Forces veterans 'row' Dover to Dunkirk for bereaved children
UK Power Networks' armed forces veterans are 'rowing' from Dover to Dunkirk in aid of bereaved military children for Armed Forces Day this weekend.
The relay rowing machine team will ‘row’ 77km from Dover to Dunkirk to raise £250 for Scotty's Little Soldiers at an event hosted at the Imperial War Museum in London today. It’s the distance sailed by a flotilla of rescue boats during evacuation of allied troops in WW2.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a military charity which supports bereaved military children who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the armed forces.
Rower Alastair Smith is a senior project manager at UK Power Networks Services, which operates power infrastructure for the British Army. He served in the Royal Engineers from 1999 to 2022, including work in Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Sudan.
Alastair said: "We hope everyone will dig deep for a brilliant cause and rally round to support the fundraising. It’s a fun event, but I expect it will get competitive among the rowers!”
Nikki Scott, founder of Scotty’s Little Soldiers, said: “Thank you so much to the team at UK Power Networks for supporting Scotty’s Little Soldiers. Every penny raised helps us to ensure that bereaved military children get the support they need and know they aren’t alone. Best of luck with the row!”
To support the team visit their fundraising page.
Three of the rowing relay team are army reservists, like Alastair, who can spend up to 18 paid days leave each year working on their military duties.
Alastair supports UK Power Networks’ armed forces recruitment and urges those leaving the military to make early contact with the business for help with CV-writing and civilian work attachments. He explained: "It's a really good fit for me working in the electricity industry and I can understand lots of things from the end user's point of view, because I served in the Army.
"I got in contact with UK Power Networks three years before I was due to leave the forces and they helped me transition into a civilian career. If people get in touch with us early enough, we can work with them on what they would like and what the business needs.”
UK Power Networks and UK Power Networks Services employ 75 military veterans and have a gold award in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for their commitment to the armed forces. They have a long-standing relationship with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), which supports Armed Forces leavers.
Natasha Paramasamy, STEM outreach specialist at UK Power Networks, said: “It’s so important to support our armed forces community and celebrate the work they do and the time they have dedicated to service.”
Armed forces events supported by UK Power Networks this year include:
• 28 June, staff event for armed forces community promoting Army Reserve forces to employees and fundraising for Scotty’s Little Soldiers
• 11 July, Careers Transition Partnership event, Chelmsford, for armed forces
• 5 September, Aldershot careers fair
• 29 October, CV-writing and interview workshop in Colchester for armed forces
Published: 28/06/24
The relay rowing machine team will ‘row’ 77km from Dover to Dunkirk to raise £250 for Scotty's Little Soldiers at an event hosted at the Imperial War Museum in London today. It’s the distance sailed by a flotilla of rescue boats during evacuation of allied troops in WW2.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a military charity which supports bereaved military children who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the armed forces.
Rower Alastair Smith is a senior project manager at UK Power Networks Services, which operates power infrastructure for the British Army. He served in the Royal Engineers from 1999 to 2022, including work in Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Sudan.
Alastair said: "We hope everyone will dig deep for a brilliant cause and rally round to support the fundraising. It’s a fun event, but I expect it will get competitive among the rowers!”
Nikki Scott, founder of Scotty’s Little Soldiers, said: “Thank you so much to the team at UK Power Networks for supporting Scotty’s Little Soldiers. Every penny raised helps us to ensure that bereaved military children get the support they need and know they aren’t alone. Best of luck with the row!”
To support the team visit their fundraising page.
Three of the rowing relay team are army reservists, like Alastair, who can spend up to 18 paid days leave each year working on their military duties.
Alastair supports UK Power Networks’ armed forces recruitment and urges those leaving the military to make early contact with the business for help with CV-writing and civilian work attachments. He explained: "It's a really good fit for me working in the electricity industry and I can understand lots of things from the end user's point of view, because I served in the Army.
"I got in contact with UK Power Networks three years before I was due to leave the forces and they helped me transition into a civilian career. If people get in touch with us early enough, we can work with them on what they would like and what the business needs.”
UK Power Networks and UK Power Networks Services employ 75 military veterans and have a gold award in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for their commitment to the armed forces. They have a long-standing relationship with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), which supports Armed Forces leavers.
Natasha Paramasamy, STEM outreach specialist at UK Power Networks, said: “It’s so important to support our armed forces community and celebrate the work they do and the time they have dedicated to service.”
Armed forces events supported by UK Power Networks this year include:
• 28 June, staff event for armed forces community promoting Army Reserve forces to employees and fundraising for Scotty’s Little Soldiers
• 11 July, Careers Transition Partnership event, Chelmsford, for armed forces
• 5 September, Aldershot careers fair
• 29 October, CV-writing and interview workshop in Colchester for armed forces
Published: 28/06/24