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Armed Forces Day 2011
Latest SPVA Podcast asks the planners how they are planning to celebrate this year

We are just a matter of weeks away from the third national Armed Forces Day. This year the National event is being hosted by Edinburgh.

The Agency’s latest podcast provides an update on the events planned across the UK to celebrate the day and contains interviews with Air Vice-Marshal David Murray, the MOD’s lead on the events and Edinburgh Council Leader Jenny Dawe on what the city is preparing for the national event.

Air Vice-Marshal David Murray said:

“At last year’s national event I remember one young Serviceman saying the cheers of the crowds made him feel like a “rock star for the day”. I hope this will be the case for our Servicemen and women this year, at the many events planned right across the UK. Armed Forces Day is a wonderful opportunity for people to show their support for our Armed Forces family, and is a day we can all be rightly proud of.”

Council Leader Jenny Dawe said:

"Hosting an event on this scale is something for which Edinburgh has become internationally revered - indeed, the city has won a reputation as one of the top events destinations in the world thanks to the success of such major occasions as the visit by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 and Edinburgh's Hogmanay. Ever since I attended the Armed Forces Day national event in Cardiff last year, I have been looking forward to bringing the celebrations to Scotland's capital, where I know we will put on a sensational three days of activities and entertainment for everyone to get involved with."

David Johnson, SPVA Spokesman said:

“As one of the MOD’s main providers of support services to the Armed Forces and veterans communities, SPVA is supporting Armed Forces Day by providing display stands, posters and information leaflets at many events around the country.  Veterans Welfare Service advisors will be on hand at the national event in Edinburgh as well as nine other events throughout the UK to offer one-to-one help and support. 

“Full details of where we’ll be can be found on our on-line events calendar on our website www.veterans-uk.info .  The calendar can be found on the ‘Veterans Community’ section and there is a link to that area from most pages on the site.”      

The podcast and other SPVA social media products are available to access on the SPVA Social Media Hub via the Veterans-UK website, and on various social media sites such as iTunes and YouTube.

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 in May 2010.  SPVA now also has a blog and you can follow SPVA on Twitter - @SPVAmod.
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 - http://www.veterans-uk.info - and are also syndicated via iTunes, the SPVA channel on YouTube and MOD Social Media Hub http://www.blogs.mod.uk/homepage.html  

For Further Information

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