event.

‘This project is so important for the service user. I do see challenges with getting all the services on board due to many reasons; however, from our point of view, what you are proposing is needed’.

All the data collected is being analysed and collated by Dr. Paul Watson and his team at Northumbria University to help inform and develop the eventual universal assessment framework.

Gone Wild Festival

Bear Grylls’ Gone Wild Festival is offering an exclusive Kids Go Free offer to members of RMA – The Royal Marines Charity to attend the four-day ultimate family adventure at either Holkham Hall in Norfolk on Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th August or Powderham Castle in Devon on Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th August.*

Bear’s festival is all about getting outdoors, reconnecting with the things that matter the most and getting away from the digital world.

With over 100 activities to choose from, with both events spread over four days, headliners including McFly, Example, Sam Ryder and James, plus world-inspiring guest speakers including Sir Ranulph Fiennes & Bear Grylls himself.

Plus, anyone who purchases a ticket will be in with the chance of winning a Meet & Greet with Bear Grylls!

*Terms and Conditions apply, please see website for full terms and conditions.

Book your tickets using the link below to login to your members portal. The discount is available through the benefits section. Alternatively, if you would like to receive discounts and benefits, sign up to become an RMA member.