23.12.2014

Southampton Law Firm Supports Local Armed Forces Charity

A number of serious injury lawyers from law firm Irwin Mitchell’s Southampton office were on hand to spread some Christmas cheer and support the work of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC).

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity improves the lives of all who serve – past and present – as well as their families. This year Irwin Mitchell provided tickets for 20 youngsters to attend the pantomime of Aladdin at the King’s Theatre, Portsmouth.

The charity has been supporting armed forces children for over 100 years through two World Wars, the Falklands as well as recent conflicts and provides help to around 2,000 children every year.

Expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell’s South Coast office, Andrew Buckham and Ruth Johnson, were on hand at the event to hand out goody bags to the children.

Expert Opinion

It is great to be able to help the RNRMC in the work they do, particularly at this time of year, when it can be difficult for children who have a parent in the armed forces.

“It was a fantastic day and everyone was able to relax and enjoy a fantastic occasion. It’s a great privilege to make sure the charity is able to spread festive cheer and give some very deserving children an amazing experience and some goodies at this time of year.” Andrew Buckham - Partner

A spokesperson for the charity said: “There is so much well-deserved public debate and attention given to our serving and ex-serving Armed Forces personnel that we can often forget about the families and children back home. For the children and families of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in particular they spend long periods of time coping as their serving parent is away at sea, sometimes for months on end. 

“For both the families coping back home and for the serving person away, often in a conflict zone, peace of mind can be hard to come by. Christmas time can be an particularly difficult time for our children as they see all those around them preparing to spend Christmas together as a family it highlights the gap in their own home, temporary or permanent. 

“With around 75% of the children we help either themselves or a parent having a disability or illness they also have the extra stress linked to being a ‘forces’ child. We provide extra support to our children at Christmas time, ensuring that there is food on the table, a bit of extra money to buy presents and, with the help of other organisations and companies such as Irwin Mitchell, special trips and outings to the pantomime or to visit Santa – allowing our children to just be children for a short while and just enjoy a wonderful experience.”