The role of the Royal Marines Association (RMA) is to maintain and promote esprit de corps and comradeship amongst all Royal Marines and their families, past and present. The RMA is established in Branches all over the country and overseas to keep members in touch with one another. The RMA is an integral part of the “Corps Family”.

BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Service Men's Association) is the national charity for limbless serving and ex-service men and women and their dependents and widows.

It is the charity that directly supports all our service men and women who lose limbs, the use of limbs or eyes or the sight of an eye in the service of our country and we are with them all whenever we are needed for the rest of their lives. Our work starts with rehabilitation - proving that there is life after amputation. Our work is about amputee helping amputee - the fellowship of shared experience. Our work is about life long welfare support, about campaigning for what they deserve and about being there when old injuries come back to haunt. Our youngest Member is 19 and our oldest is 99 - Truly we are BLESMA for Life.

Last year, we saw a 10% increase in demand for our specialist services caring for Veterans' mental health.

Combat Stress delivers dedicated treatment and support to ex-Service men and women with conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety disorders. Our services are free of charge to the Veteran.

Veterans First Point (V1P) has been developed by veterans for veterans and is staffed by veterans.  Funded by the Scottish Government, NHS Lothian and the Ministry of Defence, it aims to provide a one-stop shop for veterans and their families living in Lothian.

The C Group is a Royal Marines charity which mobilises the business and wider communities to support wounded Royal Marines and Marines in need whilst they are serving and in transition to civilian life and thereafter.

We are The Soldiers’ Charity. We give lifetime support to serving and retired soldiers and their families. They risk so much for us, but for them, it’s just doing their job. IN return, we provide financial assistance when they are in real need. That’s what we’ve been here to offer for 68 years. We have seen a 30% rise over the past two years in applications from soldiers who have taken part in previous and current conflicts and we currently raise £7 million a year to meet this need.

Veterans Scotland acts as a coordinating voice for the benefit of the ex-Service community in Scotland without in any way interfering with or jeopardising the work of ex-Service organisations acting individually or in concert.

Poppy Scotland is the leading charity supporting ex-Servicemen and women and their families in Scotland. We are probably best known for running the iconic Scottish Poppy Appeal, but we work all year round to help veterans and their families receive the care and support they urgently need.

The Scottish Poppy Appeal raises over £2 million each year and, combined with our other year-round fundraising, we are able to provide financial assistance to thousands of ex-Servicemen and women as well as helping to fund specialist services such as long term care, housing and employment.

SSAFA Forces Help provides financial, practical and emotional assistance to anyone that is currently serving or has ever served in the Army, Navy or RAF, and their families.

“We've been helping our Armed Forces and their families for over 125 years, and in this time we have continuously responded to the needs of our service personnel, veterans and their families. Today, our volunteers, staff, and supporters help us to improve the lives of hundreds of people, every single day.”

That seems like a long list I’m afraid but there is much that has been updated recently. I will bring with me the pictures of the team and the horses to update the profiles and some of the other events that are taking place.

We all really appreciate the time and effort you are putting in for us, many thanks. Look forward to meeting you the week starting 24th Sept. I’ll give you a call to arrange a suitable time to meet. Have a good weekends camping, hope the weather is kind to you.

In June 2011, The Poppy Factory announced its plans to help 500 wounded, injured or sick ex-Service men and women into mainstream    

                                       employment over the next 5 years."