London Met is supporting the work of armed forces charity SSAFA, who have highlighted the University’s work in a special commemorative publication.
Date: 07 May 2020
London Met is proud to be an official patron of the VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations, and to support the work of SSAFA (the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association), a charity which provides lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families.
The University’s rich and varied history features in a special commemorative album from SSAFA to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, which showcases how it has improved the lives of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups, both in London and around the world. London Met is proud to formally commemorate VE Day, which reflects the University’s own values of internationalism, peace and alliances across Europe and further afield.
In an interview in the book, Demetria Maratheftis, Head of Marketing at London Met said, “social mobility has always been the aim of the university. The beating heart of all of this is about making sure people from disadvantaged areas have a chance to grow, from an educational point of view, to improve their lives and get themselves into great careers.”
She added, “our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lynn Dobbs, is a true change-maker. Her vision is to give back to the whole of London by supporting students and empowering the labour market, as well as internationalising the university by building partnerships with others across the globe.”
Funds raised through sponsorship and sales of the special VE Day 75 publication will help to support SSAFA’s vital services providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families. Drawing on first-hand accounts, news reports from the time, and SSAFA’s own archives the history of VE Day and the people’s personal stories from the day have been researched and written by SSAFA’s in-house Researcher and Content Developer Selina Cuff, with further contributions from other experts including royal correspondent Robert Jobson.
Due to COVID-19, a concert at the Royal Albert Hall that had been planned to honour the occasion will now be live-streamed as a series of special programmes and will feature artists including Katherine Jenkins, Beverley Knight and Adrian Lester. The events will begin with an address from the Queen, commemorating the anniversary, and Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and London Met alumnus, introducing the live-stream.
