News

300,000 Veterans living with hearing loss in the UK – Legion urges veterans to seek help during deaf awareness week

The Royal British Legion is calling on the UK’s veteran community to seek help during Deaf Awareness Week, after finding that 300,000 ex-service personnel are living with hearing loss.

Whilst the life-changing issues of PTSD and limb loss are widely recognised as results of warfare and Service, relatively little attention has been given to the number of ex-service personnel living with hearing loss, or the support made available to them.

Hearing loss can have a profound effect an individual’s quality of life, and has been linked to depression, stress and loneliness as well as reduced physical and mental health.

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Combat Stress’ Deputy Treatment Centre Manager awarded prestigious Churchill Fellowship

The Deputy Treatment Centre Manager of Combat Stress’ centre in Scotland has received a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to visit the US and Canada to see how they’re supporting families of veterans with mental health problems.

Hayley Thompson, who works at the charity’s treatment centre Hollybush House in Ayr, will spend six weeks in the autumn studying what support is available to partners and carers of veterans in North America.

Among the organisations she’s hoping to meet is a US helpline that educates, supports and empowers family members and friends seeking support for a veteran.

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New FiMT Award: Swansea University awarded funds to better understand levels of gambling in ex-Service personnel

Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) has awarded Swansea University £279,503 to undertake the first ever UK survey to understand and explore the levels of gambling participation and attitudes to gambling in ex-Service personnel.

International evidence reveals a hidden gambling problem among ex-Service personnel but there is a lack of relevant data as to the nature and extent of gambling problems in UK Armed Forces Service-leavers.

This two-and-a-half-year study aims to identify how ex-Service personnel may be more vulnerable to developing issues with gambling than the wider population, and estimate any resultant healthcare costs by exploring the relationship between financial management and mental health problems.

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Widnes blind veteran to take on 22-mile walk along D-Day beaches for military charity

A blind veteran from Widnes is currently training for a 22-mile walk along on the Normandy coastline to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day.

Carl Adamson, 44, will take part in the event alongside five other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women. The challenge will take place on 6 June, the anniversary of the 1944 Allied invasion of occupied France.

Carl says: “I’ve been training on the North Wales costal path, which I think should put me in good stead for the Normandy beaches.

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Nicky is Legion’s first Admiral Nurse in Bradford

The Royal British Legion has appointed Nicky Addison to be the charity’s first community Admiral Nurse in Bradford, providing support to carers of those with dementia living within the Armed Forces community.

Nicky, 44, from a village near Ripon, previously worked as an Admiral Nurse for a local charity in North Yorkshire. She qualified in 2003 as a Registered Mental Health Nurse and has spent 14 years working with older people.

Nicky said: “This is a completely new service for Bradford. One in three people over the age of 65 will be diagnosed with dementia and, because we 35,000 potential beneficiaries in Bradford, that gives you an idea of the level of need.

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Calling Notice – Cenotaph Remembrance Parade 11th November 2018 – Headley Court Charity

The Headley Court Charity was established in 1940 and in 1947 decided to acquire the estate at Headley Court in Surrey for the purpose of providing a facility for the medical rehabilitation of pilots and aircrew of the Royal Air Force. The facility opened in 1949 and the objects of the charity have since expanded to provide medical rehabilitation for all members of the armed forces.

This year the clinical facility will move to a new purpose built facility at Stanford Hall in the East Midlands and the MOD will vacate Headley Court.

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Scottish Veterans Commissioner calls for a reinvigorated approach to veterans’ healthcare in Scotland and more ambition and innovation in meeting their long-term needs

SCOTLAND – In his latest report published today (Wednesday April 24), The Scottish Veterans Commissioner has called for a return to the days of more attention, ambition and innovation in meeting the long-term health and social care needs of Scotland’s veterans’ community.

While Eric Fraser acknowledges that there is much to be proud of in the provision of treatment and support to veterans by statutory and charity bodies, he has concluded that there is a need for rekindled national leadership and for consistent, long-term funding to protect specialist services for the lifetime of veterans.

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Former Lieutenant Commander speaks passionately about DMWS support

Dr Matthew Kiernan, a former Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander, is passionate about helping ex-servicemen and women. He was medically retired on health grounds and is now an Associate Professor Mental Health and Veterans Studies, and leads the Northern Hub for Military Veterans and Families’ Research at Northumbria University in Newcastle. In his current role he is developing a Map of Need and an app that will make it easier for veterans to find information about the health and social care services available to them. Paul Gaffney, CEO of the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) met with Matthew at the charity’s headquarter yesterday, to discuss current veteran and military family research projects.

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Afghanistan support

In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here