As Remembrance Day approaches, communities across the United Kingdom will pause to honour those who have lost their lives in service and reflect on the sacrifice of our Armed Forces. For veterans, serving personnel and their families, these commemorations can also carry a deeply personal significance.
This period also offers an opportunity to consider how we recognise service throughout the year. Alongside remembrance of those who have died, there is a continuing responsibility to value the contribution of those who have served and to support those who need help.
For Universal Defence and Security Solutions, that responsibility has a particular resonance. Our organisation has strong ties to the military and veteran community, and the experience of service is central to the knowledge and expertise on which our work is built.
A community shaped by service
UDSS brings together former Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence and Civil Service personnel, drawing on experience across defence and national security. Those connections give our work a direct relationship with the people who serve, the institutions they support and the communities to which they belong.
The expertise acquired through military service continues to have value in civilian life. Veterans bring skills and experience to organisations across business and public service, and recognising that contribution is an important part of supporting the wider community.
For UDSS, our military heritage also reinforces the importance of maintaining connections with those whose circumstances have changed. The sense of belonging associated with service deserves attention throughout a person’s life.
Supporting veterans throughout the year
Some veterans and serving personnel face difficulties associated with injury, illness or isolation. These circumstances can affect people at different stages of life, including those whose health needs develop long after their time in uniform.
Support can take many forms. Opportunities to spend time with others, take part in shared activities and reconnect with people who understand military life can be an important source of companionship. For someone who has become isolated, the chance to feel welcome and included has a value of its own.
As attention turns towards Remembrance, this is an aspect of support that deserves recognition: helping people maintain the relationships and everyday experiences that make them feel part of a community.
The work of The Not Forgotten
The Not Forgotten has been working in this field for more than a century. Founded in 1920 by American opera singer Marta Cunningham to provide recreation and entertainment for servicemen wounded in the First World War, the charity has continued to adapt to the needs of successive generations.
Today, it supports veterans and serving personnel through social events, outings, respite breaks and challenge activities. Its programme brings people together to enjoy shared experiences, renew friendships and rebuild confidence. Events are free to eligible beneficiaries, with support extending across the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Merchant Navy.
For veterans who are unable to leave home, its Digital Inclusion Programme provides support such as televisions, laptops and tablets. These can help people stay connected with others and access support networks when attending an event in person is not possible.
Bringing organisations together in support of veterans
The importance of sustained support was reflected in a recent evening at the Cavalry and Guards Club, where friends, supporters and guests of The Not Forgotten gathered alongside the charity’s Patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
UDSS Co-Chair Peter Hewitt, an Ambassador for The Not Forgotten, helped bring organisations to the table and played a part in hosting the evening and facilitating discussion.
Bringing together people from commercial and charitable organisations, as well as individual supporters, created an opportunity to thank those who enable the charity’s work and explore how more senior leaders could become involved in supporting the wider Armed Forces community.
In her closing remarks, HRH The Princess Royal thanked guests for their continued commitment to a cause that remains close to her heart.
A shared commitment to those who have served
Businesses and organisations can help sustain this support by recognising military experience within their own workforce, understanding the needs of veterans and building links with organisations that serve the Armed Forces community.
As Remembrance Day approaches, UDSS honours those who have given their lives in service. We remain committed to the military and veteran community, recognising its continuing contribution and the importance of support for those living with injury, illness or isolation.
To find out more about The Not Forgotten and the ways you or your organisation can support its work, visit thenotforgotten.org.