To celebrate and support veterans and active‑duty armed forces in East Hampshire we're hosting the first East Hampshire Veterans Festival.
Vets Fest is a free drop-in event this Friday 24 January at Petersfield Festival Hall, GU31 4EA, from 10am-3pm.
Find out more about the Veterans Festival
Aimed at serving and former members of the armed forces, and their families, the festival gives ex-service people an opportunity to meet with service charities and other veterans for advice, assistance and support.
Presentations on various topics are running throughout the day:
10.15am Opening address – Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire
10.45am Forces Pension Society
11.15am Strange Old Things Mobile Museum
11.45am Keith Malcolm – NHS Armed Forces Covenant Lead Nurse – QA Hospital
12.30am Tim Jones – Positive Transition
1.15pm Forces Pension Society
2pm Keith Malcolm – NHS Armed Forces Covenant Lead Nurse – QA Hospital
2.30pm Closing address – Damian Hinds and EHDC Community Leads
The Forces Pension Society gives advice and guidance to its members on all aspects of their Armed Forces Pension.
Strange Old Things Mobile Museum will bring military history to the festival that will take you on a journey through time that makes the past come alive.
The wonderful charity, Hounds for Heroes, whose specially trained assistance dogs help veterans overcome their physical challenges, promotes an increased sense of freedom, providing a loyal comrade and just maybe the beginning of a new life.
Arranged in partnership with Petersfield Royal British Legion and the Office of Damian Hinds MP, many local and national groups will be on hand providing advice and support to veterans.
Drop in, take a look around, have a chat, and share your experiences with like-minded people!
Supporting our armed forces community is a priority for EHDC
EHDC's Armed Forces Champion and Royal Navy veteran, Councillor Phil Shaw, said: “As we kick-off this exciting event, I’m delighted that we are showing our support for our serving and ex-service men and women.
"We have the bravest, most loyal military personnel in the world in our Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy services. This festival gives us all an opportunity to recognise the essential work they do and to celebrate the value that service personnel and their families bring to our communities.
"We are doing everything we can to encourage former armed forces people to see their very relevant skills and experience as an asset, not only in East Hampshire but in the wider society.”
A veteran is someone who only needs to have completed one day's service in any branch of the armed forces.
For more information about the event, please contact our Armed Forces Officers – Joanne Utting and Hannah Robbins at communitynorth@easthants.gov.uk
To find out what support is available for our armed forces in East Hampshire, including clubs and networking opportunities please take a look at our website.