Soldiering On Awards finalist event celebrates courage and determination of military
The finalists of the 2024 Soldiering On Awards have been celebrated at a unique event at the House of Lords attended by Veterans and People Minister Al Carns.
The event highlighted the inspiring stories of courage, determination, and progress within the Armed Forces community.
The reception was attended by the 36 finalists, their nominators, defence and government leaders and partners from military charities and big businesses.
Mr Carns, a recently retired Royal Marines colonel, and Vice Admiral Phil Hally, the Chief of Defence People, gave speeches that celebrated the achievements of the finalists and highlighted the important role of the Soldiering On Awards in sharing the positive stories from the Armed Forces community to inspire others.
"I think these awards are so important," said Mr Carns.
"They're telling really important and powerful stories to the nation of what it means to serve our country and that's in a variety of different groups of people, ranging from the veterans that have served, those that are serving, the families that support them – which are often the island that people return to at times of need."
Veteran Andy Reid, who was determined to be "a survivor not a victim" after he lost an arm and both legs when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan in 2009, spoke to Forces News about how being a finalist for the Inspiration Award made him feel.
He said: "It's absolutely fantastic. "It's not why we do what we do, you know, to get that recognition but it is nice to get it.
"It encourages you on and especially by the public vote as well, which means the public's getting behind us, what we're doing.
"To know the public is still supporting what the Armed Forces are doing and what guys and girls are doing from that conflict and other conflicts that's happened since then as well is absolutely outstanding."
The British West India Regiment Heritage Trust (BWIRHT) is a finalist in the Defence Inclusivity Award category.
Paul Chambers, chairman of BWIRHT, spoke to Forces News about what the veteran-led, not-for-profit organisation does and how being nominated will spur them on.
"Over the last two years, we have been going to the Western Front in Belgium and France and we commemorate the West Indians who are buried out there from the First World War who have been forgotten.
"The First World War was the first time where 15,600 men answered the call and came to fight so that we can be free today. And the Second World War, that also happened.
"We believe that if the stories are not told now, they'll be lost forever because we are struggling to find relatives of people who served in the First World War.
"[The nomination] is an inspiration for us to continue to do what we have been doing."
During the event, the online public vote that will determine the winners of two categories – the Animal Partnership Award and the Inspiration Award – was officially opened by broadcaster and long-term host of Soldiering On Awards Jeremy Vine.
Votes can be cast at soldieringon.org until the online voting portal closes at 23:59 on Monday 26 August.
The awards, now in their 14th year, celebrate the very best of the Armed Forces community, across 12 categories covering the diverse spectrum of achievement from Healthcare to Education and Business Start-Up to Animal Partnership.
Judging was carried out by a distinguished panel of independent judges, led by co-chairs Lieutenant General (Retired) Richard Nugee and Debra Allcock-Tyler, who chose from an outstanding field of hundreds of nominations to select a shortlist of 36 finalists – three per category.
Ren Kapur, chief executive of the Soldiering On Awards, believes holding the event at the House of Lords is an act of symbolism for the nation's gratitude, adding: "We've really tried to be very inclusive about the awards.
"It is about recognising that it isn't just one dimension that makes the Armed Forces special.
"It's about the family. It's about having served. It's also about the diversity and we'd like to capture all of that inside the Soldiering On Awards."
The winners will be announced at a glamorous black tie event at the Park Plaza Westminster Hotel on 16 October 2024.
The reception was supported by energy services company, Centrica, whose ex-forces pathway recruits ex-military talent to assist in the transition to net zero.
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