Andy Allen MBE, MLA
Soldiering On Award Winner, 2018
Andy joined the Royal Irish Regiment in 2006 at the age of 17. In March 2008, he deployed to Afghanistan, where he sustained multiple horrific injuries as a result of a Taliban improvised explosive device (I.E.D) blast on July 14 2008.
One of Andy’s colleagues who was wearing a chest cam at the time caught the horrific incident on camera. The footage was later used in the BAFTA award-winning documentary ‘Wounded’ that followed his recovery and rehabilitation journey.
With true grit and determination, Andy rebuilt his life and further utilised his adversity and experiences to go and help others. He helped to found AA Veterans’ Support in 2011 – A service charity that responds to the needs of those who serve or have served, and their families throughout Northern Ireland. AAVS provides many vital support services under the one roof – In their ‘drop in, treatment and training’ centre, in Belfast.
In 2014, Andy entered politics, going on to be elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Northern Ireland in May 2016 and re-elected in March 2017. He was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours.
He lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland, with his wife Natalie and their three Children.
