Armed Forces Day 2026 Military, Blue Light & Cadet Application
  • Military, Blue Light & Cadet Application - Armed Forces Day 2026

    Saturday 4th July 10am-4:30pm
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  • Salute Our Forces.....

    Wakefield Armed Forces Day is a day of celebration!

    This hugely popular, free event will take place on Saturday 4th July 2026, 10am to 4:30pm in the beautiful grounds of Pontefract Park.

    Designed to celebrate and honour the contributions and sacrifices of both serving and veteran members of the armed forces, as well as the broader services of military personnel. This event will feature a variety of activities, including military display, the veterans’ parade, military stands and activities inside and outside the arena, providing an up-close look at the capabilities and traditions of the armed forces.

    Additionally, attendees can enjoy an array of food trucks, community stalls, funfair and a craft market, offering a chance to relax, shop, and savour local flavours.

     

  • Application Information

  • * Please read thoroughly even if you have attended the event before *

    We're excited to invite you to apply for a space at our upcoming Armed Forces Day located at Pontefract Park.

    This application form is aimed at military, blue light and cadet organisations looking to raise awareness, connect with visitors at the event and provide an up-close look at the capabilities and traditions of the armed forces. Please ensure you explain your intentions and aims for standing at the event in the form below.

    Pitch Location

    You will be located within the grounds of Pontefract Park. 

    Applicants must be able to provide their own structure. Please ensure you state within your application the size of your structure, how it will be weighted and some images if possible. 

    Please note that you are responsible for bringing all necessary equipment to operate your unit/stall, such as tables.

    Fee

    There is no charge for military, blue light or cadet groups.

    Power

    There is no power available at this event site. 

    Parking

    The event site provides a free contractors' parking area. Parking details will be shared with successful applicants.

    Application Criteria

    Wakefield Council is committed to partnership working and therefore we have a limited number of free of charge event spaces to offer to services and organisations based within the Wakefield District whose aims, and objectives meet or compliment our own.

    Through our events and festivals, we aim to:

    • Support residents to improve their own health and wellbeing
    • Contribute to a stronger local economy
    • Support residents to increase their skills, experience, and confidence levels to achieve their potential

    Pitch spaces will be allocated to military, cadet and blue light applicants as a priority over other applicants (traders, food vendors, charity/community groups etc.).

    Incidental non-commercial lottery

    Lotteries at events do not require a licence but you must make sure you follow the rules to run an incidental non-commercial lottery legally. This includes tombola, raffles, and sweepstakes.

    You can only run an incidental lottery to raise money for charity, not for private gain.

    Please refer to the Gambling Commission website for further guidance and information on operating a non-commercial incidental lottery legally. How to run a fundraiser with lotteries or raffles at events (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)

    Charitable Collections

    If you are a registered charity and you wish to fundraise at the event or sign people up for direct debit payments you are permitted to do this at your stand only and are not allowed to walk around the event site with charity collection tins or charity collection buckets.

    If you intend to undertake a street collection you must outline this in your application as you will need to obtain permission to do so and apply for a license.

    You are not permitted to sell or giveaway any food or drink items (including alcohol). 

    Supporting Documentation

    All applications must be accompanied by the following documentation:

    Public Liability Insurance                                                                         

    A copy of your Public Liability Insurance Certificate (the Council requirement is a minimum of £5 million cover). Please note this is different to Employers’ Liability Insurance.

    Risk Assessment

    Businesses with less than 5 employees are not legally required to have a risk assessment. If you employ 5 or more employees you will need to submit a risk assessment.

    Please refer to HSE website for more information: https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/index.htm 

    Stall holders serving food or drink must have undertaken a risk assessment for allergen management and have full, effective procedures in place to control the risk of food intolerances or allergy. For more information, please see Allergen guidance for food businesses | Food Standards Agency 

    Your risk assesment must include a section for the structure you will be trading from including, set up, derig & adverse weather conditions. 

     

    Application Closing Date 

    Applications will close at 11:45pm on Sunday 12th April 2026

    Notification of Application

    All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Monday 27th April 2026.

     

  • Application Form

  • Application Criteria

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  • Documentation

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  • Terms & Conditions

  • The Council are responsible for the organisation of the event and the applicant has agreed to take the licence to occupy the pitch on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

    Please ensure you read and comply with the terms and conditions outlined as this will form your contract with Wakefield Council.

    1.  Event Opening Times

    The event will be open to the public from 10am to 4:30pm on Saturday 4th July 2026.

    Please note you must stay on site until the event has finished. Gazebos & stalls must not be packed down prior to the event finishing time unless agreed with the event manager. 

    2.  Set Up and Clear Down

    Access to site for set up is between 7am and 9am on Saturday 4th July. 

    Access to site for clear down is from 5pm on Saturday 4th July. 

    3.  Location of Gazebo

    The Council reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to relocate the gazebo within the event footprint if deemed necessary for the benefit of the event, attendees, or for health and safety reasons. Please note that space allocations are non-negotiable.

    4.  Manning of Gazebo

    Gazebos must be manned by a responsible person and remain open during event operating hours.

    5.  Goods

    Only items approved by Wakefield Council will be displayed, sold and/or promoted at the event. 

    6.  Servicing

    All vehicles must be removed immediately after loading, with the final call for vehicle departure from the event site by 9:30am.

    The site will be open to the public from 10:00am to 4:30pm, during which time no vehicles are allowed on the park. Any replenishing of stock, if needed, must be done manually (by hand).

    7.  Allocated Space & Storage

    Building out beyond the limitations of the allocated pitch area will not be permitted. This includes building out to the front, sides and back of gazebo/unit. Additional space is not available to purchase.

    8.  Cancellation

    If the event is cancelled for any reason, Wakefield Council will not be held liable for any consequential losses, including but not limited to, loss of earnings resulting from the cancellation.

    9.  Insurance/Indemnity

    You shall provide evidence of adequate Public Liability Insurance (minimum £5 million) which must be valid to cover the dates of the event. You are liable for all claims arising from the conduct of your services/unit and shall indemnify the Council against any third party claims arising as a result of providing the service. Please note this is not Employers’ Liability Insurance.

    10. Food, Drink & Alcohol sales

    You are not permitted to sell or giveaway food, drink or alcohol at this event.

    11. Music

    Playing of music from your gazebo is not permitted.

    12. Security

    The area is not covered by CCTV, however there will be a security team on site. 

    You are responsible for the security of your property whilst on site.

    13. Litter

    Wakefield Council wants our vendors to take greater responsibility for reducing litter and non-recyclable waste at the Armed Forces Day event so our visitors can enjoy the event in a safe and litter-free environment. To achieve this Wakefield Council will provide general waste, recycling, and euro bins. These will be accessible, visible, and clearly labelled throughout the event site. Please note – our bins do not accept glass or hazardous waste such as batteries, aerosols, paint, solvents, and oils/oil drums.

    All litter left around the gazebo must be cleared at the end of the event. Please ensure you use the bins detailed above and not the public bins.

    14. Electrical equipment, Gas Appliances & Generators

    There is no power provided for you on site.

    Generators are permitted however we do specify that these are diesel and silent. With prior consent successfu; applicants may use diesel, silenced and properly guarded equipment that is serviced and complies with all relevant health and safety regulations.

    Stall holders must ensure all electrical equipment has been PAT tested and provide current documentary evidence. If the stall holder is using gas appliances they must provide evidence of a gas safety certificate (carried out by a qualified gas safe registered engineer). You are reminded of the health and safety requirements and controls that should be in place where the use of generators or gas cylinders are used. For more information, please see cieh-national-guidance-for-outdoor-and-mobile-catering.pdf. You also required to ensure that your stall/business complies with wider Health and Safety regulations, please refer to the HSE website Health and safety topics (hse.gov.uk)

    15. Water 

    Wakefield Council do not provide stall holders with access to water, any water required must be supplied and managed by the stall holder. 

    16. Conduct

    The stall holder shall conduct the sale of their products in a proper, efficient and courteous manner and must at all times conduct their sales in a manner satisfactory to the Council.

    17.  Management

    The stall holder shall observe and comply with and ensure its staff observe and comply with all instructions given by or on behalf of the Council’s management and the Council’s rules and regulations.

    18. Parking

    Free contractor parking will be available at this event.

    19. Sub-Contracting/Gazebo Sharing

    Sub-contracting, sub-letting or the sharing of a gazebo or any part of a gazebo is strictly forbidden. We expect the group/unit/service provider applying to be the group/unit/service running and managing the unit on site.

  • Data Protection

  • Wakefield Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. We may share information internally and externally with other organisations responsible for auditing, or administering public funds, or where undertaking a public function, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

    We may also disclose information to a Specified Anti-Fraud Organisation for the purpose of preventing fraud under Section 68 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.

    Our GDPR Transparency is notice available on our website here: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/media/itiefmc5/jotform-events-and-festivals-application-privacy-notice.docx

    For further information visit https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/about-the-council/budget-and-spending/fighting-fraud. 

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