Ireland's Military Story

Tag: The Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland

  • Project Update – A Strong Voice for Veterans

    Project Update – A Strong Voice for Veterans

    Project Update – A Strong Voice for Veterans

    Photos by John O’Byrne

    For many veterans’ life after leaving the armed forces is challenging. Ensuring that all veterans receive the support and care they deserve is also a challenge. On the island of Ireland there are an estimated 150,000 and 20,000 British Armed Forces (Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy) veterans in Northern Ireland and the Rep. of Ireland respectively. As one of the commitments made in the New Decade New Approach political agreement, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, appointed Danny Kinahan as Northern Ireland’s first Veterans’ Commissioner.

    The appointment of a Veterans Commissioner ensures that there is representation and a safe voice for veterans who often feel they have been forgotten, and have been largely underrepresented as a community for years. Danny and his team have been engaging with veterans’ charities on the island of Ireland with a clear message that there is help for veterans who need it. Over the past three months we have been working on a multimedia project with the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner’s Office (NIVCO). The purpose of this project is to highlight the NIVCO and the services they provide, while at the same time showcasing several of the veterans’ charities and the work they do on the island of Ireland. Some of these charities include: The Royal British Legion (Northern Ireland and Rep. of Ireland); The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA); The Not Forgotten Association; Decorum NI; and the UDR Regimental Association. As part of a North/South engagement the NIVCO team also met with the Irish Defence Forces veterans support charity The Organisation of National Ex-Personnel. The uniform may be different but the challenges are the same, collaboration and supporting one another is the solution. Each of these charities are unique and offer a variety of supports from welfare to outreach, drop-in centres and remembrance. SSAFA for example is the oldest veterans’ organisation. Founded in 1885, it provides lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families or dependents.

    A new charity for our team is Decorum NI. It was a real pleasure to meet this group at their garden plots outside Bangor. Decorum NI helps combat isolation through a variety of ways including: alternative therapies, counselling, training, educational courses, sign posting to educational progression, and welfare advice. We are looking forward to meeting them again in the near future.

    NI Veterans’ Commissioner Danny Kinahan with members of Decorum NI at their garden plots outside Bangor.

    For a full list of supports and services available please visit: www.nivco.co.uk/where-to-get-help/

    We will be updating you as this project develops.

    Thank you to The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and the NI Veterans Commissioner’s Office. for their support.

  • From Comradeship to Challenge

    From Comradeship to Challenge

    From Comradeship to Challenge – The Not Forgotten Association Norther Ireland

    Tri-service members of The Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland.

    Photos by John O’Byrne

    It was great to meet for the first-time members and veterans of The Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland. The charity held a veterans’ lunch at the AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast Thank you to Ben Higgins, the associations Vice-Chairman, who introduced us to the work of this amazing veterans’ charity. Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland – Danny Kinahan – attended the lunch and met and chatted with veterans from across Northern Ireland.

    Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland – Danny Kinahan and Ben Higgins – Vice Chairman, The Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland.

    The Not Forgotten Association was founded by the American born soprano Miss Marta Cunningham CBE, in 1920, and is a registered charity. Following the Great War, she was horrified to find so many wounded servicemen lying injured in hospitals up and down the country. Cunningham established The Not Forgotten with the objective of providing entertainment and recreation for the war wounded. Through social activities and challenge holidays, The Not Forgotten today combats isolation and loneliness amongst the British Armed Forces community. They support any serving man or woman who is wounded, injured or sick and any veteran with a disability, illness or infirmity; whatever the cause and whenever it arose. The Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland was established by former British Army officer Sir Frederick William Moneypenny CVO, CBE in 1930 to provide voluntary and charitable services to Tri-Service veterans and the family connections of ex-service personnel. The Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland works for the benefit of disabled ex-service personnel, and those serving personnel who are wounded, injured or sick (WIS). Their aim is to provide outings, entertainment and respite breaks to disabled ex-military personal.

    A selection of photographs from The Not Forgotten Association veterans’ lunch.

    This project is supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and the NI Veterans Commissioner’s Office. Special thank you to the members of the Not Forgotten Association.