Follow this link to a round-up of all things Blesma in the last month.
Read moreFollow this link to a round-up of all things Blesma in the last month.
Read moreYesterday, Stoll welcomed Alexander Mann Solutions, along with Walking With The Wounded and RFEA, to a skills day at Fulham Mansions. Around seven members of staff from Alexander Mann Solutions offered CV writing and interview preparation to support Veterans into employment. Over 25 Veterans attended the day and found it extremely helpful.
Read moreThe Health of Veterans’ Research Team (HVRT) at King Edward VII’s (KEVII) Hospital is a new research group established to conduct literature reviews on veterans’ health. The HVRT has just launched their website which will act as an online research resource on veterans’ health by providing literature reviews, exclusive data, as well as news updates. Their website acts as a portal for sourcing information on the health of veterans, and also details more about the team and their current and future research projects. You can access it on https://hvrt-mac-veteranshealth.org/.
Read moreIt was in 2012, following a car accident, that the doctors found a brain tumour behind Steven’s eye during an MRI scan. Following its removal, Steven would lose part of his sight. Unfortunately for Steven, a second tumour developed, again behind his eyes, with Steven losing yet more of his eye sight. He says: “I can currently see about three inches in front of my face, with no peripheral vision.”
While Steven, who joined the army at 16 as a Junior Leader, received plenty of advice on how best to cope with his sight loss, he maintains that it wasn’t until he got involved with Blind Veterans UK that he began receiving the practical support he felt necessary to lead an independent life again.
Read moreThe Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) held two South of England briefing events, the first in Portsmouth on Thursday 30th and the second in Andover on Friday 31st March, which were attended by over 55 people in total. Attendees came from a wide range of sectors including the Armed Forces Community and the Armed Forces charity sector as well as other key stakeholders and interested parties who work to support ex-Service personnel, and their families.
Read moreNHS England has launched improved mental health services for veterans in response to a national engagement undertaken last year. The views of veterans and their families have helped to inform a service that builds on the success of previous provision and seeks to provide increased access to local care and treatment across the country in a more uniformed manner. This includes recognising the early signs of mental health problems and providing access to early treatment and support, as well as therapeutic treatment for complex mental health difficulties and psychological trauma. Patients are also provided with help, where appropriate, with employment, reduction in alcohol consumption, housing and social support.
Read moreIn 2017, Mission Motorsport is celebrating its 5th Anniversary. The Forces’ Motorsport Charity was launched at Thruxton Motor Circuit in 2012 in order to help those affected by military operations by engagement through sport. Since its inception, the charity has seen impressive growth, and has delivered over 3000 training days of sport for over 850 beneficiaries, leading to over 200 placements, and nearly 90 jobs.
Read moreShell Shock is presented by Smokescreen Productions and supported by the Sussex Armed Forces Network, Anglia Ruskin University, Help For Heroes, Combat Stress and PTSD Resolution.
In the autumn of 2016 the Chancellor awarded this project a grant from the LIBOR fund to enable us to develop the production and embark on a number of venues in late spring / early summer 2017.
Shell Shock is one soldier’s story of coping with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. After serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tommy Atkins’ observations on life on civvy street are poignant, frequently comic and always moving. His over-emotional responses to post office queues, a trip to Ikea, his relationships and family lead to alienation and anger.
Read moreA blind veteran from Knott End-On-Sea has been able to reignite his passion for golf thanks to Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Myke Worthington, 55 and originally from Cheshire, was an avid player before his sight began to deteriorate and had all but resigned himself to the possibility that he’d never play again. He says: “I started receiving support from the charity in 2014 and if I’m honest, I didn’t think that playing golf would be something I’d be able to do again. I’ve got Retinitis Pigmentosa and wet macular degeneration and as a result I’m blind in my left eye with only half vision in my right. I’m also colour blind which meant the snooker career had to be put on hold too!”
Read moreTwo inspiring American and British wounded veterans – Karl Hinett and Ivan Castro – are running the 2017 Boston Marathon on 17 April and the Virgin Money London Marathon on 23 April (that’s two marathons in a week!), side-by-side, in support of The Royal Foundation’s Heads Together campaign. They will be raising funds and awareness of the issue of military mental health for both UK and US veterans with funds raised in the UK going to Contact, a Heads Together Charity Partner and coalition of leading military mental health organisations including Help for Heroes and Walking with the Wounded.
Read moreAfghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here