Page 4 - BNVTA News November 2020

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exposure Summer 2020
A Message from the Chair
Dear Member,
Welcome to the Memorials’ Edition of the BNTVA Campaign.
Although this edition has come a short while since our last edition, we felt that, due to the second wave of Covid-19, ongoing lockdowns and the cancellation of the Whitehall March in London on Remembrance Sunday, we could provide a Campaign edition for those who are unable to attend their war memorial on November 8th.
A few veterans and descendants contacted after reading the Summer Campaign to attend the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire for the National Atomic Veterans’ Awareness Day (NAVAD), on 3 October. After being faced with a vicar who was potentially locked down in Liverpool, and changing guidelines in the weeks and days preceding the service, a limited number were allowed under very strict rules to socially distance and gather for the outside service during Storm Alex.
The service took part on the wettest day of the year, and we apologise that due to the torrential rain, we were unable to write a dedication on the wreath as the paper was so wet. If we were able, It would have read, "To our brothers, husbands, and fathers, we thank you, miss you and will always remember you".
Part of the Covid-19 funding we received in July from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust was designated to further communication with our members, and we are keen to carry this out.
We are organising two Telephone Friendship Groups through the Silver Line Charity (part of Age UK), who own the platform, to commence from January 2021. We have received interest from veterans, wives and widows who would like to become part of these hour-long weekly groups to discuss hobbies, interests and chat, as well as volunteers who are interested in training to become facilitators. The groups are initially funded for 8 months through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, and the Veterans’ Foundation, who currently fund Project Fallout, and are also interested in funding this increased communication for our members.
A few descendants are feeling the strain of social isolation, loneliness and anxiety, and are seeking friendship with other descendants. To meet this need, we are looking at options for. BNTVA running something similar for descendants to connect for a regular chat and support for one another.
Please call 0208 144 3080 if you are interested in the BNTVA developing a service tailored for descendants. Additionally, we still run the Daily Mirror funded text-a-friend service; if you feel you would benefit from this contact, please let me know.
Since the Summer Campaign edition, which included requests for veterans, wives, widows and descendants to get in touch with us, we have received some great feedback. One suggestion was to resurrect a newsletter for veterans who don’t wish to access the internet. Gordon Wilcox, ex-chairman of the BNTVA East Anglia Branch, has sent me a copy, and given a list of veterans who would be interested in receiving an interim newsletter.
So, in the future, a summary of news that we share on Facebook and through other online media, will be sent by post to those who would otherwise miss it.
We have also heard from dozens of veterans, keen on submitting an application for a War Pension under the new eligibility criteria
from the Office of Veterans’ Affairs.