As the nation went into Lockdown in 2020, the RNRMC became increasingly concerned about some of its most vulnerable and deserving beneficiaries whose access to basic foodstuffs, either because they were unable to leave the house or because of surges in public demand, was becoming increasingly difficult.

The RNRMC and fellow naval charity Sailors’ Children’s Society acted quickly together to minimise any disruption to the education of children from Royal Navy families over lockdown.

Hong Kong is home to one of the largest, proudest and most cohesive groups of UK Armed Forces veterans outside the UK. Whilst over 1,000 former Gurkhas still live and work there, so do some 8,500 Hong Kong Chinese Royal Navy and British Army veterans with their dependants. Who are these veterans?

Many Wounded Injured and Sick (WIS) personnel can feel disengaged from the service through being signed off on shore for long periods of time. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) works closely with Hasler Naval Service Recovery Centre (NSRC) to support the recovery of WIS personnel and has recently provided a grant to fund a week at Pentillie Estate, Cornwall, allowing Hasler assigned ranks to gain some respite.

Witnessing a succession of event cancellations and postponements last year as well as huge disruption to schooling and very few opportunities for family recreation, RNRMC Head of Grants Anne Carr was determined to do whatever she could to keep a much-loved service for Royal Navy families up and running in 2020, despite the challenges this presented.

Towards the end of 2019 a new online platform launched to help families of serving personnel find employment, supported by a £25,000 grant from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.