VE Day 80: Write letters to a Second World War veteran
VE Mail, part of the VE Day 80 commemorations, is a unique opportunity for young people to learn first-hand about a shared story which connects the past, present and future.
Eighty years on since the end of the Second World War in Europe, youth groups and schools across the country are invited to request a letter from a living veteran to be sent to their children and young people.
Young people are then encouraged to write back to the veteran to say thank you, reflect on what VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) means to them now and how they'll preserve the legacy of the veterans.
First hand accounts
In 1945, people across the UK and beyond shared their stories of the war, leading up to the first VE Day on 8 May, by writing to friends, family and loved ones. These letters are a legacy of their experiences.
Today, eighty years on, children and young people in schools and youth organisations are invited to hear directly from these same people who lived and fought during the Second World War.
The VE Mail letter-exchange activity will be a moment young people will remember – seeing how the past affects their futures.
How you can get involved
Scout Groups and Sections can register to request a letter from a Second World War veteran. You'll be asked to input how you want the letter addressed. This should refer to the Section or Group (such as 1st Anytown Cubs) you'd like the letter to be written to.
As a leader, you can then read the letter to the young people and encourage them to write thank you letters back to the veteran. You could do this as an activity during your section meeting.
On your letter from the veteran, they'll be details of where to send your thank you letters back to and any information you need to enclose with your letters.
As the veterans will receive a high volume of letters, we can’t guarantee a response back to the group after you’ve sent your letters – but all letters will be read.
Connecting with personal stories
By receiving and reading their special letter, young people will connect to the personal story of the veteran. They'll gain new insight and understanding as to what VE meant to our nation back in 1945 and why it still matters today.
I’m proud to support the VE Mail campaign as part of VE Day 80 commemorations. This is such a great opportunity for all young people across the UK to learn from the experiences and values of our veterans. By sharing stories and letters, we’re not only honouring these remarkable individuals, but also making sure their legacy endures and inspires future generations. It’s vital that our young people understand and appreciate the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy today, and the VE Mail campaign serves as a powerful testament to that commitment. This is truly an intergenerational learning opportunity and I'd love to see all communities across the UK get involved.
Dwayne Fields, Chief Scout
Commemorating VE Day
We've got plenty more details on how Scouts are commemorating VE Day. To find out how you can take part, visit our Commemorating VE Day page.
FAQs
VE Mail is open to any primary or secondary school or youth organisation in the UK.
Scout Groups and Sections can register to request a letter from a Second World War veteran.
Letters will be sent out within two weeks of your request.
When you sign up for VE Mail, you'll be given a link for a VE Mail Learning Pack. This'll give you lesson ideas and activities you can do with young people in the lead up to your VE Mail landing on your door step.
You'll share the letter with your young people and encourage them to write back thank you letters for the veteran. You could do this as an activity during a Scout meeting.
On your letter from the Veteran, there'll be details of where to send your thank you letters back to and any information you need to enclose with your letters. But don’t worry, enclosed with the letters is step by step guidance to help you.
VE Mail is a unique opportunity for young people to connect with World War Two veterans by hearing their first-hand stories and reflections on VE Day.
Through letter exchanges, this initiative brings history to life, fostering personal connections while preserving a lasting legacy 80 years after the war.
It offers veterans the recognition they deserve and provides a meaningful way for students to engage with the lessons of World War Two.
By taking part, schools and youth organisations contribute to a once-in-a-lifetime project that makes sure future generations continue to learn from and honour those who served.
There are a wide range of opportunities for schools to engage with VE and VJ Day 80 as part of the Our Shared Story Education Programme.
To find out more, sign up to download the education toolkit here.
You can also take part in a locally organised event on 5 May 2025 or plan something for the day itself on 8 May 2025.
Visit the VE-VJ Day 80 Schools page for inspiration and ideas.
The Together Coalition will hold your data from the sign up form (your name, email address, school/organisation name) solely for the purpose of contacting you about VE80 and VE Mail.
Your data will not be shared with other third party organisations.
After the campaign ends at the end of May 2025, your data will be deleted from its database.