Page 28 - QDG Volume 9 No. 5

26 Welfare
2024 started in ■■■ fashion with A Sqn
deployed in Poland and B Sqn preparing
to take over from them. This gave the
welfare team great opportunity to provide
activities for the families. Starting the
year with Gravity a trampolining park in
Norwich, lots of fun was had by all with
a few thinking they were preparing for
the Olympics. Trampolining was quickly
followed up with a trip to Go Ape, where
children and parents put any fears, they
had of heights to the side challenging
themselves across the ropes and jumps
in the treetops of Thetford Forest. We
then felt that a more sedate activity would
be welcome and with Mother’s Day and
Easter around the corner thoughts were
put into organising an afternoon tea
held in the Dragons Den for some very
deserving mothers. Families then got
into the Easter spirit with bonnet making
easter crafts and of course copious
amounts of chocolate for the easter egg
hunt. Shortly after Easter holidays we said
good by to Sgt Kev Young the welfare
SNCO and wished him the best for his
exit after 23 years to civilian life. Thoughts
were then turned to the return of A Sqn
so a family’s day with a BBQ, the Cpls
Mess Bar, bucking bronco and a visit from
the BFBS Ice Cream van. Further trips
to Africa Alive, Pleasurewood Hills and
Bewilderwood were supported well by
the families. Into summer stand down and
we once again were supported by Norfolk
Armed Forces Covenant with funding so
we could provide activities on camp for
families staying in Norfolk. The support
from the covenant is provided if the activ-
ities encompass the local community,
QDG Children’s Halloween party
QDG Panto 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Shameless Swanton Morley
so several children were invited from
the local schools to attend Norwich City
Community Football Skills workshop, as
well as a circus skills workshop.
Not lost on the Commanding Officer or
the welfare team was the ever-increasing
cost of living, with 70% of the houses at
Robertson Barracks being only electric
a constant thorn in our side that we are
unable to have much impact on. In late
Nov we were visited by Director Accom-
They’re behind you; oh yes they are
modation for DIO where he informed the
CO that from the 1st Nov 24 until the 1st
Mar 25 all rent would be stopped for the
electric houses.
Sgt Scott Evans who rejoined after
having a break from service life joined
the team in Oct 24, a welcome sight for
myself and Cpl Bernard. For those families
who do not reside at Robertson Barracks
but had a loved one deployed, vouchers
were sent so they could enjoy a meal out.
A Sqn showing their skills
on the Bucking Bronco