Princess Anne joined celebrations marking a decade of the Veterans’ Foundation at the Honourable Artillery Company in London on July 2.The charity, which has distributed nearly £40 million in grants since launching in 2016, used the occasion to unveil ambitious plans for its next chapter.Chair of Trustees Andrew Anderson announced the organisation’s goal of raising and distributing an additional £160 million over the coming ten years, bringing total lifetime funding to £200 million.Anne met with veterans and charity representatives during the evening, including foundation ambassadors Simon Weston CBE and Mark Ormrod MBE.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
The milestone event brought together supporters, funded organisations and members of the Armed Forces community to reflect on achievements and look ahead.Throughout its first decade, the foundation has channelled funding to more than 500 charitable organisations delivering frontline assistance to veterans, serving personnel and their families.These grants have supported over 1,100 individual projects spanning a wide range of critical services.Housing, mental health provision, educational opportunities, employment support, wellbeing programmes and community services have all benefited from the charity’s investment.The reach of this work extends across the entire United Kingdom, touching the lives of those who have served and their loved ones.Chief Executive Jane Gurney highlighted that the foundation’s grants provide recipient organisations with both confidence and capacity to expand their operations.This funding model enables charities to strengthen existing services while extending their reach to more people requiring assistance.Anderson described the event as an opportunity to recognise those who make the foundation’s work possible, from supporters and partners to the charities receiving funding and the veterans themselves.”It was a tremendous honour to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal as we marked this milestone together,” he said. “Her longstanding commitment to the Armed Forces community reflects the values that have guided the Foundation over the past decade. What we have achieved in ten years is remarkable, but our ambition for the future is even greater.”Gurney emphasised the breadth of community backing behind the charity’s efforts.”Over the past ten years, more than 288,000 people have helped us stand beside the Armed Forces community,” she said. “Their loyalty, generosity and belief in what we do have made everything possible.”Weston, who attended the celebration alongside fellow ambassador Ormrod, spoke of the unity on display throughout the evening.”The Veterans’ Foundation has spent ten years backing extraordinary organisations that stand beside veterans and their families every single day,” he said. “That support changes lives, strengthens communities and reminds people that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”As it embarks on its second decade, the foundation is encouraging people nationwide to sign the Armed Forces Pledge, adding their names and messages of support for those who have served.The anniversary programme featured footage of a commemorative light projection onto the White Cliffs of Dover, echoing a similar display at the charity’s 2016 launch that honoured service and sacrifice whilst acknowledging ongoing challenges facing the Armed Forces community.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter