Through social media volunteering, I support veterans and the Royal Artillery Association Wrexham branch by strengthening their digital presence and communication.
This work is about connection, respect, and using my skills to genuinely support communities that matter. That is why I am proud to volunteer with the Royal Artillery Association Wrexham branch, helping to build a clear, welcoming, and consistent online presence.
Through my business, Vicki Admin Fairy, I provide practical admin and digital support that helps organisations communicate effectively and stay connected. Volunteering these skills allows me to give something meaningful back to the Armed Forces community.
This role brings together my professional expertise, my family history, and my lived connection to military life.
A personal connection to the Armed Forces
My grandfather served in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War. Like so many of his generation, he served with distinction, quiet determination, and an unwavering sense of duty. His service has always stayed with me and shaped how I view remembrance, respect, and community.
My connection to the Armed Forces is not just historical. I am married to an RAF veteran. Steve served for 12 years. Living alongside military life gives you a deep appreciation of the commitment involved, not only from those in uniform, but from their families as well.
The Royal Regiment of Artillery. Ubique. Everywhere.
Founded in 1716, the Royal Regiment of Artillery has served in every conflict the British Army has been involved in, earning the Battle Honour Ubique, meaning Everywhere.
Also known as the Gunners, the Royal Artillery provides the British Army with its eyes, ears, and firepower. Through the use of high tech surveillance equipment and uncrewed aircraft, they locate and monitor the enemy before striking decisively. This is achieved through the coordinated use of guns, rockets, and missiles, alongside Army attack helicopters, fast jets, and even the guns of Royal Navy ships.
The importance of remembrance and honouring those who served is something I have written about previously when commemorating the 80th anniversary of D Day and remembering all the heroes of June 6, 1944.
The wider Royal Artillery community
The Royal Artillery Association sits within a proud regimental family, focused on comradeship, welfare, and the preservation of the history and traditions of the Royal Artillery.
Local branches are the heartbeat of this community. They provide connection, shared understanding, and practical support at a local level, helping veterans stay connected long after their service has ended.
Supporting the Wrexham branch through skills based volunteering
Local branches rely heavily on volunteers who already give a great deal of time and energy. Alongside this, social media, event promotion, and digital communication have become essential, yet they can easily add to the pressure on small volunteer teams.
By volunteering my professional skills, I am helping the Wrexham branch improve visibility, communicate clearly, strengthen engagement, and maintain a welcoming and consistent online presence. This support allows branch volunteers to focus their time where it matters most, supporting members and building strong community connections.
What being a member of the Royal Artillery Association offers veterans
Membership of the Royal Artillery Association provides veterans with continued connection to the regimental family long after service has ended. It offers a sense of belonging among people who share similar experiences and understand service life without the need for explanation.
Through local branches, members can access comradeship, social connection, and welfare support at a community level. Branches organise regular events and gatherings, offering opportunities to reconnect, stay involved, and build meaningful relationships with others who have served.
The Association also supports veterans through guidance, signposting to welfare services, and access to practical help when it is needed. For many, it provides reassurance that support is available, whether for themselves or for fellow members.
Above all, membership offers continuity. It helps ensure that no one feels isolated after service and that the values, history, and shared experiences of the Royal Artillery continue to be recognised and respected.
Recognition at Association level
Dickie Davies, Association Secretary based at Royal Artillery Association headquarters at Larkhill Garrison, is responsible for the development and growth of the Association and works closely with the admin staff on the day to day running of the organisation.
He has shared that any outside expertise should be utilised to the benefit of local branches and has described me as an asset who is well placed to support the Wrexham branch. He has also said that he looks forward to meeting me in person.
Why this volunteering matters to me
This work brings together everything that matters to me in a very real way.
It allows me to honour my grandfather’s service in the Royal Artillery and to recognise the quiet strength, commitment, and resilience that defined his generation. Those values have stayed with me and continue to shape how I view service, responsibility, and community.
It also reflects my lived experience as the wife of an RAF veteran. My husband served for 12 years, and sharing military life gives you a deep understanding of the dedication involved, not only from those in uniform, but from the families who support them. That understanding stays with you long after service ends.
Volunteering my skills is my way of giving something practical back to the Armed Forces community. It allows me to contribute in a way that feels useful, respectful, and grounded, using the experience I have built over time to support connection and communication.
For me, this is about showing respect not just in words, but through meaningful, consistent action.
Looking ahead
This volunteering role with the Royal Artillery Association Wrexham branch is just the beginning. With clearer communication and stronger visibility, the branch is well placed to continue growing its reach, strengthening connections, and supporting its members for years to come.
Get involved with the Wrexham Branch
If you are a Forces veteran and would like to reconnect, find support, or become part of a welcoming local military community, please get in touch.
Click here to follow the Wrexham Branch facebook page
Contact the Branch Secretary
Dave Shepard
secretary@wrexhamraa.org
Sometimes reaching out is the first step. You will be met with respect, shared understanding, and a strong sense of belonging.