The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency has now released the fourth in its series of videos highlighting a variety of items of interest to the service and veterans community.

In the latest edition of ‘Veterans Today’, presenter Don Goldie takes viewers on a tour of Ilford Park Polish Home.

Situated just a few miles from Newton Abbot in Devon, the home provides residential and nursing care for those who qualify for admission under the 1947 Polish Resettlement Act.

This historic establishment, administered by SPVA, has been home to a thriving Polish community for over 60 years. The home was founded as a result of a promise made by Winston Churchill to the Polish people during the Second World War.

Even today, the home preserves its distinctly Polish ambience, which is reflected in the food, music and language shared by the residents.
During the programme, Clare Thomas who manages the home on behalf of SPVA, explains how the customs and traditions of the residents continue to be nurtured and how the community has, over the years, become firmly established as an integral and cherished part of Poland, set deep in the Devon countryside.

Response to previous editions of ‘Veterans Today’ has been very encouraging and the Agency will continue to use the programme as a means of updating service personnel and veterans on news and events impacting on the community.

‘Veterans Today’ is available to view on the Veterans-UK website  and is syndicated via iTunes and YouTube and other social media sites.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1. Veterans-UK was launched by the Ministry of Defence in April 2007 to provide a focal point for veterans to access services from the many different sources of help available.  The Veterans-UK helpline, 0800 169 2277 and website www.veterans-uk.info are the main contact points.  
2. The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency is an Agency of the Ministry of Defence and provides essential support functions to the Armed Forces and veterans communities.  These include Forces pay and HR, issue of all medals, casualty repatriation and compassionate services, pensions, injury/bereavement compensation and veterans welfare support.
3. A veteran is anyone who has served in HM Armed Forces, regular or reserve including National Servicemen, former Polish forces under British command and Merchant Mariners who have seen duty in military operations (e.g. the Falklands Conflict). Veterans, who can be aged from 18 to well over 80, along with their families and dependents make up the veterans community and all are entitled to our services.
4. SPVA prides itself on its communication with the Service and Veterans community. By embracing Digital and Social Media, it will be able to reach an even wider audience.  The SPVA podcasts were launched in February 2010 followed by the first SPVA videocast launched on 18 May 2010.
5. Using Digital and Social media products, SPVA aims to keep service personnel and veterans up to date with the latest happenings within the Agency and how they may impact on the wider Armed Forces community. 
6. SPVA podcasts and videos are now available on the SPVA Social Media Hub that can be accessed via the Veterans-UK website and are also syndicated via iTunes, the SPVA channel on YouTube and MOD Social Media Hub

For Further Information

Please contact Laurie Manton, Service Personnel and Veterans Agency, on 07795 970407