Celebrating VE Day’s 80th Anniversary

May 8th 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day, a time to honour the bravery, resilience, and unity of those who lived through WWII. Asda Foundation are proud to support local communities as they come together to remember, reflect, and celebrate peace.

We are excited to shine a light on the incredible community spirit that lives on today. Today, we’re celebrating four amazing local groups we’ve supported through our grants — each playing a special role in honouring our history and bringing people together to remember, reflect, and unite.

Trafford Veterans support and signpost armed forces veterans, emergency services, reservists, members of the cadet forces and their families. The group aim to tackle social isolation and aid those struggling to make ends meet.

We previously supported them with one of our Investing in Spaces and Places grants for £24,695. Funding received was used to transform a van into a mobile hub, enabling them to access areas of the community where people could not reach them before. Services like this offer a support system, improving mental health and encouraging connections within the community.

Claire and Chris have run Trafford Veterans CIC for ten years on 8th May 2025, also the 80th anniversary of VE Day. They have helped so many local veterans and their families. They run several groups; a game group, model craft group, breakfast blub, warm hub, the Mobile Hub Vehicle that was funded via an Asda Foundation Investing in Spaces and Places grant, and so much more. Claire and Chris have served for our country and it’s a pleasure to know them. They work so hard and deserve the world for what they do in our community.

Catharine Arnold, Community Champion, Trafford Park

They also received one of our Celebrating Communities grants for £1000, via Asda Trafford Park. This funding was used to host a celebratory event to mark the 60^th birthday of Asda, with breakfast, tea, coffee, juice and decorations. This event serves the purpose of bringing the community together, providing peer support and signposting, and to celebrate the continued support of the Asda Foundation.

Norma, volunteer for Trafford Veterans, was nominated as a ‘Community Diamond’ by Catharine, Asda Trafford Park’s Community and Customer Champion.

Norma is a Diamond and volunteers at The Trafford Veterans Warm Hub, Trafford Veterans Breakfast club, The Toy House Flixton and also helps her daughter with her small business. Norma always has a smile on her face and cheers everyone up and listens to everyone. Norma is amazing and never fails to come along to all the events. She is amazing.

Catharine Arnold, Community Champion, Asda Trafford Park

Norma’s grandson, Jake, also works at Asda Trafford Park, we asked how he views her volunteer work.

My nanna is amazing, kind and selfless. She loves baking but as she volunteers all week helping others at Trafford Veterans, The Toy House and lunch with her friends, she never gets time to. She will always help others. Her son is also serving in the Forces.

Jake Kennedy, Asda Trafford Park

Barry Veterans Group supports Military Veterans and their families. They are a non-profit group, run by Veterans for Veterans. They host a weekly breakfast group, day trips, social evenings and much more. By offering a welcoming space for like-minded people, they provide opportunities to socialise and a safe space to open up about mental health and wellbeing.

They recently received one of our Outdoor Community Spaces grants for £1,175, via Asda Barry. Funding will be used to purchase gardening tools and equipment, paint, plants, fencing and tables. Revamping their outdoor space offers members the chance to connect with nature, which can be beneficial to mental wellbeing.

Valley Veterans provide mental health and physical support to vulnerable ex-Armed Forces members.

The group previously received funding via one of our Investing in Spaces and Places grants for £11,392, via Asda Tonypandy. Funding was used to refurbish their community hub, creating a welcoming multi-use space for members to use as a meeting space, or to relax.

Veterans Response CIC is a veteran-led organisation, dedicated to empowering and supporting veterans in South Tyneside. Their holistic approach aims to address the complex challenges veterans face as they transition back to civilian life. They provide a range of services, from a foodbank to housing support, to social events, to physical and mental health support.

They received one of our Outdoor Community Spaces grants for £2,700 via Asda South Shields. Their funding will be used to transform their allotments into an accessible space by installing raised gardening beds, birdboxes and bug hotels as well as for the purchase of gardening gloves and tools, seeds and plants.  The space not only provides a connection with nature but empowers Veterans to contribute to a shared project, and any food grown will be distributed to veterans and their families in need through their food bank service, increasing access to fresh, healthy produce.

As we honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served, we’re deeply moved by the incredible work of the community groups we support. Through heartfelt remembrance events, companionship, daily support, and meaningful celebrations; they bring comfort, joy, and a sense of belonging to our Veterans. These moments may seem small, but to those who gave so much, they mean everything. Thank you to all the amazing groups we have supported over the years for making such a powerful difference to the lives of Veterans — your compassion helps keep their legacy alive.