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We team up with the Royal British Legion and the National Memorial Arboretum to create special VE Day activity packs

We have teamed up with the Royal British Legion and the National Memorial Arboretum to create a special pack which helps our customers mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

The landmark anniversary of Victory in Europe Day is on the 8th May and the first May Bank Holiday was moved by the Government to this day to allow people to celebrate the occasion.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic people will have to mark the occasion from home and we have helped create these activity packs to help them do just that.

They include Second World War recipes, extracts from famous speeches, Dame Vera Lynn song lyrics and activities and puzzles. There is also a family pack for activities to engage children.

Our Director of Care and Supported Housing Martyn Hale said: “We’re delighted to be able to team up with the Royal British Legion and the National Memorial Arboretum on this hugely important piece of work.

“The 75th anniversary of VE Day is a significant occasion which I know many of our customers – particularly our older residents who have wartime experiences but also individuals and families everywhere – will want to mark.

“These engaging packs allow people to mark the anniversary from their homes in their own special way by taking part in activities and giving them the chance to feel part of VE Day celebrations which it is really important still take place.

“We are extremely proud to be able to partner with these great organisations to get this piece of work out into the social housing world where I’m sure it will be really well-received.”

Chris Ansell, Head of Participation and Learning at the National Memorial Arboretum, said: “During these challenging times it is more important than ever that we continue to explore new routes for people to engage with Remembrance. This collaborative project will allow a huge number of people to mark this landmark national occasion in a wide variety of ways.

“The pack includes activities inspired by the events that took place on VE-Day and creates an opportunity for people to learn, remember and feel part of a community in the safety of their own homes.”

Gail Walters, Assistant Director for Operations at The Royal British Legion, adds: “As we face some of the most challenging times since the end of the Second World War, now more than ever it is important to find ways for individuals and communities, across all generations, to come together and unite, just as people did 75 years ago.

“With members of the public unable to attend VE Day events, we are encouraging as many people as possible to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day from home. The activity pack is a great way for people to explore and commemorate VE Day and pay tribute to the entire Second World War generation and all those since, both military and civilian, who have served and sacrificed on our behalf.”

The packs have already been downloaded by 100 housing associations across the UK.

Are you a customer and want to download the packs? Visit the National Memorial Arboretum website and download them now here.

Are you a housing association looking to get this our to your customers and staff? A pack with everything you need to do this can be downloaded by clicking here.

For media enquiries contact our Communications Team.

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