On Wednesday 4th February 2026, the Trust’s CEO, Gordon Hannah, attended the ‘Meeting the Needs’ Workshop, jointly hosted by Greenwich Hospital and the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) at the Senior Rates’ Mess, HMS Excellent, Portsmouth. This invitation‑only event brought together CEOs, delivery leads, serving Royal Navy personnel, military charities, and specialist organisations committed to supporting the Royal Navy and Royal Marines community.
Insight from the RAND Europe Study
The workshop centred on the findings of the RAND Europe Report: Meeting the Needs of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Communities, exploring the evolving pressures faced by serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Discussions focused on how future provision can be more effectively shaped around evidence‑based need, ensuring that funding and services keep pace with the realities of modern naval life.
Guest Speakers and Senior RN Representation
Alongside representatives from Greenwich Hospital and the RNRMC, the event was joined by Commodore Suzi Nielsen OBE, Deputy Director of People Delivery. As the senior Royal Navy representative, Cdre Nielsen offered valuable strategic insight into the People and Transformation agenda across the Service. Her contribution reinforced the importance of aligning charitable support with RN priorities, particularly in areas such as family resilience, wellbeing, housing, and transition.
Strengthening Collaboration Across the Naval Charity Sector
The workshop provided a platform to:
- Share sector‑wide perspectives from organisations funded by, or working in partnership with, Greenwich Hospital and the RNRMC.
- Launch a new pilot grant programme informed by the RAND evidence base.
- Explore opportunities for improved coordination across the naval charity ecosystem.
- Better align future funding streams to areas of greatest beneficiary need.
Speakers including Jonathan Ball (Director of Grants, Greenwich Hospital) and Mandy Lindley (Director of Relationships & Funding, RNRMC) emphasised their shared commitment to data‑driven decision‑making and improved collective impact across the Armed Forces charity landscape.
The Trust’s Role
The Trust’s participation ensured that the significant contribution of China Fleet Trust—particularly in wellbeing, resilience, accessible facilities, and family support—was represented in these forward‑looking conversations. Attendance also strengthened ongoing engagement with Greenwich Hospital and the RNRMC as both organisations refine their grant‑making strategies for 2026 and beyond.
