Kent and Medway Armed Forces Champions

06 August 2019

The Armed Forces Networks for Sussex and Kent & Medway, a local partnership to improve the lives of the Armed Forces community, celebrated the training of the 1000th Service Champion on 5th June 2019 at the Army Reserve Centre in Canterbury. Service Champions come from all sectors including the NHS, local authorities, police, charities and fire & rescue to name a few. They spend a day at an Army Reserve Centre and learn about the Armed Forces, the impact of serving and the support available. Service Champions then take this knowledge back to their own organisations where they are able to provide a service that has an understanding of the Armed Forces community and its needs as a whole.

Kate Parkin, Director of Armed Forces Community for the fifteen NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Sussex, Kent and the Medway said: “It is really pleasing to see that the role of the Service Champion is being embedded across all services whether public or third sector. To now be able to provide an opportunity for the Armed Forces community to support and help themselves is very rewarding.”

SSAFA Divisional Secretary for Canterbury, Liz Gregory gave a presentation at the event and Robin Aaronricks, Divisional Secretary of White Cliffs Division qualified as a Service Champion.

Ms Janette Edis singlehandedly and reliably 'mans' the SSAFA desk at Canterbury City Council on Friday mornings supporting the Armed Forces community. Janette also volunteers for the Canterbury Royal British Legion and goes out of her way to support clients and neighbours in any way she can. The Gurkha community also honoured her by inviting her on a trip to Nepal earlier in the year as their guest.

We congratulate and thank Jan for the work that she does on behalf of both charities. A well-deserved award to a dedicated volunteer.