On the 26th of June this year, the UK’s marking Armed Forces Day. It’s a celebration of, and show of respect for, Armed Forces personnel, veterans and families. Military work demands dedication, hardship and sacrifice, and the RIFT family is honoured to show our support.

This year, the celebrations will officially start on the 21st of June with the raising of the Armed Forces Day flag on a number of important landmarks and buildings across the UK. On the 26th, the event itself will be hosted by Scarborough Borough Council. Meanwhile, up and down the country from Aberdeen to York, Armed Forces Day will be celebrated in a flurry of parades, family fun days and other activities both live and virtual. Here are just a few to whet your appetite:

Aberdeen: Armed Forces Day Parade

Featuring serving personnel, veteran associations, cadet and youth organizations. Local pipe bands and vintage military vehicles will parade down Union Street from Albyn Place to the Castlegate at 11:00.

Bicester: Town Council Family Fun Day

Family Fun Day in Pingle Field. Entertainment includes a dog show, music, cadet challenges and more.

Friskney: Tea at the Park

Lincolnshire Wildlife Park celebrates current and former Armed Forces personnel in a special event packed full of entertainment, afternoon tea, special offers and more.

Hinckley: Armed Forces Day Event and Parade

In partnership with the Hinckley Branch Royal British Legion and St Mary’s Church, this free event includes a parade and outdoor church service.

Lennoxtown: Bravehound Armed Forces Day Dog Show

An annual family event for the serving, veteran and civilian communities. Representatives from all three branches of the Armed Forces will be judging.

Ramsgate: FIGHT BACK Films Awards for Armed Forces

The Ramsgate International Film & TV Festival has created this international competition to encourage veterans to use filmmaking to combat PTSD and re-integrate into society.

You can find the full list of Armed Forces Day events here. For the more adventurous, you can even check the advice on running your own events on the main Armed Forces Day page.

At RIFT, we’re proud of our ties to the UK Armed Forces Community. To date, we’ve helped well over 55,000 military customers claim back almost £95 million in tax refunds. At the same time, our partnership with ABF The Soldiers’ Charity allows us to do even more, both through direct donations and supporting the charity’s projects.

Armed Forces Day is an amazing opportunity to recognise the work of UK military personnel. Check out the official page to find out how you can get involved this year.