Veterans Aid through the years.

The charity Veterans Aid started life in January 1932 when a canteen and recreation centre known as H.10 opened on the Thames Embankment. This is the fascinating story of how it developed.

Veterans Aid exists to help former servicemen and women in crisis.

1924-11-02 16:35:00

Sinking of HMS Calypso

2nd November, 1924: Preserved in the archives of the Public Record Office is the log book of HMS Calypso, a light cruiser of the Mediterranean Fleet, moored on the afternoon of Sunday 2nd November 1924, in Grand Harbour, Malta.

1931-12-14 00:00:00

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN . . . for rent of £1.

14th December, 1931: Advertisement placed by Mrs G.I. Huggins in The Times – 1931

1939-06-01 00:00:00

Michael Powell’s short film "Smith" was made for VA

Summer 1939;The film “SMITH” was made for the Embankment Fellowship Centre – now Veterans Aid. The idea was to raise awareness of the work that the charity undertook together with fundraising.

1939-06-28 00:00:00

VA Luncheon at The House of Commons to see a preview of the film 'Smith'.

28th June 1939: The Luncheon for Veterans Aid (formerly The Embankment Fellowship Centre) to see a preview of the film 'Smith' was chaired by Lord Milne GCB, GCMG, DSO at the House of Commons in June 1939.

1949-01-01 00:00:00

National Service

National Service was formalised as a peacetime form of conscription by the National Service Act 1948.

1954-12-01 00:00:00

Broadcast Appeal by Miss Cicely Courtneidge

December, 1954: Broadcast Appeal by Miss Cicely Courtneidge realised £660. She visited Belvedere House and joined the residents in a game of snooker.

1962-06-01 00:00:00

Miss Anna Neagle supports VA

June, 1962: Broadcast Appeal by Miss Anna Neagle realised £606.

1970-05-14 00:00:00

Sketch for the EFC booklet

14th May, 1970: "A sketch for an illustration in the EFC booklet (Annual Review?) by my clerk, Mr Lockett, at Belvedere House, 159 Tulse Hill, SW2."

1973-12-01 00:00:00

New Belvedere House opens

December, 1973: New Belvedere House opens. It was built next to The Rectory in Stepney. Today it is home to 55 ex-servicemen and has a computer suite, TV lounge, snooker room/gym and patio area.

2005-08-01 11:17:06

HQ moved to 40 Buckingham Palace Road

August, 2005: EFC's HQ and Drop-In Centre moved to 40 Buckingham Palace Road.

2007-04-03 00:00:00

HRH The Prince of Wales visit

April, 2007: The Prince of Wales visited VA's New Belvedere House hostel in Stepney earlier this year and asked to be briefed on the support ex-Servicemen receive there and how many of them had been living on the streets before they arrived.

2007-10-01 00:00:00

The charity name changed to Veterans Aid

October, 2007: The Trustees decided that the name of the charity should be changed to "Veterans Aid" in order to reflect more accurately the nature of the work done. Initially it was known as the Embankment Fellowship Centre.

2010-11-04 00:00:00

HRH The Duke of Kent visits New Belvedere House

4th November, 2010: HRH The Duke of Kent made a private visit to Veterans Aid’s East London hostel on 4 November to meet residents and staff. New Belvedere House is home to 57 ex-Servicemen drawn from all branches of the Armed Forces. The Duke was met by manager Pat O’Connor MBE and escorted by CEO of Veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy. His tour included the residents’ TV lounge, recreation room, gym and new computer suite. Dr Milroy said “We were delighted to welcome HRH to New Belvedere House which occupies a unique place in the Veterans charity world. Under Pat O’Connor’s management it is a friendly and welcoming place of safety where people of all ages receive the help they need to get back on their feet.”

2011-11-30 00:00:00

Veterans Aid Wins Top Industry Award

30th November, 2011: Veterans Aid won an award at the Institute for Turnaround’s prestigious ceremony on Wednesday night. Widely considered Europe’s top turnaround awards, the event was hosted by broadcaster Jeremy Vine and was an opportunity to acknowledge the success of organisations which have moved from significant difficulty to turnaround and transformation.

2012-11-28 00:00:00

Fiji Times Reports Veterans Aid Briefing To Prime Minister

28th November, 2012: The Fiji Times today reports on the London Embassy meeting between Dr Hugh Milroy, CEO of Veterans Aid and Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

2012-11-30 00:00:00

Belgian students visit to Veterans Aid HQ

November, 2012: Belgian students visited VA to study the charity's model.

2012-12-04 00:00:00

The Art Of Survival – An Exhibition For Veterans Aid

4th December, 2012: A unique collection of paintings, photographs and other creative works were on display at Victoria’s SW1 Gallery between December 3rd and 8th 2012. The (invitation only) Private View on December 5th featured a bespoke presentation and discussion about her work by Turner Prize nominee Spartacus Chetwynd.

2013-01-17 00:00:00

Lady R Fundraiser at Smith Square

On January 17th 2013, a concert and dinner was held in London by The Lady R Foundation at St John’s Smith Square. The event was held to raise awareness of, and support for, Veterans Aid – a remarkable charity that helps British and Commonwealth ex-servicemen and women in crisis, many of whom have lived on the street and who are struggling to cope with civilian life.

2013-03-12 00:00:00

Lady Rothermere becomes patron

18th April, 2013: The Dowager Viscountess Rothermere became Patron of Veterans Aid.

2013-04-18 12:44:56

Paul Dyer joins VA as Trustee

18th April, 2013: Paul Dyer, co-founder of Europe’s largest privately owned insurance entity the Towergate Partnership, has become a Trustee of Veterans Aid.

2013-05-18 12:00:00

VA AGM 2013

18th April, 2013: Veterans Aid Trustees Meeting and AGM at London Scottish TA Centre.

2013-05-29 00:00:00

New VA Website & Timeline launched

29th May, 2013: WEBSITE OPENS NEW WINDOW ON WORLD OF VETERANS AID. Today Veterans Aid launched a new website (http://veterans-aid.net ) that reveals some fascinating facts about its colourful history. New to the site is its Timeline, an interactive feature that charts VA’s history, captures current activity and provides a forward-looking events calendar. “We’ve been mining our archives to populate the Timeline,” said CEO Dr Milroy. “Some amazing characters have been associated with this charity over the years, from stars of the silver screen like Dame Anna Neagle, Sir Ralph Richardson and Welsh comedian Harry Secombe, to members of the Royal Family. Our first patron was Princess Marina. Our current patron is The Dowager Viscountess Rothermere who joined us earlier this year. “The charity has had three identities in its 81-year history and this is its third website. It is both a statement about us as a post-modern charity and a practical tool for all those who need to contact us, donate to us or simply find out what we do and who we are.” The charity first appeared in the national press in 1934 when The Times of 28 December carried a report headlined ‘Helping the destitute’. Citing the then EFC (Embankment Fellowship Centre) as an organisation “managed by a group of experienced voluntary social workers with a clear-cut policy of constructional help” it admitted 100 ‘deserving and destitute’ veterans to its ‘Ward of Hope’. In 1938 it found employment for 549 men at an average age of 53. “Today the EFC is called VA, and some of the veterans it helps are women, but it is as much a place of hope today as it was back in the 1930s,” said Dr Milroy. “We are non-political, non-judgemental and as committed as ever to giving former soldiers, sailors and airmen in need the ‘hand up’ required to resolve their problems. ” In the 1930s EFC used the talents of now legendary director Michael Powell to make ‘Smith’ – a 16mm promotional film publicising the charity’s work that was to be shown in cinemas throughout the UK. It was made at Pinewood and Denham studios and cost the princely sum of £400. “Today we reach the public through our website,” reflected Dr Milroy, “but that film is featured on it, delivering the enduring message that we are here to help.”

2013-06-05 11:00:00

£12,000 cheque from BFBS Big Salute

5th June, 2013: CEO of Veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy was presented with a cheque for £12,000. The money was raised as part of the BFBS Big Salute to five chosen service charities.

2013-06-06 00:00:00

Patron's first visit to RHC Founders Day

6th June, 2013: The Dowager Viscountess Rothermere made her first public outing as VA's Patron when she attended Founders Day at The Royal Hospital Chelsea with CEO Dr Hugh Milroy.

2013-06-28 00:00:00

Mayor of London's £56k boost for Veterans Aid.

28th June, 2013: The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has joined forces with charity Veterans Aid to provide immediate additional support for homeless ex-UK service personnel in London as part of his on-going commitment to end rough sleeping in the capital.

2013-06-29 00:00:00

Armed Forces Day - 29 June 2013

MILITARY AIRCRAFT PAST AND PRESENT TO TAKE TO THE SKIES FOR ARMED FORCES DAY World famous aircraft past and present will fill the skies over Nottingham on 29 June to mark the fifth Armed Forces Day national event taking place in the city. Kicking off the celebrations will be the Red Arrows, performing in their 49th display season, flying over Nottingham as the Armed Forces Day parade marches through the city centre. Based nearby at Royal Air Force Scampton in Lincolnshire, the Red Arrows will fly the formation shape “Lancaster”, named after the iconic aircraft flown by 617 Squadron during the daring Dambusters raid 70 years ago. Current and historic craft from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will fly over both the city centre, where the Armed Forces Day parade and drumhead service will take place, and over Victoria Embankment, where a whole day of entertainment and activities are being planned. Throughout the afternoon visitors will get the chance to see a variety of aircraft in the skies, including the famous Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota of the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. From the Royal Navy Historic Flight there will be two World War II craft, a Sea Fury and Swordfish. Representing today’s air power are Royal Air Force Typhoons, and a Royal Navy Lynx helicopter, all contributing to a spectacular air show for Nottingham. In addition, during the afternoon’s celebrations members of the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team will parachute into Victoria Embankment, mounting a colourful aerial display for which they are famous. Red Arrows Squadron Leader Jim Turner, otherwise known as ‘Red 1’ and the team leader for the flypast, said "Displaying in Nottingham on Armed Forces Day is both an honour and a pleasure for the team who are first and foremost Servicemen, all of whom have flown in operational combat tours overseas.” Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council added “Nottingham is incredibly proud to host the 2013 national Armed Forces Day celebrations. Visitors will be wowed by special appearances from some very famous aircraft. “The air show is part of a spectacular programme of events and activities we’ve got planned, we hope to see people of all ages enjoying this unmissable event.” For further information on Armed Forces Day Nottingham, and the Armed Forces Day national campaign, please visit www.armedforcesday.org.uk or the Armed Forces Day page of the My Nottingham website, www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/armedforcesday. Notes to Editors 1. The national event in Nottingham for Armed Forces Day will begin in the morning with a parade of tri-Service personnel, veterans and cadets supported by bands, marching from Nottingham Castle to the Old Market Square, where a traditional drumhead service will take place. 2. In the afternoon, activity is focussed on Victoria Embankment park, with a programme of exciting entertainment for all the family to enjoy. Attractions include a dynamic display by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines on the River Trent, a demonstration by the Royal Army Physical Training Corps and a Musical Drive by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. 3. Timings for the various aircraft as they fly over Nottingham for Armed Forces Day are subject to change, however currently they are scheduled as follows. Further information on the flight path for each aircraft and where they can be seen in the city and surrounding area will be released closer to the event: - 1058: The Red Arrows - 1200: RAF Typhoon aircraft - 1335: Hawker Sea Fury of the Royal Navy Historic Flight - 1350: Dakota from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - 1357: Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - 1555: Royal Navy Lynx Mk8 helicopter and Fairey Swordfish from the Royal Navy Historic Flight

2013-07-19 00:00:00

Veterans Aid model discussed at Amsterdam congress

14th-19th July, 2013: British charity boss Dr Hugh Milroy joined academics from around the world to talk about successful strategies for dealing with homelessness among the ex-Service community. Milroy, CEO of Veterans Aid, jointly with the University of Georgia’s Professor Jay Mancini, presented on Turning Things Around among Homeless Veterans at the 23rd Congress of the International Academy of Law and Mental Health (IALMH) in Amsterdam. Veterans Aid enjoys considerable success in this area and the two men made the charity’s four-element model central to their presentation. They talked about the linear process of gateway intervention, unpacking, sorting out and graduation. Milroy and Mancini, who have collaborated on a number of military and veteran social projects, described in detail the specific practices and processes involved; specifically swift intervention, re-learning of life skills, building of trust, transitioning to new environments and developing new ways of viewing everyday life. The IALMH Congress is underpinned by the belief that the issues arising from the interaction between law and mental health are best solved using multidisciplinary approaches applied on a national level and inspired by the law, the health professions, social sciences and humanities. It takes place every two years to bring together an international community of respected researchers, academics, practitioners and professionals whose perspectives contribute to the main issues of law and mental health Dr Milroy said, “This congress offered an opportunity to talk about the work of VA in front of a very informed and interested audience. It was also a terrific learning experience with some thought provoking interactions. “In particular, our approach, which encourages clients to let go of the past to help minimise dependency on graduation, seemed to be of interest to the group. There was a feeling, in line with our thoughts, that constantly defining people by a job or context from their past can be very harmful and indeed, inhibiting, by preventing them from moving forward in the normal life-course.” Professor Mancini added, “Antecedents to homelessness are complex but even more complex are the processes that move homeless individuals and families from social exclusion to social inclusion. Our research data support the significance of social relationships as core to these processes, and the primary role professionals and their organizations have in accessing social relationships as part of intervention. This Congress has given Dr Milroy and me the opportunity to discuss the relevant research and, most significantly, to describe the Veterans Aid pathway that minimizes vulnerabilities and maximises resilience.” In 2011, with Milroy at the helm, Veterans Aid won the prestigious Institute for Turnaround award, widely considered to be Europe’s highest accolade for organisations moving from difficulty to transformation. The charity’s groundbreaking work among veterans in crisis has seen it referenced by practitioners, politicians and academics worldwide.

2013-07-24 09:00:00

Lloyd's Patriotic Fund awards VA £200,000

24th July, 2013: Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund has awarded a donation of £200,000 to Veterans Aid to support its Personal Empowerment Programme (PEP), which helps veterans who have encountered significant problems to make a fresh start. The programme provides accommodation for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless; counselling and treatment for those with substance abuse and addiction issues; education, vocational and skills training and practical assistance and advice for individuals and families. Through this donation Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund will support the programme for one year from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, helping approximately 450 individuals. Michael Hardingham, Chairman of Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, said, “It is a privilege for the Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund to work with Veterans Aid, often referred to as the A&E of the Veterans’ world, and to support the vital work it does in helping veterans who have experienced extreme difficulties get back on their feet.” Dr Hugh Milroy, CEO of Veterans Aid, said, “Veterans Aid has adopted Churchill’s mantra of ‘Action this day’ because any delay in delivering help is unacceptable for a man, woman or family in acute need. Our interventions are immediate and our support tailored specifically to the requirements of the individuals concerned. “Where this involves longer-term investment it can be costly but, as a result, those who graduate tend to be successful. We are only able to operate on this basis because of the generosity of supporters,” he continued. “This significant donation from Lloyds Patriotic Fund will give us the freedom to make the best possible investments in those we help, for a considerable period of time. We are utterly delighted to be recipients of such a generous donation and proud that Lloyd’s, in making the award, acknowledges the value of the work that we do.” Veterans Aid has been looking after ex-servicemen and women in crisis since 1932 and has an unparalleled record of success in dealing with UK for veterans in crisis. It works closely with all the major Service charities to ensure that replication of effort is avoided and resources used to best effect. Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, founded in 1803 to assist the many casualties of the Napoleonic Wars, is one of the oldest military charities of its kind and has been providing support to the armed forces community on behalf of the Lloyd’s of London market for over two hundred years. Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund provides support to a number of organisations with a particular focus on those who are disabled or facing poverty, illness and hardship. Since 2003, Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund has made grants of over £2m to help Britain’s Armed Forces.

2013-08-04 00:00:00

Ann's Next Effort - 700 mile cycle ride.

4th August, 2013: “I'm cycling from Santander to Roscoff in 10 days for Veterans Aid because they do vital work and need more moneyI'm raising money for two charities this time. One is Veterans Aid, which I've been supporting for a few years now. They support homeless and destitute ex-service personnel and do very vital work in a largely unsung fashion. They keep their admin costs to a minimum - five full-time staff and headquarters above a hairdresser's! - and concentrate their efforts on running their 56-bed hostel and drop-in centre. The other is the Stroke Association. On the evening of 12 May I found a message on my mobile from one of my father's neighbours. She had found him collapsed in his car in the garage with what turned out to be a stroke. My father, aged 84 and widowed, has been very lucky indeed. First, that Beth found him when she did. Second, that he got the optimum treatment. He had clot-busting drugs, followed by rehab, and today he has just come out of hospital after an operation to unblock his carotid arteries (a major risk factor). Fingers crossed for the future. But like a lot of things, there is a postcode lottery for stroke treatment, and I want to raise some money so that more people can be treated in the way my father has been. Santander to Roscoff is approximately 700 miles, so my target is £1 per mile for each charity.

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Veterans Aid's visit to BFBS

16th August, 2013: A warm welcome at BFBS when members of the Veterans Aid team visited recently - watch/listen to CEO Hugh talk about the charity's activities and plans, and catch him on Sitrep discussing what it means to be a veteran in Britain today.

2013-08-18 09:00:00

Rugby Coaching & Charity Match at Taunton RUFC

28 August, 2013: Veterans Aid Charity Shield Match at Taunton Rugby Football Club. This annual event is aimed at raising awareness of the charity, promoting community spirit and raising the profile of the Royal Logistic Corps. The day starts at 1000hrs when a party of around 40 will travel from the RLC Rugby Squad HQ to the home of Taunton Rugby Football Club (Hyde Park). The visitors will take part in coaching activities with the youth squad players until 1630 ahead of the main event at 1930. Admission to the coaching session is £7.50 and entry to the match £5, payable on the gate.

2013-09-02 00:00:00

Alliance will help veterans to bounce back

2nd September, 2013: Two organisations with a commitment to helping ex-offenders and the socially excluded get back on their feet have joined forces in a practical employment training venture. Veterans Aid and Bounce Back share the ethos of ‘hand-up, not handout’. Both exist to mend broken lives and both believe that the key to gaining and sustaining independence is employment. CEO of Veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy said, “We are delighted to be working with Bounce Back, a charity and social enterprise with unique expertise in equipping ex-offenders with skills, work experience and a pathway to employment. The match is perfect. “Thankfully veterans are under-represented in the prison population, but many of those who have served time struggle on release and find their way to Veterans Aid. I’ve seen first-hand what Bounce Back can achieve and in offering places to VA clients it is allowing us access to an extremely successful model.” Veterans Aid has been helping ex-servicemen and women in crisis for more than 80 years and offers bespoke solutions to a diverse range of problems. Bounce Back is a training organisation and an employer. It works with the participants in custody and on release to obtain professional qualifications in painting and decorating at NVQ Level 1 and 2. CEO Francesca Findlater said, “Our core objective is to train and equip ex-offenders with skills, professional qualifications and an understanding of how to manage self-employment, benefits and tax so that they can move into the workplace with confidence and complete the transition from custody to paid employment. We then employ them in our own social enterprise or support them into work with some of our partner developers and housing associations. “We are proud of our achievements to date – over 130 people have been through our training course and we have a re-offending rate of less than 12% against the national average of 65%. We are looking forward to working with Veterans Aid and hope to be taking our first four ex-service trainees from the charity in September.” Both charities are characterised by their focus on hope, empowerment and what individuals can become with the right support.

2013-09-07 00:00:00

Man takes on mountain for VA

7th September, 2013: Veterans Aid has 1,000 reasons to cheer for Gary Pierce – and every one of them worth £1.

2013-09-16 00:00:00

REME Arms School fundraiser

16th September, 2013: A bespoke REME Arms School replay of the D-DAY Landing has netted more than £700 for Veterans Aid. Dressed in uniforms supplied by the REME Museum the participants rowed across the Channel, leopard-crawled across Gold Beach and then marched inland. Each day of the challenge ended with a D-DAY quiz and funds were further boosted by a raffle and sale of home-made cakes. This is the second year that the RAS has put its weight behind VA, more than doubling the amount raised by last year’s event. The entire Arborfield Garrison contributed to the effort either by donating or taking part – instructors, students, staff , military and civilians.

2013-09-19 00:00:00

Chelsea Musical Evening

19th September, 2013: A very special concert for Veterans Aid is to take place in the ballroom at Killik and Co – a venue where some of the world’s best known composers once performed.

2013-09-24 00:00:00

Cash for Veterans Aid raised in memory of fallen soldier

21st-22nd September, 2013: A TA unit’s fundraising cycle ride in memory of a fallen comrade hopes to net £4,000 for Veterans Aid.

2013-09-24 16:30:00

VA PTSD prediction discussed on SITREP

24th September, 2013: CEO Dr Hugh Milroy discusses the findings of a leaked MOD report on Army restructuring and recruiting failures. The Telegraph reported that one of the problems identified is concern among potential recruits that their mental health could be compromised if they join.

2013-09-25 00:00:00

CANADIAN VETERANS MINISTER PRAISES VETERANS AID

25th September, 2013: Canadian Minister for Veterans Affairs, The Honorable Julian Fantino, has praised the work being done by a British charity.

2013-10-02 00:00:00

VA's advisor contributes to PTSD debate

2nd October, 2013: VA's Honorary Psychiatrist Dr Ian Palmer contributed to the SKY News debate on the Minsters plans to replace full-time soldiers with reservists – and the likelihood of it causing a surge in cases of PTSD.

2013-11-01 00:00:00

BFBS salutes Veterans Aid

1st November, 2013: The Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC) runs the BFBS Big Salute to raise funds for five Forces charities. One of them is Veterans Aid.

2013-11-11 00:00:00

TVS keeps hostel residents in the picture

11th November, 2013: Earlier this year, TVS Supply Chain Solutions exhibited at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics Exhibition at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedford.

2013-11-12 00:00:00

Veterans Aid Dinner at The Cavalry and Guards Club

11th November, 2013: Over a 100 guests joined Veterans Aid Patron, the Dowager Viscountess Rothermere, at a dinner at The Cavalry and Guards Club to raise awareness of the Veterans Aid First World War Commemorative event to be held at The Royal Albert Hall on Remembrance Sunday 2014.

2013-11-13 00:00:00

BFBS Big Salute Auction Day raises more than £10,000!

13th November, 2013: The 2013 BFBS Big Salute auction day raised £10,342 for five Forces Charities, including Veterans Aid.

2013-11-14 00:00:00

‘Tough Guy’ raises money for Veterans Aid

14th November, 2013: On 26th January 2014 competitors from around the country will push themselves to the limits to take part in the annual Tough Guy Assault which takes place in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.

2013-11-18 12:58:44

Cpl Amy Foster is cycling for Veterans Aid!

18th November, 2013: Amy Foster, Corporal Weapons Engineer in the RAF, is deploying to Bastion at the start of December for four months and decided to raise funds for Veterans Aid.

2013-12-04 00:00:00

Christmas Cards

4th December, 2013 - Two years ago a VA hostel resident designed a Xmas Card; it is on sale again this year. Buying these cards is a way of supporting the charity's work and spreading the word about what it does. Check out our online shop for details.

2013-12-10 00:00:00

Piece Makers project

10th December, 2013 - Those who thought that VA's December 2012 'Art of Survival' exhibition was the end of the story - think again. Many of the men who took part have moved on, in all sorts of ways. Several have taken their art and/or photography to another level and a few have sold further works and exhibited. The interview taking place here is part of the National Army Museum’s 'Piece Makers' project in which the work of Michael Crossan (inset) will feature.

2013-12-15 00:00:00

Veterans Aid featured in The Polish Daily newspaper

16th December, 2013: A freelance journalist working for The Polish Daily, Piotr Gulbicki, approached Veterans Aid to learn more about the charity’s work. Polish Daily is the oldest newspaper for Polish immigrants in Europe; it was established in 1940 in London and has been published ever since. In 1943 The Polish Daily merged with Soldiers Daily, the newspaper of the I Polish Corps, formed by General Wladyslaw Sikorski. Consequently the newspaper still puts a strong emphasis on military related stories.

2013-12-17 00:00:00

Vintage Invitation to Veterans Aid Christmas party

17th December, 2013: Seventy-five years ago, on December 24th, supporters of this charity were invited to help at its Christmas Party. We were still known as the Embankment Fellowship Centre (EFC) in those days and the invitation was a typed on a single sheet of paper – but the ethos that has underpinned everything we do is unchanged. Every year Veterans Aid celebrates Christmas at its New Belvedere House hostel. A tree appears in the foyer, tins of sweets or chocolates are scattered around the office and residents lounge, and gifts start arriving from supporters. On Christmas morning every resident will find that ‘Santa’ has called and left a gift outside his room – because nobody in our care is forgotten. NBH is a home, not a holding pen; those who will be there on Christmas Day 2013 will share a festive dinner, donated by a supporter, served by staff and consumed with much humour. Some things have changed in this charity’s 82 year history, but celebrating Christmas has been a constant.

2013-12-19 00:00:00

Chelsea Pensioners bring festive cheer to VA

19th December, 2013: In-Pensioners from the Royal Hospital Chelsea came bearing gifts when they visited their friends at VA’s New Belvedere House hostel. Their splendid iced Christmas cake joined a growing selection of gifts donated by supporters - including some from the charity’s Patron, The Dowager Viscountess Rothermere. Hostel manageress Pat O’Connor said, “Everyone really enjoys the regular visits from the Chelsea Pensioners and it’s lovely to be remembered at Christmas. I’m sure the cake will disappear very quickly!” CEO Dr Hugh Milroy added, "NBH is no ordinary 'hostel'. It's a home to the men who live there and we try to ensure that those who spend Christmas there will miss out on none of the festive cheer that everyone else enjoys." This year, as every other, Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings will be served by staff thanks to the generosity of a supporter.

Veterans Aid through the years.

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