Membership Eligibility If you have served in the RE (PS)/(PCC)/(PCS) you are eligible to join the PCS Branch of the REA. If you served in the ATS or WRAC and trained as a Postal & Courier … READ MORE
Postie News
Chairman’s Chat
(Locked down from a shed near you…!)
Welcome to the February 2021 Chairman’s chat and as we continue through the on-going Covid lockdown I do hope you, your families and friends continue to be well and in good health during this prolonged and challenging time.
The vaccines have arrived, and for the Walker household that meant our front line NHS family members received theirs very quickly, which was a great and blessed relief.
My 91-year-old mother has also received her Covid jab, which happened to fall on the day when the biggest blizzards struck in the North East!
Lots could be written about Covid, but that’s not really the purpose of this newsletter, but there is an important message this month.
I think we have all been made aware of potential low-life scammers, requesting money and/or bank details in exchange for vaccinations.
Always remember in terms of society in general, as the old saying goes…‘They are among us….’
Unfortunately, Covid continues to mean we are not allowed to have social gatherings, which is both frustrating and disappointing, however, we should be thankful for what we have, and what we have around us, even if we can’t see one another or our immediate families, good times will return.
Importantly, please don’t let folk struggle either, a simple phone call or email can bring real purpose and a welcome lifting of the spirits.
Bereavements
Forces News
Veterans New Railcard
Government fulfils promise to veterans with new railcard.
Military veterans to get cut-price train travel to help boost job prospects and bring them closer to family and friends.
Military veterans will get cut-price train travel to help boost job prospects and bring them closer to family and friends, with a new railcard on sale from Armistice Day, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced today (22 January 2020).
Available from Armistice Day this year, the railcard will extend discounted train travel to the more than 830,000 veterans not covered by existing discounts.
Vetrans’ ID Card
18 February 2019
The launch of a Veterans’ ID Card has been announced.
The delivery is to be rolled out in two tranches:
Phase 1: The Veterans ID Card will be provided to all Service Leavers only, as part of the discharge process with effect from today, and retrospectively to those who left on or after 17 December 2018.
Phase 2: Applications from the wider Veteran Community will be encouraged once the process has been agreed. Information on how to apply will be made available closer to the time, before the end of 2019.
The UK Armed Forces Veteran ID Card
The Ministry of Defence will be launching a new Veterans ID card on 18 February which will enable public and charitable sector services to instantly recognise the service of a Veteran. This card will provide proof that a Veteran has served in HM Armed Forces in line with the Government definition of a Veteran, which is one day’s service.
Currently, there is no way for existing Veterans to easily prove the fact that they have served, and the administrative burden on providers when verifying that a person is a Veteran can be considerable, both in time and cost. This card will allow you to confidentially verify that someone has served in the Armed Forces.
However, this card will not be held by all Veterans as it is being rolled out in tranches and some genuine Veterans in need may not have the capacity to apply for one.
Therefore, please do not take the absence of a Veterans ID card as proof that a person is not a Veteran. Instead continue to use your existing processes to verify their Veteran status.
If you are asked questions about the ID card, please refer Veterans to the Veterans UK helpline number and they will be able to provide the relevant information, details below.
Telephone: 0808 1914 218
Website – www.veterans-uk.info [Read more…]