Your country needs you!

Cities, communities and local organisations across the UK are being asked to host an Armed Forces Day event this summer to show their support for our servicemen and women, past and present, with funding available to support the festivities.

No event is too big or small to say ‘thank you’ to the sailors, soldiers and airmen for the outstanding work they do. If you are a council, organisation or a member of a local community you can apply for funding from the Ministry of Defence to host an event.

A maximum of £10,000 is available per application, provided that MOD funding accounts for no more than 50% of the total cost, with numerous bids for a few hundred pounds granted each year to assist smaller events. Anyone interested in applying for funding must submit an application form by 28 March 2014.

Since 2009, Armed Forces Day has been marked annually with events large and small throughout the UK, and this year the celebrations will fall on Saturday 28 June, when a major national event will be held in the city of Stirling, Scotland.

In 2013, more than 340 events took place in all parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, many of which were made possible through funding from MOD. They included Armed Forces Day tea parties, parades, big band concerts, civil war military re-enactments and live and static demonstrations.

Rear Admiral Simon Williams, Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel and Training) and Defence Services Secretary, said:

I am delighted that MOD can offer funding for local communities in the UK who wish to show their support and convey their thanks by holding an Armed Forces Day event.

Those interested should apply for funding by 28 March and make the day truly one to remember.

To find out more about the application process and funding criteria, please visit the Armed Forces Day website or contact the MOD Armed Forces Day team by email at perstrg-dssec-cectmailbox@mod.uk or by telephone on 020 7807 0970.

The website also contains a range of ideas and items to help you get the most out of your local event.