Edition 47
This week, there are some special tidbits for history buffs, we report back on more fabulous feats of fundraising, share what some of our teams have been up to from Scotland to Somerset, and give you a tip on how to double your money!
Thank you so much for your continued support.
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Coronation glory
We were all so proud to witness the largest contingent of Royal Marines on parade in nearly a decade playing such a high profile role in the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen last weekend.
No less than 900 Royal Navy Sailors and Royal Marines, including the unmistakable presence of the RM Massed Bands, marched through or lined the streets of London (or oversaw and supported the huge ceremonial effort in other ways): and who could not fail to have been thrilled by the Corps of Drums centre-stage appearance during the finale of the Coronation Concert?!
You can re-live some of the many special military moments of that historic day by taking a look at the official photos available on the government website, that can be accessed below.
Photos above © Crown copyright 2023
Last month, our Health & Wellbeing team awarded 46 grants to former serving Royal Marines totalling £27,656; and three to serving personnel in the sum of £3,450. This included the house repair costs of £500 to a former serving Royal Marine with terminal cancer to ensure him a safe home environment during his final months: and to another former serving RM and amputee to assist his recovery, £1,000 for winter sports equipment.
And our Membership team has, during the first quarter of 2023, supported 74 funerals, many of which have sadly been of those Royal Marines veterans who served in World War II.
Support for historic trail
A senior delegation from RMA – The Royal Marines Charity attended the Royal Marines Association Regional AGM at the 45 Cdo Condor Sergeants’ Mess in Arbroath during which future fundraising events were discussed. This included support for The Scott Sutherland Project.
The Project is creating a heritage trail featuring commemorative plaques at locations and buildings with an established connection to the iconic Commando Memorial and its creator, Scott Sutherland. A fourth location was unveiled last month in Newport on Tay (above right), and next will be one in Dundee on the 25th of this month.
Phase two of the Project is to raise a final £37,000 to underwrite the recommissioning of the sculptor’s lost ‘Leaping Salmon’ statue (above left). This will be located at Achnacarry overlooking the first Commandos’ training camp and serve as a memorial to all Commando ranks killed and injured during wartime training, and for whom there is currently no record.
Pictured from RMA – The Royal Marines Charity front row left Richie Puttock, Membership Operations Director (East); Chief Executive Jonathan Ball (third from right) and Nick Holloway, Relationship Manager, Scotland (back row second left).
Group photo by Wallace Ferrier : Leaping Salmon courtesy of David Carrick Sutherland.
Generating interest
A member of our Employment and Education team recently visited the Hinkley Point C (HP) nuclear power station under construction in Somerset where he was hosted by G4S’ Nuclear Sector Director, Alistair McBride and also caught up with a former serving Royal Marine who now works there.
G4S is one of the many employers for HP and plays a key role in the safe and secure running of the site where over 12,000 employees work during any 24-hour period.
Apprenticeships were a key point of discussion during the visit as it has just been announced 30,000 new training places will be offered between now and the power station’s completion in Sept 2028.
Trainees will be able to upgrade their skills and earning potential by joining the work to fit miles of pipes, cables, equipment, and control systems, with courses available in in-demand skills such as electrical work, welding, steelwork, and pipe installation.
This is great news for the Charity’s E&E team that works closely with potential employers around the country in supporting compulsory discharged Royal Marines and former serving Royal Marines with their transition and progression into civilian careers.
Cheque-ing in!
Our Fundraising team was absolutely thrilled to be presented with a cheque in the fabulous sum of £4,000 from Dean and Beccy Rickerby following their year of fundraising for ourselves and Parkinson’s UK – two charities very close to their hearts.
Dean, a former serving RM, has been the Grand Master of Idsall Masonic Lodge in Shropshire for the last 12 months and had nominated our Charity as one of his chosen two for the year.
Fundraising Manager, Vicki Drinkwater (pictured right with cheque, accompanied by Fundraising Officer, Hannah Pym, far right) said: “Through sheer hard work and a fantastic community spirit, Beccy and Dean pulled off an incredible job to raise the thousands of pounds they have by organising a variety of social events that included a murder mystery evening, a fun and games night and a ladies evening. We can’t thank them enough.”
There was an added and well-deserved bonus, too, for Dean. In organising the events over the course of the year, he managed to meet up with some of the fellow Bootnecks he had served with, one of whom he hadn’t seen since 1991! What an amazing story.
More fundraising heroes
And former serving Royal Marine Steve Sanderson from the RMA’s Carlisle branch raised an amazing £2,120 for us and another favoured charity by taking part in an arduous 200-mile ski to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the infamous Heroes of Telemark trek.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Branch recently held a golf day to raise another £850!
What a fantastic achievement – we are so very grateful to you all for your support.
Next week, during Mental Health Awareness Week, Kind²Mind will match your donation to help make your generosity go twice as far.
All public donations made through the below link via BigGive.org during the campaign week will be matched up to £10,000 – so do please consider visiting BigGive.org between midday 15th – midday 22nd May and double the impact you make in supporting our work.
The campaign has been organised by Big Give, the UK’s biggest online match funding platform that has raised over £236m for thousands of charities since 2007.
Two into three = 800!
Huge thanks to Joel Sheldon and dad from Ipswich who successfully completed the Winchester Triathlon at the beginning of May and raised just over £800 (including gift aid) for the Charity, smashing his initial £250 target.
Joel has been a RM Cadet and will be applying to join the Corps in a couple of years’ time once he has finished university – way to go!
Triple treats!
Looking for an early Halloween work out?! If so, why not sign up for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge taking place on 21st October…
The 24-mile (38.6km) ‘round-trip’ routing includes 1,585m (5,200ft) of ascent taking in the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent (694 metres), Whernside (736 metres) and Ingleborough (723 metres) – usually in this order – and in under 12 hours. The hills form part of the Pennine range and encircle the head of the valley of the River Ribble, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.