Two members of the CFWI Board of Trustees recently had the pleasure of attending the Annual Meeting of the Avon Federation of WIs in Bristol.
One of the guest speakers was Rosie Thompson, a representative of The Not Forgotten Association, an organisation not many people are familiar with but which we thought might be of interest to some of our members.
The Not Forgotten Association is a national charity founded in 1920 and dedicated to providing entertainment and recreation for the serving wounded, injured or sick; and for ex-service men and women with disabilities.
Each year, they support about 10,000 men and women across the UK through a busy and varied programme of outings, holidays, concerts, parties as well as the provision of televisions and TV licenses.
Some of the organisation’s activities provide a physical challenge and the opportunity to develop self-confidence, while others are of a more social nature, aimed at fostering new friendships between like-minded people who understand each others’ experiences, still enjoy service banter and who seek camaraderie.
The Kilimanjaro Summit Challenge held last autumn
Rosie brought with her someone who has benefited from the Not Forgotten Association, ex-serviceman Stu Parker. Stu suffered severe injuries while serving in Afghanistan, and credits the organisation with helping him when he was at his lowest. He was absolutely inspirational.
If you’d like to learn more about the work of the Not Forgotten Association, please visit their website.