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As a valued supporter, we are pleased to bring you up-to-speed with a weekly round-up of activities from RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and the wider Corps Family.
In bringing you this week’s news, we also look forward to supporting the 52nd Mountbatten Festival of Music this weekend at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It not only promises to be a truly unique experience for the audiences attending the three sell-out concerts, but will guarantee a ‘watch this space’ moment in next week’s Update when we will have a lot of extra excitement to share!
We also take the opportunity today to give an early shout-out to International Women’s Day for Friday (8th March), and Mother’s Day (UK) on Sunday 10th by reflecting on how privileged RMA – The Royal Marines Charity is to have the involvement and support of so many remarkable and inspirational women.
Thank you as always for your valued support.
VIP visit
Members of our staff were honoured to receive a visit from Comdt Gen – Gen Gwyn Jenkins CB OBE ADC (pictured middle right) at RMA-The Royal Marines Charity offices at Whale Island in Portsmouth.
Welcoming General Jenkins alongside Director of Health & Wellbeing, Danny Egan (second right), were representatives from the Office of the Commandant General Royal Marines Secretariat and the Globe and Laurel magazine.
Danny said: ”It was a great opportunity to share with the General what a day in the life of the charity staff, most of whom were from the Health and wellbeing team, looks like. The General is a huge proponent of the Royal Marines Charity and how it delivers support to the whole Corps Family.
Taking the opportunity to see firsthand how we work together really highlighted the theme of Collaboration, Communication, Comradeship and Compassion, key tenets of our work that are enhanced by the co-location at HMS EXCELLENT.
Smart networking
Jim Morris, Transition Support Officer South (and Wales) (rh photo on left) attended the latest Commando Connect at Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth, Devon. Joined by colleagues from our Employment & Education team, reports were of a good turnout with representatives also attending from the RFEA employment team for veterans and spouses, local businessmen, Age UK and a number of recruiters.
Commando Connect sessions are held countrywide throughout the year for serving and former Royal Marines, providing valuable opportunities for networking, or just meeting up with some old mates for ‘a wets and bacon roll’!
Sharing the same track
On Monday, Zoe Darnbrough, our Head of Employment & Education (E&E) headed to Silverstone for the National Transition Event 2024 with Tony Radford, E&E Relationship Co-Ordinator and Jim Morris, Transition Support Officer South (and Wales).
Set against the backdrop of the iconic motor racing circuit that is home to the British Grand Prix, the annual event is a unique one supported by both the MoD and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. It provides a valuable ‘one-stop’ shop for service leavers, veterans and their partners, giving them the opportunity to find out about careers away from the military.
This year, there were 180+ exhibitors from supportive organisations and attracted over 1,000 attendees. These included service leavers, veterans and family members as well as employers and representatives from the Ministry of Defence, all with the same ambition to aid successful, sustainable transition and networking opportunities for the Armed Forces community.
The team used the opportunity to catch up with some of our many valued corporate and charity partners, including (pictured clockwise):
1. Zoe and Tony(right) with Jacob Henderson Recruiter/VP – UK/IE Veterans at Tesla
2. Jim (middle) with David Beer, Walking With The Wounded Regional Manager East of England
3. Zoe with Ed Plunket of WithYouWithMe, and….
4. With Anna Baker Cresswell,Founder of Highground and CEO Jamie Crisp
On the watchlist
Former Royal Marine Stephen Lamb will be paddling the 120-or so miles along the Grand Union Canal from Leicester to London for six days from 14th April. He will pass through 166 locks over six days sleeping alongside the tow path, raising much needed funds for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.. You can support Stephen here.
More multi-million drug busts
The Ministry of Defence has reported that a Royal Navy warship has seized drugs with a street value of almost £300-million in two separate blows to drug runners in the Caribbean.
British sailors with Royal Marines from 47 Commando and a US Coast Guard team on HMS Trent intercepted a suspected smuggling speedboat south of the US Virgin Islands – HMS Trent’s second drugs bust in the space of only three weeks, having seized £70.1m of cocaine in a separate operation in January.
Photos: Ministry of Defence
Do it your way!
It is often said that it is easier to go through the eye of a needle than gain a place to run the famous London Marathon which is always over-subscribed – but now, for the first time, there’s no need to miss out!
A virtual version has been launched for those who would like to be part of the action and ‘have a go’ by completing the 26.2 miles in their own way, wherever they wish, on Marathon Day – Sunday 21st April 2024!
And if you already have your own place in the actual 2024 TCS London Marathon MyWay, we’d love to hear from you if you would like to consider running on behalf of the Royal Marines Family; just e-mail us fundraising@rma-trmc.org.
Shopping Corner
Celebrate Spring and treat your best friend – no matter what shape or size – to this easy-to-use A Type Harness – and you’re ready to go. Made from 25mm polypropylene webbing for extra strength and durability, it’s rot proof and UV-resistant as well – and is much more comfortable for your dog than just a single collar pulling on its neck.
A great selection of other quality products is available exclusively from the Royal Marines Shop that is wholly owned by RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. All profits come back to the Charity to help support the Corps Family.
In the News
FEBRUARY 2024
9th Mission Spiritus Antarctica COBSEO
15th Richard Bright Malta Marathon fundraiser Exmouth Journal
19th RM Veterans Speed March COBSEO
20th/27th Danny Ensor Zulu Commandos Japan cycle fundraiser Free/Planet Radio Birmingham/Redditch Advertiser; Redditch Standard