Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) and the Directory of Social Change (DSC) today (25 January) release the report Focus On: Armed Forces Charities’ Physical Health Provision, which reveals that 121 charities deliver services to at least 250,000 beneficiaries in the Armed Forces Community.
This ground-breaking research maps for the first time Armed Forces charities’ physical health support with the charities spending at least £103 million on physical health provision last year.
Read moreForces in Mind Trust (FiMT) has awarded £179,848 to Queen’s University Belfast to conduct a three-year, UK-wide study of the experiences of ex-Service personnel who have had an adverse transition back into civilian life.
The research will cover all four nations of the UK, and will look specifically at those who have ended up homeless, in prison or under mental health supervision.
The project aims to build on current knowledge regarding ‘pathways to failure’, and will do this through undertaking qualitative research to include two case studies of voluntary sector support provision, one in Birmingham, the other in Glasgow, as well as conducting interviews with ex-Service personnel, support staff, and with family members of those who have experienced a ‘negative transition’.
Read moreAfter a decade as Chief Executive Officer, Robert Robson has informed the Royal Navy and Royal Marines board that he intends to step down from the role during the summer of 2018.
The last decade has seen the charity established both inside the Service and on the national stage as the primary grantmaking and fundraising charity for its beneficiaries who serve or have served in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. With a focused strategy, a settled board and a team delivering well, the RNRMC is strongly positioned to expand and build on these firm foundations.
Read moreTim Evers, CEO of Sapper Support, one of our newest members, tells us about the charity and their plans for the future:
“Sapper support came into being after I learned that a friend of mine had taken his own life. He had unbeknown to us, been suffering from PTSD for some time, but as is the way, he kept it to himself. I was upset that he failed to, or thought he couldn’t, approach his friends for help. So, I looked into what help was available. The big charities were all well-established, but there seemed to be something missing….an oversight. There was no 24/7 helpline staffed solely by veterans.
Read moreThe Veterans Pain Clinic is free of charge to all veterans who are able to provide proof of service. The costs will be covered by the Hospitals’ Military Grants Fund charity.
The consultant is Dr Dominic Aldington. Having served in the Royal Army Medical Corps he was the Subject Matter Expert in Pain to the Surgeon General and was responsible for organising pain relief from the point of injury until a casualty left the service.
Read moreFollow this link to all the latest news from the Centre for Veterans’ Health
Read moreMike Saunders, 75, from Lowestoft, will spend the festive period with other vision-impaired ex-Service men and women at Blind Veterans UK’s Llandudno centre. Every year the charity invites beneficiaries who would otherwise have been alone at Christmas, like Mike, to spend the week at one of the charity’s training and rehabilitation centres.
Mike says: “It’s going to be great to spend Christmas with Blind Veterans UK. The staff seem to have a sixth sense because they always know what you need – they’re incredibly helpful and kind.”
Read moreThe Aged Veterans Project has recently been introduced in Herefordshire and Nottinghamshire. It is aimed at veterans aged 65 and over, their family members, dependents or carers to provide professional support that is tailored to their individual needs. The ex-Service community in the two councils has already greatly benefitted from the additional service available.
The project has been funded by the Aged Veterans fund and aims to improve the health and wellbeing of aged veterans, develop skills, reduce social isolation and enable independent living. The service is delivered by a consortium of organisations including Herefordshire Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Alzheimer’s Society, Herefordshire Veterans Support Group, The Cart Shed and the leader of the project the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS).
Read moreFollow the link to see Blesma’s Impact Video for 2017, filmed at this year’s Remembrance Parade in London. It is a brief summary of some of the highlights of what has been achieved over the past 12 months and a taster of what is to come in 2018.
Read moreThe first six months have received outstanding feedback. Launched in June, the Veterans’ Pain Clinic, part of the Centre for Veterans’ Health, at King Edward VII’s Hospital has been a great success.
The clinic is run at the Centre for Veterans’ Health, King Edward VII’s Hospital in association with Supporting Wounded Veterans. These appointments are free of charge – they just need your proof of service & a GP referral letter.
Read more
Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
