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Stoke Park success for Hire a Hero

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FITTING VENUE: Stoke Park Golf & Country Club  played host to Hire a Hero and our guests

Last Friday saw the inaugural Hire a Hero golf day take place at Stoke Park Golf & Country club in Buckinghamshire, and what a success.

Tucked away in the leafy suburb of Stoke Poges, the 300 acre estate of Stoke Park was a fitting setting as eleven teams pitted their wits against the award winning course.

Before the forty-four players took to the course in the stable ford matchplay format they were treated to astonishing entertainment in the form of Geoff Swain’s ‘Golf Unplugged’ show.

The show saw Geoff, rated as the number one in the world for trick shots and innovation with a golf club, go through his broad rapporteur of shots and impressions, before getting those unfortunate enough to play off a single digit handicap involved.

Swain’s show, which takes him across the globe, the inspiration for much of his act, was met with rapturous applause, laughter and appreciation and acted as the perfect precursor to the tournament that followed.

Those lucky enough to take to the Lane Jackson and Colt courses were blessed with spectacular scenery, to go with the stunning weather that had greeted us throughout the morning.

The going was tough for many around the challenging course, two holes of which were inspired by the legendary Augusta National Course, but all rose to the task.

After deservedly freshening up competitors made their way to the dining room where they were treated to a spectacular three course meal, deserving of the three AA Rosettes that the venue holds.

Between courses, presentations, the auction and raffle took place and thanks must go to all of those who donated prizes and were so generous in their bidding.

A fantastic day was had by all on what was the charities first major event of this kind, the team of Arthur Hindmarch, Craig Baldwin and Malcolm Williams crowned Hire a Hero’s first ever champions.

A special thanks too must go to the staff and all those at Stoke Park who made the day possible, an astonishing venue.

It is the hope of all at Hire a Hero to build on the success of the day, the first of what is hoped will be many fundraising events of this kind, if you or your company are interested and would like to take part in upcoming events please email us info@hireaherouk.org.

To take a look at photos from the day please find us on Facebook and ‘Like’ Hire a Hero.

Local Communities Show Your Support for HAH – How You Can Help

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HAHAt HAH we are so proud and privileged to work alongside our fundraisers and volunteers who give the charity the support it needs to move forward.

Now feeling more at home in our Mamhilad office near Pontypool, we are looking forward to getting more involved with the local community here and we are already well on our way.

The brand new Platinum Fitness Gym in Caldicot are showing their support for Hire A Hero by trying to get a group involved in running the Cardiff Half Marathon this October. A daunting task though with the Hire A Hero team on board and participating alongside Platinum on the day, much needed funding will be raised for the charity which will help more ex-service personnel with their transition from service life to civilian life. If you would like to take part in the Cardiff Half Marathon for Hire A Hero then let us know.

An unfortunate event over the weekend also lead to a new group of Hire A Hero promoters, Marlow’s Veterinary Surgery in Chepstow are now proudly displaying the Hire A Hero logo within their premises. If you notice the logo and are interested in helping out in any way from fundraising to volunteering then get in touch with us.

The connections we make are valued and if you are part of the local community we would love to hear from you. If you would like to support our soldiers and display a Hire A Hero logo, poster or fundraising bucket as Marlow’s have or organise a fundraising event with the help and promotion of the Hire a Hero team as Platinum Fitness have then get in touch.

Contact the Hire a Hero team: info@hireherouk.org

Remember to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook via the links below and spread the word.

Hire A Hero serving those who have served us.

Become a HAH Champion Fundraiser

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As summer approaches there’s no better time to get your running shoes on and get ready to pound that pavement. Even better why not make your run the most rewarding and best yet by running for Hire A Hero.

Be it the 5k, the half marathon or a triathlon, whatever takes your fancy we at Hire A Hero are proud to support you in your fundraising efforts. You won’t be on your own.

Take a look at some of the running events you could take part in supporting Hire A Hero:

  • UK marathons

14 April 2013 – Brighton Marathon

21 April 2013 – London Marathon

6 May 2013 – Belfast City Marathon

26 May 2013 – Edinburgh Marathon

  • Half Marathons

26 May 2013 – Edinburgh Half Marathon

7 July 2013 – Milton Keynes Half Marathon

8 September 2013 – Run to the Beat

15 September 2013 – Bupa Great North Run

29 September 2013 – Robin Hood Half Marathon

6 October 2013 – Royal Parks Foundation

6 October 2013 – Cardiff Half Marathon

20 October 2013 – Bupa Great Birmingham Run

2 March 2014 – Bath Half Marathon

TBC March 2014 – Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon

TBC March 2014 – Reading Half Marathon

  • Other distances

26 May 2013 – Bupa Great Manchester Run – 10k

27 May 2013 – Bupa London 10,000 – 10k

27 October 2013 – Bupa Great South Run – 10 miles

  • Triathalon

Throughout 2012 – Fun2Tri series

8-9 June 2013 – Blenheim Triathlon

27-28 July 2013 – Virgin Active London Triathlon

  • International

7 April 2013 – Paris Marathon

29 September 2013 – BMW Berlin Marathon

13 October 2013 – Bank of America Chicago Marathon

3 November 2013 – ING New York Marathon

If you are interested in taking part in any of these events or any other fundraising for Hire A Hero then please get in touch info@hireaherouk.org and let us support you in your fundraising efforts.

Are You Ready for Armed Forces Day 2013?

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SUPPORT - Hire A Hero team celebrating Armed Forces Day

SUPPORT – Hire A Hero team celebrating Armed Forces Day

With 93 days to go until Armed Forces Day it’s time to get those thinking caps on and show your support to our Armed Forces with your fundraising ideas.

This year’s Armed Forces Day National event is being held in Nottingham on Saturday 29th of June, though Hire A Hero wants to hear all about you’re creative, extraordinary or down right wacky fundraising events all over the country to support forces leavers and to support the work of Hire A Hero.

Celebrating, fundraising and donating for Armed Forces Day is a great way to raise public awareness of the contribution made by those who serve in our countries armed forces as well as showing a united support for the men and women past, present and future who make up our countries military community.

Hundreds of events are planned in support of Armed Forces Day, as well as 40 events so far receiving partnership funding from the Ministry of Defence. So, if you are a budding planner or experienced event coordinator you still have time to get support for your event, but you have to be quick as all funding applications must be in by 31st March. Just two days to go. Visit www.armedforcesday.org.uk to find out more about potential funding for your event.

Fundraising is so important for military charities and really does make a huge difference as we found out previously in our Importance of Fundraising blog.  Demonstrating your support for our soldiers and Hire A Hero is a rewarding and fun way to give back.

Why not take a look at the Hire A Hero fundraising page for some ideas? http://www.hireaherouk.org/fundraising-and-donations and get us involved in promoting your event this year, however big or small.

If you are interested in showing your support for Armed Forces Day and Hire A Hero then contact us via email info@hireaherouk.org.

Also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER and keep up to date on Hire A Heroes continual support and fundraising.

Hire a Hero golf day to take place on 3 May

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stoke-park-logoThe historic Stoke Park Country Club, Spa and Hotel will play host to the Hire a Hero golf day on Friday 3 May.

The location for iconic scenes from James Bond’s Goldfinger and Tomorrow Never Dies will see 15 four men groups pit their skills on the Harry Colt designed course.

Considered one of the “Top 100 Courses of the World” the Buckinghamshire course was in part the inspiration for the famous ‘Amen’ 16th at Augusta National, the home of the US Masters, the seventh tee also replicated on the Georgia course.

In it’s appraisal of the course in 1909, a year after its creation, Golf Illustrated wrote:

“If there were no palatial clubhouse and no beautiful garden and grounds, the course itself would take a great deal of beating anywhere within thirty miles of London. Colt, to whom belongs the credit of designing it, has scored a great success and his reputation as a green architect, already high, will be greatly enhanced by this the latest of his works.” (Golf Illustrated, 1909).

The 15 teams, both civilian and military, will be welcomed at the venue with coffee, tea and bacon sandwiches before a midday staggered tee-off, refreshments available at the halfway point.

The entertainment is not complete there however, 18 holes of the challenging 27 holes championship course will be followed by Geoff Swain’s ‘Golf Unplugged’ shows.

Golf Unplugged will see Swain entertain guests by bringing the game ‘back to reality’ with a series of trick shots which are sure to astound before the evening’s proceedings.

Guests will then move in to the ballroom where a three course dinner will be served, the auction and raffle taking place between courses, before the presentations of best putt and longest drive of the day and the evening’s guest speaker, who is yet to be confirmed.

A number of places for teams are still available at a cost of £1,000 per team, however a greater donation would be gratefully accepted.

If you or your business are interested in taking part in what is set to be a great day of golf and entertainment please email info@hireaherouk.org.

Former England international joins Kilimanjaro team

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RANGERS: Beattie during a stint with the Glasgow club

RANGERS: Beattie during a stint with the Glasgow club

A second international sportsman is set to join the Hire a Hero Kilimanjaro 2013 expedition this June it has been announced.

Former England international footballer James Beattie will join the team as they travel across 18 countries in ten days before scaling Mount Kilimanjaro.

Beattie, best known for his days in the Premier League with Southampton and Everton, joins four military men as part of a mission that will see the crew drive 10,500 million through two continents before climbing Kilimanjaro unsupported in eight days.

Currently plying his trade as player/coach with League Two outfit Accrington Stanley Beattie becomes the second international sportsman to commit to the expedition.

Stanley’s Beattie joins Wales’ joint-most capped hooker Garin Jenkins in taking on this enormous challenge. Jenkins represented Wales at all three World Cup’s held during the nineties as part of a 58 cap international career alongside a stellar career in club rugby with Pontypool and Swansea.

Beattie took to twitter to announce his participation in the climb and joins Sgt. Rohit ‘Mo’ Mohan, REME servicemen Carl William Fisher and Jamie Brooks, and Darren Fisher as part of the Hire a Hero team.

Beattie Kili tweet

You will be able to follow the six men and their preparations on our website, Twitter and Facebook pages.

The Hire a Hero Kilimanjaro team can also be found on Twitter @HAHKili2013.

Taurus Squadron, Birmingham raise money for Hire A Hero

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Officer Cadets Tom Milton, James Allan, Emma Crisp present Mike Peckham (Asst CEO) with their cheque for £4279 (Photo courtesy of http://andrewmoorephotography.zenfolio.com/)

Members of Taurus Squadron, Birmingham recently presented Hire a Hero with a donation of £4279 raised throughout the year by undertaking many different activities, including boot cleaning, serving tea, coffees and cooking bacon butties on exercise – all in exchange for a donation to charity.

Taurus Squadron is a lodger unit at HMS Forward and consists of approximately 100 sponsored students studying at Birmingham, Aston or Oxford University.

Members of the squadron will be part of a joint civilian and military team that will make an unsupported ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in support of Hire a Hero later in the year.  The cheque was presented to Mike Peckham (Asst. CEO of Hire A Hero) at the start of the Expedition’s first training camp in North Wales. The camp was designed and led by the company ‘Shape Your Team’ who are keen supporters of the charity.

Sergeant Rohit Mohan HAH Kili 2013 Expedition Leader said:

“The permanent staff, In Service Degree Officers and bursars of Taurus Squadron are proud to be able to help Hire a Hero in supporting those who have served us”. 

Hire a Hero Christmas appeal

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With only two weeks until Christmas Day there are only a few opportunities left for you to cross off the final items on your present list. Whether you’ve almost completed your Christmas shopping or you’ve not even started it yet, you can help Hire a Hero to raise much-needed funds that we can use to help ex-servicemen and women into civilian work and out of the dangerous spiral of unemployment and depression

Winter is a difficult time for ex-army personnel to be discharged from the military, with many struggling to pay their rent and basic utility bills on low wages. We are seeing an increasing number of heroes and their families facing eviction as the cost of Christmas adds to the rising heating and energy prices

We don’t want any of our ex-RAF, Army or Navy heroes to be left without basic human comforts over this Christmas period, but as time goes on we don’t want them to struggle on afterwards either. Helping heroesto find stable, appropriate employment that offers career progression and pride in their job is a year-long commitment and one we work tirelessly to fulfill.There are a number of ways you can help us to make a difference to ex militarypersonnel this Christmas.

You can use Give as You Live while you do your Christmas shopping online and help us to raise fund without any cost to you – our special address is http://www.everyclick.com/hire-a-hero/ct49025, all searches, shopping and eBay activity made from here will raise money for us.

You can also donate to us directly through our B My Charity page: http://www.bmycharity.com/charities/hireahero
Whether you can spare £100 or 50p, every penny really does count towards making a difference for ex service personnel and their families.

If you are a business or organisation and are interested in becoming a Hire a Hero partner or sponsor, please email info@hireaherouk.org for more information on our aims, goals and vision for the future. We would love to speak with you if you feel you can make a difference to our heroes.

We would like to thank all of our followers, friends, sponsors, partners and supporters for their continued support throughout this, our first real year of fundraising and action. Have a fantastic Christmas.

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Trench talk in the English language

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A very interesting book has just been published, detailing some of the words and phrases we now take for granted that originated or were made popular by mingling troops during the first world war.

The book: “Trench Talk: Words of the First World War” includes hundreds of words and popular sayings which may have only been used in small minorities until slang popularised it amongst soldiers in the trenches.

Words like “scrounging”, “binge” and “fed up” all came from the harsh living quarters of the trenches, with phrases like “pushing up the daisies” being made popular as humorous euphemisms to detract from the horrors the men were facing.

It’s an interesting and informative look at the humanistic and social changes that WW1 brought about. Plenty has been written about the horrors and the experiences of the war, but not much has been said about the growth of language thanks to troops from all over the world coming together.

Doesn’t have much to do with the work Hire a Hero does, but we thought our friends and followers might find it an interesting read as we certainly did!

If you purchase the book via our Give As You Live homepage, you will also be helping us to raise money without any extra cost to you. Try it out today, all you need to do is search for the items you want in the special search bar and Give As You Live do the rest of the fundraising for you: http://www.everyclick.com/hire-a-hero/ct49025 

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Raise money for Hire A Hero while you Christmas Shop!

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Here’s a new easy way to raise money for Hire A Hero while you do your Christmas shopping that does not involve parting with extra cash.

Everyclick.com has launched a new way to donate – it’s been christened “Give as you Live”. It means you can search the web, shop on line from your favourite retailers, trade on eBay and raise money for Hire A Hero at the same time.

You get great search results from Yahoo!, content from leading shopping providers and access to all eBay auctions. Every search you make creates a donation for charity.

Our special address is http://www.everyclick.com/hire-a-hero/ct49025, all searches, shopping and eBay activity made from here will raise money for us.

Make sure you sign up so you can track your fundraising – it updates every 3 minutes, you’ll be amazed how quickly it adds up! Every penny raised will go to support soldiers and help Hire A Hero find work, housing and training for ex military heroes in need.

Everyclick has already raised over £3,029,265.35 for a wide range of charities around the UK, and Everyclick was voted website of the Year 2008 and has been recognised as a top 100 media tech company 2009.

Remember! Before you shop visit http://www.everyclick.com/hire-a-hero/ct49025 and search for your items via the special web page. Your clicks equate to fundraising in action!

Thank you for supporting Hire A Hero and good luck finding the perfect presents.

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