As the world faces these unprecedented times, the pressure being applied to charities who operate at 'the coal face', delivering urgent help to those in dire need, is rising rapidly and will continue to do so.

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However, with so much still unknown about how COVID19 behaves, we all have a duty each other and ourselves, to act accordingly and with extreme diligence.

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Last week, I made the decision to stand down our wonderful team from all public fundraising duties and earlier this week, we made the heartbreaking but necessary decision to postpone VE Festival and The Forces March until 2021, both of which were due to take place in May this year.

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These were not easy decisions to make as the implications for us are severe but we had little choice as we have a duty of care to our participants, volunteers and those who live and work in the areas that our events take place.

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The loss of potential income to The Veterans Charity will be huge. Demand for our rapid reaction support is already up by over 40% compared to 2019 and we are already seeing a rise in demand from those who are being forced into further hardship as a result of the impact that the virus is having on businesses and finances in general.

We continue to meet the demand and will do all that we can to ensure those in a vulnerable position, get the essential they require.

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We have already adapted some of the ways in which we deliver immediate needs support and I am proud to say that we have been able to continue to enable vulnerable Veterans to get the vital provisions that they and their families require. In addition, we are arranging for smart meter top ups to keep power and warmth to homes and also mobile phone credit top ups to ensure our beneficiaries have constant communication ability.

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In order to be able to meet this rapidly rising demand, we need the generosity of the public and corporate sponsors more than ever!

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Donations to The Veterans Charity have always made a huge difference and they will now do so even more.

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To make it easier for people to give their support, we have created a new text giving initiative. By simply texting 'RAPIDREACTION' to 70085, you can set up a monthly donation of just £5. This costs £5 per month plus 2 standard rate messages.

 

Donations can also be made via the donate button on our homepage which is linked directly to our JustGiving page where monthly donations can also be set up.

If you would like to send a cheque, please make it payable to 'The Veterans Charity' and post to: The Veterans Charity, 3 Bridge Business Centre, Barnstaple, EX31 1HB.

 

Entries for The Forces March 2021 are open at www.forcesmarch.org.uk so why not register now, make a great early start to your fundraising and use time well to begin training. You can even train at home using a treadmill or even jogging/walking on the spot.

 

I would like to thank everyone for their wonderful support.

Please continue to monitor Government guidelines and the daily announcements. There is a great deal of fake news and misleading rumours so please don't take anything as read unless it is from a recognised Government source such as NHS, Home Office or 10 Downing Street.

Together, we will get through this but we must all do everything we can to protect and support the most vulnerable.

Danny Greeno
CEO

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