Written by Kate Mizon
Armed Forces Community Programme Co-Lead
It’s been a fast-paced and energising start to the year for the Shaping Forces team. Following a short but purposeful pause to restructure the Armed Forces Community Programme, 2026 is shaping up to be the most productive and engaging year yet.
The year kicked off at the Shaping Portsmouth Annual Conference, a brilliant opportunity to connect with new businesses keen to understand the Armed Forces Covenant and what it truly means for the Armed Forces Community.
February brought a visit to Portsmouth Cadets on drill night, where the team were joined by Inspire Futures Ltd and met inspiring young people committed to personal development with the support of dedicated volunteers. In March, we hosted our first Reserve Night with 295 Battery, Royal Artillery (Portsmouth), which was another standout moment, giving partners and patrons the chance to get hands-on with equipment and experience how Reservists balance military training alongside civilian careers. We were also honoured to attend the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall, watching young cadets take to the stage alongside the Royal Marines Band – an unforgettable and inspiring experience.
The team has also taken on ‘Operation Bin Shed’, a glow-up project at St Mary’s Hospital, delivered in partnership with Art Up and generously funded by SLR Recruitment. Once complete, partners and patrons will be invited by the St Mary’s Armed Forces Network to see the transformation firsthand.
