Navy and Marines event shines spotlight on support for military families and veterans
Recently, I had the privilege of attending an event hosted by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) at the iconic BT Tower in London, accompanied by Warrant Officer 2, Angie Cheal MBE RN, who works within the recovery space at HMS Drake supporting serving personnel through rehabilitation and recovery.
The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the wider support network surrounding the Royal Navy community, including the continued work of volunteers and supporters such as my colleague Natasha Mason, who volunteers with the RNRMC and remains actively involved in supporting the charity and our Armed Forces community.
Reflecting on the event
The key theme of the evening was the sacrifices our servicemen and women and their families make during service. As someone who was a military spouse, I am all too aware of the personal costs of those sacrifices. Events such as these provide an important opportunity not only to bring people together but also to reflect on the enduring support available to serving personnel, veterans and their families through organisations such as the RNRMC.
The role of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity
The charity continues to play a vital role in supporting the Royal Navy community at every stage of life. From providing welfare support and funding rehabilitation services, to assisting families, supporting mental wellbeing and helping veterans through transition and recovery, the charity’s work reaches far beyond what many people see day-to-day.
Supporting recovery and rehabilitation
Attending alongside Angie also highlighted the importance of the incredible work being carried out across the recovery community. Supporting injured and vulnerable personnel through periods of rehabilitation, transition and uncertainty requires compassion, understanding and continued encouragement, particularly as recovery is often both physically and emotionally challenging.
Why community and visibility matter
For those connected to the military community, events like this often carry significance beyond the occasion itself. They create space for conversation, connection and reflection amongst individuals who share a common understanding of military life, service and sacrifice.
The event being held at the BT Tower provided a striking setting for those reflections. Looking out across London served as a reminder of the scale and diversity of the communities that charities such as the RNRMC continue to support every day. It also highlighted the importance of maintaining visibility and awareness around the ongoing needs of serving personnel, veterans and their families.
Days like this matter because they recognise the importance of community and continued support within the military family. They remind us that service extends far beyond operational duties alone, and that maintaining connection, supporting wellbeing and recognising shared experiences remain just as important long after service life changes or ends.
Working within BBK’s military claims team, I continue to see the importance of those connections and remain proud to support the Armed Forces community through both my work and the relationships built alongside serving personnel, veterans and military charities.
