Home > News > Llanelli MP urges local groups to bid for Armed Forces Day event funding
  • Dame Nia Griffith MP hails service personnel in Llanelli and urges local groups to bid for Armed Forces Day event funding

Dame Nia Griffith, Member of Parliament for Llanelli, has pledged to support local community groups to bid for part of the grant funding the UK Labour government has made available for Armed Forces Day events across the United Kingdom.

Armed Forces Week supports the Government’s ambitions to deepen connection between society and our forces, delivering on the whole-of-society approach in the Strategic Defence Review.

The Labour Government will provide up to £500,000 of funding for Armed Forces Day celebrations across the country this summer.

And local MP, Dame Nia Griffith has urged community groups in Llanelli to apply for help to fund an Armed Forces Day event in their community. Every year, hundreds of local authorities, schools, sports clubs, community organisations and charities bring their communities together to celebrate service personnel and their contribution to our nation.

An Armed Forces Day event can include a community picnic or barbecue, musical performances, parades, stands run by local military units and veterans’ charities, hands-on experiences and talks by inspiring service personnel. Applications close on 30th March 2026.

This is the latest step in the Labour government’s promise to renew the nation’s commitment with those who serve. Labour is delivering on that promise with a record £9bn renewal and repair of forces’ housing; the biggest pay-rise in two decades; extending the armed forces covenant to deliver better services; and a landmark veterans’ strategy.

Confirming that they will back local bids in Llanelli, Dame Nia said:

“The people of Llanelli proudly back our armed forces community. I’m delighted this government is helping to fund these important events and I will do whatever I can to support local bids so our whole community can come together.”

“I regularly attend Armed Forces Day, Remembrance and other military events every year and I look forward to celebrating alongside our service personnel and our local communities in June.”

Labour’s Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said

“Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe. But they can’t do what they do without the support of their families, friends and communities across the country.

“In June we look forward to coming together as a proud nation to celebrate Armed Forces Day, and I want this funding to help make this year the best yet.

“If you back our Forces and want to thank them with a celebration in your local area, do apply for a grant and register your event with us so we can help you spread the word.”

  • This Armed Forces Day (27 June) is about celebrating and thanking our Armed Forces who are doing a brilliant job keeping the UK secure at home, and strong abroad. It also marks the culmination of a week of celebrations, beginning on Monday 22 June.
  • It is the second Armed Forces Day national event to take place since Labour reinstated it; it was halted by the Tories in 2023.
  • This Labour Government is distributing £500,000 worth of grants to support the nation’s Armed Forces Day events, with up to £10,000 available for each event.
  • Armed Forces Day events bring huge opportunity to our local communities. They attract tourism and inward investment, while showcasing the unique careers, job security and development opportunities that the British military can offer.
  • An Armed Forces Day event might include a community picnic or barbecue, musical performances, parades, stands run by local military units and veterans charities, hands-on experiences and talks by inspiring service personnel. Military bands can also be booked.
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