ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is delighted to award a £30,000 grant to Alabaré Christian Care & Support towards its ‘Boots on the Ground’ outdoors activity programme for veterans.
We regularly support charities which promote veterans’ mental health and wellbeing through outdoor activities. Alabaré, based across the South, Southwest and Wales, helps vulnerable people across the country and last year supported over 2,500 individuals across all its full range of homes and services.
‘Boots on the Ground’ promotes a pathway to recovery for veterans who have experienced homelessness, poverty, substance abuse and relationship breakdowns. The activities are designed and led by veterans and include organised walks, woodcraft, fishing, hiking and sailing. During the past year Alabaré has worked with 68 Army veterans on the programme.
Peter is a veteran who benefited from Alabaré’s support. He was living in one of the charity’s Homes for Veterans but suffered from crippling anxiety and feared large groups. Alabaré’s Boots on the Ground Facilitator invited Peter to join a short wellbeing walk and he later joined an Alabaré veterans group.
Peter said:
“Today I went right out of my comfort zone, but I am so glad that I did. I am feeling the best I have felt in a long time and am chuffed to have weekly sessions to look forward to. For some, what we did today may seem like tiny steps but for me they were massive.”
Andrew Lord, Chief Executive Alabaré, said:
“We are extremely grateful to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for its donation towards our Boots on the Ground programme for veterans. Our team are providing opportunities for veterans to take part in activities which make a huge difference to their mental, physical and emotional well-being and recovery. This generous funding from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity will enable us to continue offering this vital support.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, added:
“We are longstanding supporters of Alabaré and always proud to support its work helping to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of vulnerable veterans readjusting to civilian life. We were only too pleased to help fund the Boots on the Ground programme.”
Read more about Alabaré’s work here.
