Doncaster Armed Forces

16/10/2026

Last night we had a fantastic Armed Forces Forum, with new faces there to find out about what is happening in Doncaster and having their say on how things can improve in the future.

Don't forget to get next month's meeting in your diary:

Thursday 19th November
7pm - 8pm
The Linney Centre, Balby

All members of the Armed Forces community welcome.

15/10/2026

RAF Finningley Community Collecting Day

Monday 23 November 2026, 10am – 4pm
City of Doncaster Archives, Chequer Road, Doncaster

Did you live or work at RAF Finningley? Do you have photographs, objects, and memories of everyday life on the base? Can you help us preserve these stories and objects as part of Doncaster’s museum and archive collections?

We want to collect memories of RAF Finningley through donations of new objects to our historical collections, digitising items, and oral history interviews.

Drop into City of Doncaster Archives anytime between 10am and 4pm on Monday 23rd November and bring along your objects and share your memories.

If anyone would like further information they can contact [email protected]

15/10/2026

🎄🎁 A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO DONCASTER COUNCIL’S WELLBEING TEAM! 🎁🎄

We would like to say a huge thank you to the wonderful officers from the City of Doncaster Council’s Wellbeing Team who have chosen to support our 200 Christmas Presents Appeal for The Ri**es deployed to Cyprus on Op TOSCA. 🇬🇧💚

Rather than taking part in their usual annual Secret Santa, the team decided to do something extra special this year and donate to our appeal, helping us spread a little Christmas magic to the 200 soldiers spending the festive season away from their families and loved ones. 🎅🎄

This thoughtful gesture is a beautiful example of kindness, generosity and community spirit. ❤️

To the entire Wellbeing Team, thank you for thinking of our Armed Forces, for your generosity, and for helping us remind our troops that they are not forgotten this Christmas.

Small acts of kindness can make a big difference, especially to those serving away from home. 🇬🇧🎁

14/10/2026

ARMED FORCES FORUM

Don't forget, tomorrow is our monthly Armed Forces Forum.

Always held on the 3rd Thursday of the month, all members of the Armed Forces community are welcome to come along, find out about what's happening to support the Armed Forces community in Doncaster and have your say on how things can be improved.

Thursday 15th October
7pm - 8pm
The Linney Centre, Weston Road (behind the shops), Balby

All members of the Armed Forces community welcome.

13/10/2026

🎄🎅 SPREAD SOME CHRISTMAS CHEER TO OUR RI**ES IN CYPRUS! 🇬🇧❤️

This Christmas, around 200 soldiers from The Ri**es are deployed in Cyprus on peacekeeping duties with Op TOSCA.

Being away from home and loved ones over Christmas can be difficult, so as part of our Christmas campaign, we want to remind our soldiers that they are appreciated, supported and very much in our thoughts. ❤️

💌 Would you like to send our Ri**es a Christmas message?

We’re inviting our Doncaster community to take a few moments to write a special message to our soldiers serving overseas. A few kind words can go a long way and bring a little Christmas cheer to those spending the festive season away from their families.

🎄 Complete the form below

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ShareFormPage.aspx?id=wCoeBPMz3k-4qTOnH35ssrsAzASS_HtAoPb1EuUs2hVURFRSMlNFTEtXNDM0SDM3VzdZNjExU0I5NSQlQCN0PWcu&sharetoken=b8s9FO3aR6hl2TJB11AP

Let’s show our Ri**es that, wherever they are serving, they are never forgotten. 🇬🇧

From Doncaster with love — wishing our Ri**es a very Merry Christmas and letting them know we’re thinking of them! 🎅🎁

13/10/2026

Help us to understand how we can be more effective when supporting ex military into employment and get a £10 voucher as a thank you.
Hope to see you there!

We'd love to hear from members of the Armed Forces community.

Help shape employment, skills and training support for veterans in Doncaster by taking part in our small focus group.

📅 15th October, 4pm to 7pm
📍 The Linney Centre, Balby

Join us for as much of the session as you can. Your experiences and ideas will help us improve support for the Armed Forces community across Doncaster.

Plus, recieve a £10 Love2shop voucher as a thank you!

Book your place and find out more: VeteransPathways.eventbrite.com

13/10/2026

Heartfelt and sincere thanks go to everyone who has donated a gift to this appeal, your support for the 200 Ri**es currently deployed is greatly appreciated.
If you are wishing to donate a gift please do so before the deadline of 30th October.

10/10/2026

💚 WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY | 10 OCTOBER 💚

🇬🇧 Our Armed Forces community is here for you. You are never alone.

Today, on World Mental Health Day, we want to remind everyone across our Armed Forces community that your mental health matters. Whether you are serving personnel, a veteran, a reservist, a family member, a member of the cadet community, or someone who supports those who serve, please remember that you matter, your feelings matter, and you do not have to face your struggles alone.

Military life can bring unique challenges. Behind the uniform, the medals, the courage and the strength, there are people who sometimes struggle in silence. The transition to civilian life, time away from loved ones, bereavement, trauma, loneliness and the pressures of everyday life can all take their toll.

💚 You do not have to be strong every single day.

You do not need to have all the answers. You do not need to wait until you reach breaking point before asking for help. Reaching out is not a weakness; it is a sign of courage.

To anyone who is struggling today, please know this: the military community is here for you. We are a family built on comradeship, compassion and looking out for one another. If you are facing your darkest days, please reach out to someone. There are people who care, people who will listen, and people who want to help you find your way through.

📞 HELP IS AVAILABLE — PLEASE REACH OUT

💚 Samaritans: Call 116 123 — free, day or night, if you need someone to talk to.

💚 Combat Stress: Call 0800 138 1619 for 24-hour support for serving personnel, veterans and their families affected by military-related trauma.

💚 Op COURAGE: Call 0300 373 3332 — specialist NHS mental health support for veterans in the North of England.

💚 Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential, 24/7 mental health support by text.

🚨 In an emergency: Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. If you need urgent mental health help in England but it is not an emergency, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option where available.

Please take a moment today to check in on a friend, a colleague, a veteran, a serving member of our Armed Forces or someone in your family. A simple “How are you really doing?” can mean more than you know.

You never know what someone is carrying behind a smile.

💚 You have served. You have supported. You have stood beside others. Now let others stand beside you.

Whatever you are going through, you are valued, you are part of our community, and you do not have to walk through the darkness alone.

We are here for you. Always. 💚

10/10/2026

💙💚 As we come to the end of our very first National Cadet Week, it’s time to say one enormous THANK YOU! 💚💙

This week, we have celebrated the incredible cadet leaders across all three services, along with the amazing people who work tirelessly behind the scenes, often unseen and unrecognised, but who are the very backbone of our cadet organisations.

Here in Doncaster, we are incredibly fortunate to have so many dedicated, passionate and inspiring people giving up their time, energy and skills to support our cadets. Whether they are leading from the front, organising events, keeping squadrons running, providing encouragement or quietly making things happen behind the scenes, every single one of you makes a difference. ❤️

Our cadets bring so much to our city. They develop confidence, leadership, resilience, teamwork and a sense of belonging. They are our future, and the people who give their time to guide and inspire them are helping to shape that future every single day.

You are what makes Doncaster great, and you should be incredibly proud of the difference you make. 🌟

Thank you doesn’t seem enough for everything you do, but please know that you are valued, you are appreciated, and the work you do matters more than you may ever realise.

It has been an absolute pleasure celebrating you throughout this first National Cadet Week. Thank you for everything you give, everything you do, and for being such an important part of our Doncaster Armed Forces family.

This week we have celebrated you, but your contribution deserves recognition all year round. 💙❤️💚

09/10/2026

ARMED FORCES FORUM

Don't forget, next Thursday 15th October is our monthly Armed Forces Forum.

Always held on the 3rd Thursday of the month, all members of the Armed Forces community are welcome to come along, find out about what's happening to support the Armed Forces community in Doncaster and have your say on how things can be improved.

Thursday 15th October
7pm - 8pm
The Linney Centre, Weston Road (behind the shops), Balby

All members of the Armed Forces community welcome.