In 2016/17 the OA helped 28 people with Care Home top-up fees, totalling £66,987.
With an ageing population, more people will spend their latter years in a Care Home. For many the costs can be unaffordable, including for those in the officer community. Depending on the circumstances, the OA may be able to provide funding towards paying Care Home top-up fees or for care at home.
Read moreHelp for Heroes has released new research which reveals that one in four (23 per cent) partners or family members of an Armed Services Veteran or Service Person state that their own wellbeing and mental health has been directly affected as a result of their family member’s situation. Many are suffering in silence with 16 per cent saying they would try to cope with any issues alone, with only 5 per cent saying they would seek help from a mental health professional.
Read moreSophie Faldo, winner of The Great British Bake Off 2017, surprised blind veterans with a cake and video message at a tea party hosted by a national military charity on ‘Blue Monday’ (15 January). The social event was organised by Blind Veterans UK at its London office to give its beneficiaries a smile on a day hailed as ‘the most depressing of the year’.
Sophie, a former Officer in the Royal Artillery and now a Reservist, baked a fondant cake for the event and recorded a video message for blind veterans in which she spoke of her own time in the Army.
Read moreA group of blind veterans have joined local boxers and trainers at the famous Brighton and Hove Amateur Boxing Club as part of a fitness week led by the charity Blind Veterans UK.
Seven vision-impaired ex-Service men and women visited the iconic boxing gym in Hove to train with three of the Hove ABC’s specialists including Scott Welch, retired professional boxer and former ABA Amateur Heavyweight Champion.
Read moreA blind civil servant from Barrow-in-Furness is training to complete a 100 kilometre walk for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Adrian Treharne MBE, 46 and born in Catterick Garrison, signed up to the event to satisfy a growing urge to test himself physically. He explains: “For a while now I’ve wanted to do some fundraising that’d allow me to push my body to the limit, and the 100k Yorkshire just seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Read moreScuba Diving rehabilitation charity Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education is honoured to announce that the charity has been shortlisted as a Finalist for the 2018 Soldiering On Awards.
Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education is shortlisted in the Healthcare & Rehabilitation category. Sponsored by Redwood Technologies Group, this Award will be given ‘in recognition of a person or team who have made a major contribution in the treatment of ill health or injury, or provided exceptional skill and commitment to healthcare treatment, recovery and rehabilitation of serving and former members of the Armed Forces Community.’
Read moreJust when you thought last year’s celebrations were all over and forgotten… here is a round-up of what Future for Heroes achieved in 2017.
129 individuals attended our 10 courses, 74% army, 14% RAF, 5% RN and 7% welfare organisation representatives/training support. Of which 82% were veterans, 10% serving and 8% partners.
The courses take place in The Lake District with The Brathay Trust. Affording among other attributes peace, tranquility and serenity.
Read moreAs plans progress to launch the new Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (VMH CTS) across England on 1 April 2018, NHS England has appointed the following providers:
-Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (covering Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and the South West of England)
-Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (covering South East of England and London)
-Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (covering the North of England).
The provider(s) for the Midlands and East of England will be announced over the next few weeks.
A military charity is challenging local residents to test their nerves in a daring fire walk.
On Saturday 28 April, Blind Veterans UK will be hosting the Worcester Fire Walk Challenge, a 15 feet walk over hot coals, at New College Worcester. The coals will reach temperatures of 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, 100 degrees more than it takes to melt aluminium.
Victoria Beech, Regional Fundraiser for Blind Veterans UK, says: “We love offering our supporters new and exciting ways in which they can fundraise for our charity.
Read moreA health care worker from Cornwall is training to complete a 100 kilometre walk in Yorkshire for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women that supports her father.
Sue Edwards, 49 and from Hayle, explains that the care the organisation has provided her father with fed her decision to fundraise on its behalf. She explains: “He became a beneficiary about 18 months and absolutely loves it. My mum too. They’ve been down to the charity’s Brighton centre three times already and always have a fantastic time!
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
