Edition 35

This week, we hope you are inspired by the stories highlighting the generosity, dedication and true grit of some of our many supporters and fundraisers; and we share with you news of some very fruitful meetings.

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Leaving no stone unturned 

Furthering our charity relationships and understanding the ins and outs of the various help and services available to the Corps Family is critical to making sure we can offer the very best options available to beneficiaries. It’s all part of ensuring that no stone is ever left unturned.

To this end, RMA – The Royal Marines Charity, Jonathan Ball OBE and Employment & Education Manager, Zoe Darnbrough recently visited the RBLI Village in Aylesford, Kent. They were hosted by Chief Executive, Lisa Farmer; Director of Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company and Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, Michelle Ferguson; and Kerry Locke, RBLI Lifeworks Engagement Manager (pictured middle).

They were given an outstanding tour of “this truly amazing facility”, gaining valuable firsthand insight into the comprehensive services provided by the RBLI Village through having the privilege of meeting multiple teams, members of staff and residents.

RBLI VILLAGE has a wonderful community spirit. It provides housing, welfare support and care to over 300 members of the Armed Forces community with dedicated care and support to those in need or with a disability or health condition. It’s also home to Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company that provides employment to veterans of the armed forces and those with disabilities.

Of particular interest also was the RBLI Lifeworks programme. This is a free employment support programme which equips veterans and family members of those currently serving with the tools needed to find meaningful employment outside the Armed Forces. Last year, it supported over 1,000 veterans, 79 per cent of whom have a physical or mental disability.

Diolch (thank you) for the breaks 

Our Transition Support Officer South (and Wales), Jim Morris MBE (pictured right) headed to Pembrokeshire in Wales on Monday to make a special presentation to Bluestone National Park Resort near Narberth- a holiday destination surrounded by nature and ideal for ‘free -range breaks and swashbuckling adventures’.

On behalf of the Charity, Jim handed over a plaque to veteran RM Glenn Hewer who is now working for the 500-acre  resort in thanks for its generosity in last year hosting 40 deserving beneficiaries from the RM Corps Family, included amongst which were vulnerable veterans and their families.

The initiative was proposed by Glenn, who after returning home to Wales in 2008 having served six years as a Royal Marines Commando, joined the resort and is now its Head of Sales.

Glenn said: “Having spent a number of years in the Royal Marines myself, I am only too aware of how difficult it can be for the families of those serving away on deployment for long periods of time, or living with those who are battling through physical or mental ill-health.

“So we thought, ‘why not give them a short break here at Bluestone.’ It was brilliant to see the families enjoying all we have to offer and a pleasure to give them a welcome distraction for a few days.”

Jim added: “The plaque was a small gesture of our enormous appreciation to the Bluestone family. We were absolutely thrilled to receive their most generous offer and especially so as it spanned that most special of family times over the Christmas holidays.

“To open their doors by giving some of our vulnerable families the opportunity to enjoy precious respite time together over the festive period, was a truly magnificent gesture. Every single family had a truly magical time and we are truly grateful to Glenn and the entire Bluestone team for their support.”  

Still making a splash! 

In what was a fitting finale, fantastic Cold Dip Commando, Tim Crossin, hosted a truly memorable Charity Dinner & Auction on Saturday in Poole, Dorset. Fellow Bootnecks, supporters and friends from across the UK turned up en masse to pay tribute to his having completed such an amazing fundraising challenge – 31 cold water dips taken at 31 different locations around the UK on a gruelling 2,800-mile self-drive trip around the UK in January in support of three charities including RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. Having lived with cancer for the past six years, Tim had received his fourth cancer diagnosis just weeks before, deciding to nevertheless carry on and keep to the plan.    

Tim’s ‘dits’ (telling a story) about his trip and the people he met along the way were the highlight of a fabulous evening filled with camaraderie. In reflecting on the experience, he says: “I am still amazed by the love and generosity of people and the personal messages I’ve received.” 

He was also thrilled that he and so many RM veterans became reunited when joining him for many of the dips, some of whom hadn’t been together for 36 years! And one extremely generous donation he received online was from the first person he met on joining the Royal Marines on 30th June 1980!  “A young lad from Glasgow who I met on the platform Exeter train station before getting the train to Lympstone Commando Training Centre Royal Marines to start our adventure in the Marines together.”

Tim can be justly proud, too, of the legacy of the many small offshoot ‘Cold Dip Commando cold water swimming groups that have now been formed around the UK as a direct result of meeting him and becoming inspired by his ‘can-do’ attitude. 

We cannot begin to find the words to thank him enough for what he has achieved and, when all is done and dusted, for the very generous contribution he will have made towards the lifelong support offered by RMA – The Royal Marines Charity to the Corps Family.

Tim – you are truly inspiring. We wish you well as you plan your next adventure and continue to refuse to let ill-health define you.

Sharing best practice  

Our Health and Wellbeing team recently supported the Royal Naval Association at its Welfare and Wellbeing Workshop held at HMS NELSON in Portsmouth. They shared learning gained through RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s experience in developing and delivering the services we offer, towards helping the RNA continue to develop what they provide.

It was an excellent opportunity for some shared learning and development.  Sessions included speakers from SSAFA, OP COURAGE NHS Mental Health Services, Royal Navy Benevolent Trust and the Queen Alexandra Hospital. 

Subjects included safeguarding, boundaries and diversity awareness, using case studies to enhance the knowledge and skills of Club Welfare Officers, Chairman and Club secretaries. 

Fond farewell to a beloved ‘scran-van’! 

Dutchy’s, the Corps’ much-loved burger van, has sadly bidden farewell to Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone and many lads and ladies ‘past and present’ from all over the country came out in force to ‘grab a final burger’ and give the team the send-off they deserved.

Over the years, Dutchy’s has loyally collected money for the Charity and on the night donated another £1,353.60 to add to their fundraising total which is now an awesome £10,530.43. We will be forever grateful for their support in encouraging those who enjoyed their scran (food) to make donations over the years.

The many Facebook posts on the closure showed just what a legend Dutchy’s was because it provided so much to the many RMs who used it – as can be seen in this excerpt from one of the posts, that read: ‘Thank you Dutchy you were so much more, you listened, laughed, supported and helped so many of us, you were a welcome distraction and reward after a hard day’s training…..coming back from a run ashore you were always a welcome sight.’

Everyone at RMA – The Royal Marines Charity wishes the family the very best of luck for the future – and again, a huge thank you for your support.

  Supporters in the spotlight 

Huge thanks to the ‘Old and The Bold’ veteran group in Poole who presented us with a cheque for an incredible £1,664 from their most recent fundraising endeavours.  It was presented  during the Cold Dip Charity Dinner (see ‘Still making a splash‘) by Richard King (pictured right)  and gratefully accepted by our Fundraising Manager, Vicki Drinkwater. A big thank you for their amazing ongoing support.

And farther north in Wolverhampton, Rebecca and Dean Rickerby raised a fantastic £1,000 during their Freemasons’ Charity Fun and Games Evening . We are so grateful for their ongoing support – all the events they’ve held have looked like great fun whilst raising much-needed funds for their two chosen charities, one of which being our own RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.