Affiliations
Our Charity Affiliations
It is over three years ago that the Pen & Sword Club officially completed the affiliations with the charities SSAFA and HighGround.
The objective from the charities was for us to help in increasing awareness of their work across within the defence community and for the Club to help with this objective through our communication channels.
Since then both charities have attended some of our prestige events, being able to bring guests along with them for the purposes of communication and education.
Club members have enjoyed the interaction with the charity representatives and their guests. Many members as a result have joined up with the charities to help with their work.
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HighGround Jamie Crisp - CEO
“Through this affiliation, we’ve been able to extend our professional network across the wider military and veteran community, raising awareness of HighGrounds mission to help Service Leavers, Reservists and Veterans find employment and meaningful futures in the land-based sector.
The invitations we’ve received to attend events – such as and including the House of Lords - have provided valuable opportunities to connect with influential figures who understand and support our work. These events have helped to strengthen our visibility, open new partnership discussions, and enhance our credibility within the wider Armed Forces ecosystem.
Looking ahead, there is scope for the Pen & Sword Club to further support HighGround by:
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Continuing to extend invitations to key networking or sector-specific events.
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Helping to introduce HighGround to potential corporate supporters, donors or influencers.
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Sharing our news and impact stories through their communications channels to increase awareness among their members
Overall, the affiliation is proving to be a meaningful and mutually beneficial relationship that reinforces reputation and reach across the Armed Forces Community”
SSAFA Jonathan Sandall Director of Fundraising/Communication/Marketing
“SSAFA the Armed Forces Charity, one of the Pen and Sword’s two charity partners, marked its 140th anniversary this year. Whilst times have changed over that period, the fundamental mission of SSAFA has not: to provide support for the men and women of our UK Armed Forces, active, reservist, retired and their families. It now runs social welfare and health contracts for the MOD on all RAF bases in the UK and in Cyprus, where it provides a range of specialist health services to support families on their overseas posting. Its 2000+ volunteers provide case working, mentoring, prison in reach and Gurkha welfare support to those who come forward for help. SSAFA also runs supported living and refuge homes and leads the Forces Additional Needs and Disabilities Forum for families with children requiring additional support, taking many of them away on “Short BREAKS” during the year. Last year a total of just under 55,000 people received help or support from SSAFA. All of this is delivered in partnership with the “big tribe” Benevolent Funds, regimental associations and TRBL through a case management system that SSAFA manages on behalf of 183 military charities.
Pen and Sword members can continue to help SSAFA in three ways:
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Keep SSAFA front of mind as the first place to go for support. Serving or retired SSAFA is there to help with any call for assistance. Please remind your own military network connections and friends if you hear of anyone in distress.
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Volunteer. The charity relies on its UK wide cohort of volunteers, many of whom take a front-line role in contacting beneficiaries face-to-face. There are many opportunities to volunteer. Please get in touch if you’d like to learn more.
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Fundraise. Like any other charity relies on the support and generosity of its donors, individual, corporate and grant giving. If you are able to assist with this, please get in touch.
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Brian Moore Executive Vice President Charities and Professions.
Personally, I would like to thank the membership for their continued support for this venture of ours and we have ideas on how we can expand our help to the charities in the future.
AFPU Association
Initially reluctant, the War Office dismissed cameramen as a greater threat than enemy soldiers, but by 1941, it recognised the value of film and photography for military strategy, training, history, and propaganda. The RAF Film Production Unit and the Army Film & Photographic Unit (AFPU) were established, playing crucial roles in documenting key battles such as Alamein, D-Day, and the fall of Berlin. Over 400 personnel operated across multiple war theatres, producing essential newsreels and campaign films like Desert Victory and The True Glory, while 33 lost their lives in service.
The Company contributes to society through charitable giving and by promoting the communications profession – including public/media relations, public affairs, corporate and financial communications, internal communications and employee engagement, and digital communications.
It does this for the livery movement, the City of London, and the wider world. Read more here
The Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association was founded in 1885 and has been supporting Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families for almost 140 years. Today it helps the Regular and Reserve Forces community in a number of ways with a focus on providing direct support to individuals in need of physical or emotional care during and after military service.
Read more here
Military life teaches motivation, problem-solving, teamwork, resilience and adaptability in sometimes rough and often unfamiliar environments. HighGround helps Service Leavers, Reservists and Veterans to work out what military skills and experience they have, how they will map into the land-based sector and how to access the many opportunities it offers for employment and self-employment.
Read more here
7644 Squadron personnel deploy around the world planning and delivering media operations as part of national and coalition operations. The Squadron provides media and campaign support in the UK and overseas to the RAF and wider UK Defence.
Read more here
Founded in 1681 by King Charles II, the Royal Hospital Chelsea was established to care for soldiers who were no longer able to serve due to injury or age. Over the centuries, it has become a symbol of the nation’s gratitude to those who have dedicated their lives to the defence of the realm.
Read more here
The Little Ships Club is a Yacht Club for sailors, motor boaters and non-sailors alike. Being a member of the Little Ship Club enables you to :
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Enjoy sailing in good company whether you have a boat or not.
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Learn and gain new sailing skills that make your sailing more enjoyable
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Enjoy private members dining in our beautiful Thameside Club in the heart of London
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Join with out social events and lecture programmes in our club house.
Read more here​
WELLINGTON, like the anecdotes about the Forth Road Bridge, needs maintaining and preserving every single day and the ship’s engineers’ full schedule keeps this almost 90-year old ship ‘ship shape’.
Our popular Learning Programmes, free to schools on application, operate during the school terms and provide young people with an experience onboard the ship with sessions tied to the National Curriculum.
Read more here
Whether it’s eating, drinking and conversation, or debate, training and film, the Frontline Club offers everything you could want from a media club. With its history rooted in the freelance video news industry, the Club has drawn together a diverse group of people who share a passion for current affairs.
Read more here