Armed Forces Day 2024

On Saturday, 24 June, Rhondda Cynon Taf celebrated Armed Forces Day 2024 at Ynysangharad Park in Pontypridd. During the day we were joined by serving personnel, veterans, reservists, their families, and friends, with many more from across our community.

Armed Forces Day provides the opportunity to celebrate and show our support for the individuals that make up the Armed Forces community, both past and present. Various organisations and businesses across the UK demonstrate their support by hosting events.

This year we hosted our first ever Picnic in the Park event, inviting local armed forces personnel, veterans and their families to bring a picnic to the park, enjoy a variety of musical entertainment and family activities, and find out more about the support available to the Armed Forces community in RCT.

Additionally, there was a flag raising ceremony led by members of the Armed Forces community., with the help of some local air cadets.

Councillor Maureen Webber, Deputy Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Armed Forces Champion, said: "Armed Forces Day provides us with the opportunity to say thank you to those who have served, both past and present, and recognise the tireless dedication of those in the forces.

"On Saturday, June 24, we came together as a community to recognise and honour this commitment, paying tribute to the sacrifices made by these individuals.

"It was also great to see such a good turn out by the general public, who came to support and join in with the celebrations."

Find out more about Armed Forces Day here.

Showing support for our local Armed Forces community goes beyond this day. In 2012, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council became one of the first local authorities in Wales to sign the Armed Forces Covenant - a commitment reaffirmed in 2018. The covenant is a mutual agreement of understanding between the civilian and armed forces community across the County Borough. We've also granted the Freedom of the County Borough to The Welsh Guards and MOD St Athen, as well as all local service personnel of the Royal Air Force, past and present.

The latest data shows that there are more than 7,500 armed forces veterans living across Rhondda Cynon Taf. The Council's Veteran Advice Service offers a wide range of support and assistance and has helped over six hundred veterans and family members. They provide free, impartial, and dedicated information, advice, and support to members of the armed forces, past and present. To speak to dedicated officers in strict confidence, call 07747 485 619 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm), or email: [email protected].

To find out more, please visit: RCT Armed Forces Covenant

In 2017, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council was presented with the Ministry of Defence's Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award for our continued support of the armed forces community. This award was retained in October 2022 following an assessment of the Council's commitments, including the introduction of the guaranteed interview scheme for veterans and reservists in January 2022.

#ArmedForcesDay or #SaluteOurForces

Posted on 15/07/2024

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