Forces in the Community

09/11/2025

Remembering. Reflecting. Respecting.

12/10/2025

The Ongoing Battle

He loved her like a mission –
precise, rehearsed, contained.
Never once did he learn
that safety can be soft.

Long before the sand,
before the noise and orders,
he’d built his armour in a childhood bedroom
where silence was survival
and tenderness, a foreign tongue.

The Army only refined the skill:
how to stand still and blend in.
To march in formation,
yet never let anyone close enough
to see the nervousness in his eyes.

Now she reaches for him in sleep,
his body turns away,
trained to guard the perimeter,
trained not to need.

He mistakes love for threat,
closeness for loss of control.
She mistakes distance for indifference.
Both are wrong. Both are right.

He isn’t fighting wars anymore,
only the ones that began
before anyone called him “soldier.”
Inside him, the front line never moved,
it just changed names.

12/10/2025

After the Uniform

He learned to fold a shirt like a flag,
crease sharp enough to cut memory.
Orders once filled the silence,
now the silence fills him.

His medals sit in a drawer,
metal ghosts that glint at dusk.
People say thank you for your service,
he nods, unsure which part they mean.

The world moves in civilian time,
slow, uncertain, unguarded.
He still checks exits in cafés,
still wakes before dawn,
still dreams in the language of loss.

Love, too, has become a campaign,
no map, no mission brief,
just the soft confusion of being needed
without being necessary.

He tries to explain but stops,
some things can’t be debriefed.
Instead he fixes the fence,
feeds the dog,
waits for night to fall
like a parachute that never opens.

14/09/2025

On Thursday evening, at the Boots and Berets Awards, Forces in the Community was nominated twice. For our work over the last fifteen years, we won the Community Award, received by Neil (Chair of Trustees) and the Inspiration Award, was received by Rick (CEO).
Thank you to Nottinghamshire County Council and the panel for recognising the charity. Many thanks to Major Pauline Murray-Knight MBE for nominating the charity for the Community Award and Rick for the Inspiration Award.

10/09/2025

Veterans across the UK will have easier access to essential care and support under a new VALOUR system being announced today, as part of the Government’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who have served through the Plan for Change.

05/05/2025

Veterans across the UK will have easier access to essential care and support under a new VALOUR system being announced today, as part of the Government’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who have served through the Plan for Change.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-of-veterans-to-benefit-from-new-uk-wide-support-network?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR5yQpH45poh8c05UNlxNGSqKjy6fqnYp6j34HqLs4pC5WjnIRIY3IUwMZUasA_aem_Ia-yBjHwgJLF4p7LoWnknA

Veterans across the UK will have easier access to essential care and support under a new VALOUR system being announced today, as part of the Government’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who have served through the Plan for Change.

27/03/2025

A huge 'Thank You' to the Boat and Horses!

We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the amazing team (Neil, Martin, Debbie, and Jackie) at The Boat and Horses for their continued support. Your generosity, good humour, and unwavering community spirit mean the world to us.

Whether it’s raising funds, offering a warm welcome, or simply being there when it matters most - you’re helping us make a real difference. Your support isn’t just appreciated… it’s deeply valued.

Here’s to good friends, good times, and great partnerships.

22/03/2025

Do you want to improve your relationships?

Suppressing feelings, especially vulnerability, is common after service.

Military training rewards emotional suppression, quick decision-making, and stoicism.

Veterans often struggle with a loss of role, purpose, and identity, which destabilises relationships.

16/03/2025

We will be delivering 14 workshops across the Midlands, during the next 8 months.

The end of relationships are often behind some of the more distressing situations veterans can find themselves in. If you want to improve your existing relationship, contact us.

10/03/2025

Two players needed for our veterans darts team, any standard from complete novice to great. Tuesday night from 7:30pm onwards. We have a great laugh, usually lose but be the band of brothers that we are.
Boat and Horses, Beeston Rylands NG91LP.
Just pop along and ask for Neil.
Hope to see you soon.

09/03/2025

Stronger Together: A relationship workshop for the armed forces community.

Military life brings unique pressures, and those pressures don’t disappear when you come home. If you’ve ever wondered why stress affects your relationship the way it does, how to break negative patterns, or how to strengthen your bond, this veteran-specific workshop is for you.

This 2-day, couples-only workshop is designed for the Armed Forces community - helping you and your partner improve communication, manage conflict, and build healthier habits that work for military and veteran relationships.

Held across the Midlands | Limited places available

Secure your spot or for further info: [email protected]