A team from scuba diving rehabilitation charity Deptherapy has recently returned from their largest ever and most successful programme yet.
14 wounded in service veterans, all suffering from life changing mental and/or physical injuries, took part in the Deptherapy programme in May at Roots Red Sea, El Quseir, Egypt.
Six veterans successfully completed the PADI Open Water course with five of these continuing on to qualify as PADI Advanced Open Water Divers during the week.
Read moreA blind veteran from Hampshire who has been invited to compete in the inaugural Holman Prize has reached the final round.
Penny Melville-Brown OBE, from Fareham, has been selected as one of the 11 finalists from over 200 original entries. Run by the San Francisco Lighthouse organisation, three winners will be awarded $25,000 to achieve their ambitions. Penny’s goal is to cook across six continents with her online Baking Project, Baking Blind.
Read moreA research seminar bringing world-renowned experts together to discuss sight loss was held in London this week (24/05). The “Life Beyond Sight Loss” Seminar was the first in a series looking at various research and innovation ideas in relation to blind veterans.
The seminar was part of an exchange programme called Project Gemini where members of the US organisation the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) will be visiting Britain to join Blind Veterans UK this week.
Read moreTwo members of staff from a national military charity have driven through an incredible 24 countries in just five days. The funds raised will be going to the blind veterans their charity supports.
Chief of Staff, Nathan Muirhead and Head of Transport, Chris Kirk are both employees of Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaierd ex-Service men and women.
The drive, which took place from Monday 8 – Friday 12 May, saw Nathan and Chris take in an incredible 24 countries, including but not limited to, France, Switzerland, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and Turkey. Chris says: “It was a huge challenge.
Read moreThe RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, has announced the extension of its telephone friendship group service after a successful year-long pilot. The programme, open to ex-serving personnel and their dependants, connects like-minded people together over the phone, providing vital human contact that is often taken for granted.
The pilot scheme began in July 2016 using guests from the RAF Benevolent Fund’s respite home on the south coast, Princess Marina House. The trial involved three groups consisting of up to seven people per group, all of whom were over the age of 65.
Read moreService Leavers who are likely to struggle to adapt to civilian life should be identified by the Ministry of Defence before they leave the Armed Forces and offered tailored support to help transition effectively, according to two Veterans’ organisations. Armed Forces charities Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) and Stoll, the leading provider of supported housing for Veterans, are calling for services to be developed across the UK that ensure the most vulnerable Service Leavers receive the health and welfare support they need, and avoid homelessness and unemployment. Service Leavers who are most likely to struggle with adapting to civilian life include people with mental health issues, and those with no settled home or family life to go to after their transition into civilian life.
Read moreThe Veterans Pain Clinic will be free of charge to all veterans who are able to provide Proof of Service. The costs are to 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 moreThe Royal British Legion will be hosting a new monthly ‘pop in’ advice centre in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council.
Starting on Thursday 18th May, and continuing on the third Thursday of every month, the new advice centre will be hosted at the Charnwood Borough Council offices on Southfield Road between 10am and 12pm.
The new session at the Council will provide the public with the opportunity to drop in and access support being offered by The Royal British Legion.
Read moreA merchant seaman from Morpeth is training to compete in the 100k Yorkshire walk for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Adam Potts, 27, was convinced to take part in the ultra-challenge by his climbing and hillwalking partners. He explains: “They signed up just last year and asked me if I’d consider joining them. In the end it was an easy decision. I love any kind of new challenge, plus it’s a fantastic cause!”
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Norman gives us an insight into his mental health journey. The relaunched Contact website has been designed to create a space where those seeking assistance are able to quickly access, easily navigate, and simply find the support they need.
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
