Engage 2 Inspire with our Armed Forces Community
Last week (WC 12th Feb) Great Dawley Town Council were invited to take part in a series of events hosted by D (Shropshire Yeomanry) Squadron at the Army Reserve Centre in Dawley Bank.
Great Dawley Town Council were honoured to be part of the The Royal Yeomanry’s “Engage 2 Inspire” week, where D Squadron hosted a variety of events from meet and greets, Breakfast Club, Youth Club and a Supper Night with the The Honorary Colonel of D (SY) Squadron Royal Yeomanry, Lydia Thompson and the Squadron Leader Maj Rich Greenway.
The series of events commenced on 14th February were Town and Borough Councillors were invited to a Meet and Greet with the Shropshire Yeomanry. This gave councillors the opportunity to learn about how the Armed Forces community can add value to local organisations. Councillors also had the opportunity to speak to soldiers, witness some training exercises, and view some of the military equipment used by D Squadron.
On Thursday 15th, Great Dawley Town Council were honoured to host their Breakfast Club and Youth Club at the Army Reserve Centre; where Armed Forces organisations hosted a variety of activities for the children to help to engage and inspire their future ambition. These activities included showing children how to perform CPR and use a Defibrillator, bike safety, Flight Simulator and STEM Activities. Children were also shown some of the equipment used by The Royal Yeomanry including the chance to sit in a JACKAL 2.
On the final day of the Engage 2 Inspire Week, the Mayor of Great Dawley, Cllr Ian Preece attended a Supper Night at the Army Reserve Centre, hosted by The Honorary Colonel of D (SY) Squadron Royal Yeomanry, Lydia Thompson and the Squadron Leader Maj Rich Greenway.
Councillor Shaun Davies – Chair of Great Dawley Town Council and Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council (Lab), said:
“Great Dawley Town Council strives to work with our Armed Forces Community through a wide range of events and initiatives. We were delighted to take part in a number of events hosted by D (Shropshire Yeomanry) Squadron, as well as being able to host our school holiday Breakfast Club, and our Youth Club at the Army Reserve Centre; enabling our younger residents to be inspired for their future career paths.”
“As a Gold ERS Award holder, we understand the importance of working with our Armed Forces community. From hosting regular dance nights at the RBL Club to help raise funds for the Poppy Appeal and Help for Hero’s, to supporting and co-organising the annual Remembrance Parades with the RBL, and supporting our reservists with their recent #Engage2Inspire programme.”
“I would like to thank all members at the Shropshire Royal Yeomanry and all other organisations involved for their support and hospitality over the last week to which I’m sure is one of many other future partnership works to come in the near future.”
Captain Nick Trevor – of D (Shropshire Yeomanry) Squadron of the Royal Yeomanry, said:
“It was a great pleasure for D Squadron Royal Yeomanry to host both the Breakfast club and the Youth club at our Dawley Bank home. The young people brought their vibrance and energy to the visit, and we looked to enhance that vibrance and energy by imparting enhanced life skills to the groups. For example, CPR training, using a Defib and safe bike riding skills to name but a few of the elements put on to inspire the young participants during the event.”
“In brief, the events ably demonstrated the value of the partnership between the local Reserve soldiers and their community in inspiring the next generation to develop greater self-reliance and enhancing their life skills to achieve all their aspirations in life.”
“Your Reserve, your community, working together for a better society.“
In 2023, Great Dawley Town Council were awarded Gold in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) – The first Town / Parish Council within the UK to receive such an award.
