In 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.
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Shell 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!”
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Two 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.
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Read moreIn March 2017 we had a brilliant week with 23 new veterans and 20 buddies, ans welcomed back Carl and Martin B to the veteran support desk. We were a little worried about the ski conditions as the Alps have had a terrible year and this ski week wasn’t starting until the 11th March, the latest in the season we have ever had. But true to form we picked the best week of the year, as the day before everyone arrived we had 65cms of fresh snow.
Read moreA blind veteran from Aldershort has pledged to run 100 miles per month this year, with the funds raised going to Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Andy Leitch, 42, was convinced to sign up to the ultra-challenge by Joey Sharma, a long-time supporter of the charity who also reignited Andy’s own passion for running.
Read moreTwo students living in Brighton are relishing their time spent volunteering for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Milena Murphy, 17 and currently at Brighton College, along with Dan Egelstaff, 18 and currently at Sussex University, started volunteering with the charity for separate reasons, though have each found the experience enriching and fulfilling far beyond their expectations.
Read moreOn Thursday 23 March, to mark the uniquely important role The Defence Medical Welfare Service plays in our society, they were delighted to welcome their Patron, Her Royal Highness, The Countess of Wessex GCVO, The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nick Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen and The Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mr Nigel Atkinson to the Charity’s Headquarters in Andover. The visit provided the perfect platform for highlighting the successes of the work undertaken and promoted the fantastic welfare support carried out every day. This is an organisation which is leading the way in professionalising the welfare space and which delivers an impact disproportionate to its size.
Read moreEducating businesses about the mental health treatment and support available to the veterans they employ is the focus of this year’s The Military Mind business symposium, sponsored by Thales UK.
Hosted by Combat Stress, the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans, the event on 9 May coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week and will explain how and why some ex-service personnel and reservists develop mental health issues, and what their employers can do to help support them at work.
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
