Combat Stress Magazine Autumn 2017 by Combat Stress

COMBATSTRESS T H E M AG A Z I N E O F T H E V E T E R A N S ' M E N TA L H E A LT H C H A R I T Y

Autumn 2017

combatstress.org.uk Inside

The world’s toughest row Meet the intrepid team taking it on

If I hadn’t made contact with Combat Stress, I wouldn’t be here now” How Darren’s life-changing PTSD diagnosis set him on the road to recovery

Inside

Discovering a new passion in life – how our community occupational therapy can help

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH US Our annual Festival of Lessons and Carols for Christmas is taking place on Wednesday 13 December 2017 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London

Welcome

am very pleased to introduce

the latest issue of our redesigned magazine – it’s the first one we’ve produced

with our new look which we created with the help of former

servicemen and women. You can read more about our new brand look and feel, logo and website on the next page.

We announced a new five-year plan at our AGM in September which aims to improve the recovery experience of veterans with mental health problems. Find out more on page 9. Our magazine cover features RAF veteran Darren and his wife Charlene. On page 6, they share how family life has been transformed after Darren received treatment for post-traumatic

CONTENTS Autumn 2017

stress disorder. Finally, we are consortium partners in the Armed Forces

Veterans’ Gateway – a new initiative to help former servicemen and women find

the support they need. Read more about this and how we are involved on page 8.

Sue Freeth Chief Executive

FOR MORE INFORMATION

or to book, please contact Nicolle Grace nicolle.grace@combatstress.org.uk or 01372 587 148 or visit combatstress.org.uk/support-us/events

Upfront

The latest news

Combat Stress at a glance

A day in the life

Prize draw

Cover story

How Combat Stress helped to change family life for the better

Veterans’ Gateway

The ﬁrst point of contact for support

Facts and stats from our latest Annual Report Psychiatric nurse Bernard Tye

Win a Combat Stress goody bag

Transforming the charity

Long-term support

The world’s toughest row

Last word

A new passion in life

Partner proﬁle

Our new strategic direction Four rowers taking on the challenge of a lifetime

How occupational therapy can help

Meet two of our Benefactors General The Lord Dannatt How Poppyscotland is supporting Combat Stress in the Highlands

Combat Stress, Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 0BX

General enquiries: 01372 587 151 Email: magazine@combatstress.org.uk Helpline: 0800 138 1619

Published by James Pembroke Publishing

(for veterans and serving military personnel, and their families) Produced by the Combat Stress Communications Team with contributions from veterans, supporters and employees. Thank you to If you would like to change how you hear from us everyone who has contributed towards this issue in the future please contact Francesca Crilly on 01372 587 151 or francesca.crilly@combatstress.org.uk Photography by Richard Stonehouse, Suzie Larke and other contributors If you have read and enjoyed our magazine please pass it on to a friend or recycle

Combat Stress, Company Registered in England & Wales No 256353. Charity Registration No 206002. Charity Scotland No SC038828.

keep in touch: combatstress.org.uk 3

News

UPFRONT The latest news and developments

Launch of new pilot programme to support partners

years ago, technology has changed dramatically. Accessing a website from your smartphone or a tablet device is very common now and having a website that can adapt to whatever device you’re using is vital. You will now ﬁnd it’s quicker and easier to ﬁnd the information you want – whether that’s information about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), how we can help or how to support us.

We’ve developed a new pilot programme to support partners of former servicemen and women diagnosed with PTSD, after our research revealed they’re at risk of developing a mental health issue. We surveyed the mental health needs of 100 female partners of former servicemen. Results showed 45% had alcohol problems, 38% had depression, 37% had anxiety and 17% had symptoms of probable PTSD. The study also found that partners who were experiencing difﬁculties themselves were less likely to seek support due to stigma and not feeling that their own mental health was a priority. To tackle these issues we’ve launched a twoyear pilot programme to support partners who have developed female mental health issues. partners The programme will of former teach partners how to servicemen had anxiety recognise the symptoms of mental health issues, reduce stigma by providing a space to discuss concerns and publicise the availability of mental health services had alcohol in their area. The results problems of the pilot programme will be used to assess what Combat Stress will do in the future.

Visit combatstress.org.uk to check it out. We hope you like it! Let us know what you think on Facebook and Twitter.

had symptoms of probable PTSD

We’ve also got a totally new website”

A whole new look You might have noticed that this issue of the magazine has a new look. Over the past few months we’ve been working on refreshing the Combat Stress brand to make it stronger and more impactful so that awareness of veterans’ mental health increases and we are able to reach more former servicemen and women in need of our help. Over the coming months you’ll start to see our new look on all our materials. We’ve also got a totally new website. Since we launched our original website more than four

4 24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

45 % 17

To ﬁnd out more about our research visit combatstress.org.uk/ research

James Saunders coordinates the peer support service for the south of England

Let’s keep in touch

It’s good to talk A new national peer support service has been introduced, the first UK-wide service of its kind for former servicemen and women with mental health issues. It offers them a chance to share their experiences, receive support and socialise with others with similar experiences across generations, geographies and conflicts. There are five regional coordinators for the service, including James Saunders, a veteran who

received treatment from Combat Stress a few years ago. James, who runs the service for the south of England, said: “Meeting up with others in similar situations can really help. Veterans have the chance to come along to small group meetings or to meet me individually. Mental health problems can make even the simplest things seem hard to do, but this service is a way for veterans to easily access support and advice.”

Meeting up with others can really help”

To ﬁnd out more about the service or to register your interest in becoming a peer, please contact Peter Hoare, the national coordinator for the service, on peersupport.serviceenquiries@ combatstress.org.uk

Your support is vital in helping us to provide our unique mental health treatment to veterans. We’d like to keep telling you our news and developments but new regulations mean that you have to give your consent to receive any marketing communication from us, whether that’s a letter, a phone call, an email or a text. It’s a legal requirement under the new General Data Protection Regulation which comes into effect on 25 May 2018. All you need to do is tell us if you’d still like to hear from us and how. It’s quick and easy – just a matter a ticking a few boxes and you can either do this online or give us a call. Many of our supporters have already given their consent – if you’d like to do the same, please call our fundraising team on 01372 587 151 or visit combatstress.org.uk/consent

Have your say We’d like your feedback on our magazine – look out for a survey on Facebook and Twitter to give us your views.

Date for your diary

Hear all about it

World Mental Health Day takes place on Tuesday 10 October 2017. This year’s theme is raising awareness of what can be done to ensure people with mental health problems can live with dignity.

For readers who would prefer to hear rather than read the magazine, we have an audio disc version available. Please contact sally.george@combatstress.org.uk to request a copy.

10 OCT

combatstress.org.uk 5

Our story: Darren and Charlene

I BURIED MY HEAD IN THE SAND

CHARLENE’S STORY F

or me, the physical injuries are easier to deal with; it’s the hidden ones that are the hardest.

Until Darren went to Combat Stress for help, family life was difficult. Anything could set him off – a sudden noise, a smell, too many people talking at once, even something as trivial as me telling him I’d be two minutes when I ended up taking five. It was the nights that were the most difficult. Not knowing what to do to help relieve the nightmares and flashbacks that haunted him every night was hard. I’d feel guilty if I’d had a good night’s sleep when the person I loved most had been lying there at their most vulnerable while I was completely powerless to help him. Darren often missed out on family days with our four children as he just couldn’t cope with crowds and noise. But after he went to Combat Stress, he came back almost a different person. He’s not cured but I’ve noticed he’s not as angry anymore. He can sleep that extra hour or two before waking with a nightmare or flashback and when he does I am able to help ground him. And our youngest daughter has said it is so nice to see her daddy smiling again.

RAF veteran Darren hadn’t heard of post-traumatic stress disorder, but when his wife Charlene issued an ultimatum he finally sought help from Combat Stress

DARREN’S STORY I

joined the RAF just days before my 18th birthday. I worked in Logistics and served for 12 years, travelling the world to countries including the Falklands, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Iraq. But after being badly physically injured in Iraq in 2003, I started to experience ﬂashbacks and nightmares. When I returned home, my treatment focused on trying to help my physical injuries. I was discharged from the RAF as my spinal injuries meant I couldn’t continue to serve. That’s when things really started to go wrong. I was angry all the time and drinking heavily to forget my experiences. I couldn’t work out what was going on,

6 24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

why did I feel so angry? I’d only just got married and family life soon began to suffer. I buried my head in the sand though and struggled on for eight years until Charlene said I had to get things under control or she would leave and take our four children with her. I went to see my GP and broke down when I told her how I was feeling. I was referred to a local NHS mental health nurse who in turn suggested I contact Combat Stress. When I was given my PTSD diagnosis by a psychiatrist at Combat Stress, it was such a relief. I knew there was something wrong but I’d never heard of PTSD before. In September 2016 I undertook the six-week PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme at Hollybush House and that made a huge difference to my life. Before I did it, crowds and noise were all a problem to me. In fact, I hadn’t been to a supermarket since 2011 but now I can. I still use the tools that I learnt at Combat Stress and Charlene now knows how to support me. If I hadn’t made contact with Combat Stress, I wouldn’t be here now. My kids wouldn’t have a father.

Please help us It costs £192 for an hour with a Combat Stress psychiatrist. Please help us to provide this to more veterans like Darren

combatstress.org.uk

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Strategy: Our future plans

Veteran support

COMBAT STRESS: THE FUTURE

VETERANS’ GATEWAY Veterans’ Gateway – a first point of contact for veterans and their families seeking support

ombat Stress is part of a consortium that has set up Veterans’ Gateway, which helps former servicemen and women to find the support they need. Find out more about the service and why Combat Stress is involved. What is Veterans’ Gateway? It’s a new service for UK Armed Forces veterans and their families looking for help and support. There are over 2,000 charitable groups currently offering help to veterans so it can be difficult to find the right one to meet your particular needs. Veterans’ Gateway makes finding the appropriate support easier and quicker. Who is part of Veterans’ Gateway? Veterans’ Gateway has been set up by a group of organisations and Armed Forces charities. These are Combat Stress, The Royal British Legion, SSAFA – the Armed Forces charity, Poppyscotland and the helpline service provider Connect Assist. The service is directly connected to over 25 other organisations including: Blesma, Blind Veterans UK, Erskine, Forces Pension Society, Help for Heroes, Legion Scotland, Officers Association, The Poppy Factory, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, Scottish Veterans Residences, Stoll, Veterans UK and Walking with the Wounded. How does it work? Veterans’ Gateway gives access to a wide network of organisations, making it easy for veterans and their families to connect with the help, advice and support they need straightaway. There is a dedicated website,

8 24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

Veterans’ Gateway Partners

Our triage nurses will sit alongside our Helpline team to improve the triage process and ensure veterans have a quicker start to their recovery journey

Our new five-year strategic plan

online chat, phone line and text message service, with a team of advisors available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Some of the advisors are veterans themselves. The advisors will be able to help identify what support is needed and ensure that veterans can be quickly referred to the organisation that is best placed to support them, such as Combat Stress. Why is Combat Stress part of Veterans’ Gateway? Veterans often tell us that before they found Combat Stress they did not know where to turn for support. Veterans’ Gateway is designed to help anyone in that situation, ensuring they are able to ﬁnd the right support for them. As a single charity, it can be hard to reach all those who need our help. By working as a group (through Veterans’ Gateway), we’re able to reach more people and help them to get the support they need.

Get in contact Website: veteransgateway.org.uk Helpline: 0808 802 1212 Text: 81212 Online: Use ‘live chat’ to get instant help and advice online

ormer servicemen and women have found support from Combat Stress since the charity began in 1919. Our work is as vital today as it was after the First World War. We now provide evidence-based clinical programmes, alongside a much needed 24-hour Helpline. Demand for our services continues to grow – we have seen a 143% increase in referrals from ten years ago. This significant increase has made it more challenging to provide timely treatment to all those who need our help, with the resources we have available. Our new five-year strategic plan aims to improve the recovery experience of veterans with mental health problems. We plan to use our resources more effectively so that we can support veterans more quickly and more flexibly whilst raising the money needed to fund this work. The plan proposes: Improving assessment and access: we propose that our triage nurses sit beside our Helpline team for the first time from January 2018, improving the triage process so veterans have a quicker start to their recovery journey. Our Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and our triage team will be available alongside them Monday to Friday during extended working hours. Our new website makes it easier to

find information about mental health, the treatment we provide and how to get help. Integrating our teams: we propose integrating our residential treatment centres and community teams into one team. Working in this way will ensure veterans can access our services more easily and receive more coordinated support during their recovery journey. Treatment programmes: we will continue to provide residential intensive treatment because it has been proven to be effective in helping people to make a sustained recovery. We propose to design a number of non-residential modular programmes in the community that fit in with veterans existing commitments such as work or family life. The number of residential beds will be reduced as we provide these modular programmes. We are also undertaking a pilot study to explore digital solutions, such as using Skype to improve access to therapy. Fundraising: we will continue to raise the vital funds needed for our work by developing our relationships with you, our supporters, and welcoming new supporters. Our Centenary in 2019 gives us the opportunity to raise our profile and engage more closely with you. We always respect our donors and aim to exceed new regulations.

Our residential treatment centres and community teams will integrate into one team

Design modular non-residential treatment programmes to ﬁt in with work and family life

Increase engagement and develop stronger relationships with current supporters and welcome new supporters

Clear vision Our new five-year plan aims to improve the recovery experience of veterans with mental health problems. Find out more on our website at combatstress.org.uk/strategy

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Supporter story: Heads Together and Row

THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST ROW

The Heads Together and Row team in training

An intrepid team of four plan to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean – here they explain what inspired them to take on such an epic challenge

n 12 December 2017, the Heads Together and Row team will set off on the challenge of a lifetime – to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean – raising funds and awareness for Combat Stress and Mind. The team will row in pairs in two-hour shifts around the clock, in a 29 by 6 foot boat carrying all their food and equipment. The race, organised by Atlantic Campaigns, is estimated to take between 40 and 90 days. The team of three men and one woman will set off from San Sebastian in the Canary Islands to row to Antigua and have set themselves the world record-breaking challenge of completing the row in 56 days. The team will face sleep deprivation, blisters, saltwater sores, 40-foot waves, hurricanestrength winds, 40-degree heat and the risk of capsizing, with no back-up or support. Fewer people have completed this challenge than climbed Everest! To make the mental and physical challenge even tougher, the team are amateur rowers who didn’t know each other before they started training for the challenge.

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Alison “For anyone considering a challenge like this I’d say go for it! I changed career a few years ago and one thing I’ve learnt is that I no longer want to have regrets. I really enjoy my job but I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. “We are all based in different parts of the UK and didn’t know each other before starting the challenge but we all clicked when we met. All of us have either had mental health issues or close friends who needed support, and with my own family serving in the Army, the work of Combat Stress is especially important to me”

Justin “When I ﬁrst heard about ocean rowing, it seemed such a ridiculous notion. I’d always wanted to do

one extraordinary thing in my life and it was ocean rowing’s very outlandishness that ﬁrst attracted me to it. “I’ve had one previous attempt in 2005, which went disastrously wrong. At the time I vowed I’d never set foot in an ocean rowing boat again, but it’s the sort of idea that just nags away at you. I broke a hip a few years ago and turned 50 in 2015, and there’s nothing like getting old and falling apart to concentrate the mind. So, here I am again.”

Jeremy “The work that Combat Stress does is close to my heart. Having served in the military, it has provided crucial support for some of my old colleagues. I wanted to take part in the Atlantic challenge as it seemed the perfect match, being as much a mental as a physical test. We have been told the ﬁrst week can

be the worst but we will be taking it one day at a time. Knowing that whatever bad times there are they will not last, having faith in our kit, ourselves and a higher power will get us through it. I’ve put my body through a lot previously. As Indiana Jones said: ‘It’s not the years, it’s the mileage’. So I am concerned that old injuries and aches will be factor, especially as we lose weight, but we are raising money for two really vital charities”

Toby “I often call into question my mental health and have of late come to recognise this as a positive thing. I’ve had a few struggles of my own over the years. I have hidden my concerns from others and I’ve seen how damaging it can be for people to be afraid to discuss their mental illness with family,

friends or colleagues. I hope that through this challenge and our fundraising for Combat Stress and Mind, we can help people to talk more positively about mental health without the fear of prejudice or judgement, and provide vital help for people suffering from mental illness.”

Mind Mind is the leading mental health charity for England and Wales. They provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Mind won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

Support the challenge The team has an ambitious fundraising target and needs your support. To donate or to find out more, visit headstogetherandrow.org.uk

In focus: Occupational therapy

FINDING A NEW PASSION IN LIFE 12 24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

In focus: Occupational therapy

How our occupational therapy in the community helps veterans discover their way in life again

Every veteran needs different kinds of support to help them with their mental health issues” Carol Smith, Director Client Services

ombat Stress provides support for former servicemen and women with mental health problems in a variety of ways. As well as our specialist evidence-based trauma treatment, veterans can access a number of other clinical and support services to help them rebuild their lives. This includes occupational therapy, which is available at our treatment centres and also through our community teams. “Everyone needs different kinds of support to help them with their mental health issues. By offering a variety of options, we can provide the best solution to help veterans get their lives back on track,” says Carol Smith, Director Client Services at Combat Stress. There are 14 regional Combat Stress community teams and each team is made up of a community psychiatric nurse and an occupational therapist. Occupational therapy has been part of the Combat Stress community service since 2016. Community occupational therapists provide one-to-one treatment and set up and host our new group occupational therapy workshops. The weekly workshops take place over seven weeks and each focuses on a different area, including physical health and wellbeing, emotions, relationships, behaviour and identity. Veterans learn about the topic in the morning, before taking part in a practical activity in the afternoon – for example a photography challenge, creative writing or exploring employment and training opportunities. The workshops help former servicemen and women explore their personal interests, values and beliefs and how these link to their lifestyle and recovery journey.

combatstress.org.uk 13

In focus: Occupational therapy

Left: images of veterans taking part in a recent occupational therapy workshop in Cardiff run by community occupational therapist Hannah Vaughan-Horrocks. Above: an example of the photographic challenge – part of the workshops. Veterans are asked to take photos of things to spell out the word Combat Stress

Hannah VaughanHorrocks, community occupational therapist, explains more about our community workshops: “The workshops focus on occupation (meaningful and purposeful activity) and resilience (the ability to bounce back from adversity). Each workshop is designed to reinforce the value and power of activity and provide former servicemen and women with strategies to develop their resilience. It’s a safe environment to discover new skills and interests. “I host my workshops at The Royal British Legion Pop In Centre in Cardiff – it’s right in the middle of Cardiff so for many, coming into town is a big challenge

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and achievement in itself. I usually have between six to eight attendees – it’s the same group for all seven workshops. The aim of the workshops is to encourage participation in everyday life. It’s the dayto-day activities that you do that deﬁne who you are, how you feel about yourself and how you participate in life. Many veterans with mental health issues may start to neglect looking after themselves, stop doing things for enjoyment or lose their life roles.

Living in the present “As an occupational therapist, my role is to help them ﬁnd their way in life again and, through these workshops, using theoretical and practical learning, we help former

servicemen and women rebuild their lives. “My favourite workshop is the one where we look at emotions. I ask the veterans to go out in small groups to take photos of things to try and spell out the word Combat Stress. It’s just a half-hour exercise but it’s a chance to stop and look, and really start to take things in. When the veterans come

The workshops are designed to reinforce the power of activity”

back, I ask them to rate how they feel now compared to before the exercise. Everyone always feels much more focused and interested in life after doing the challenge. It’s a really easy way to highlight how it’s possible to change how you feel by just doing a simple activity like photography. Many also comment on how they were focused on the photography, rather than what’s going on around them – something that is an issue for many who have served.

Widening horizons “For the workshop on identity, I invited in a local tai chi company. It was just a taster session but it means veterans know where to go if they want to take it up. That’s the beauty of these workshops – veterans learn

new skills, and have the chance to explore new things and make them part of their identity if they want to.” For former serviceman Mark, who lives in Caerphilly, the community occupational therapy workshops have provided him with a whole new outlook on life. “I’m so glad I took up the opportunity. I got so much out of the workshops and it was so good to try some new things. I feel so much more energised now, especially around doing a hobby. Thanks to the workshops, my perspective on life is now totally different.” The community occupational therapy workshops are available throughout the UK and offered after an assessment by the community team.

It’s possible to change how you feel by doing a simple activity like photography” Show your support Help to fund our services like occupational therapy – visit combatstress.org.uk to make a donation

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In focus: Combat Stress at a glance

COMBAT STRESS AT A GLANCE

12 YEARS

On average it takes 12 years from leaving the military for a veteran to seek our help for mental health problems.

17 YEARS

The latest facts and stats from our Annual Report

2,000+

Each year Combat Stress receives more than 2,000 referrals from former servicemen and women struggling with their mental health. The rate of PTSD among those seeking our support is very high and is the most common mental health issue we treat.

10,000+

Over 10,000 calls were handled by our Helpline.

93%

Of those undertaking our PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme completed it (comparable programmes in the USA have a 66% completion rate).

Our 24-hour Helpline continues to be a vital service to veterans, their families and serving men and women.

5,400

Our 14 regional community teams undertook almost 5,400 face to face appointments.

1,200

Approximately 1,200 veterans completed their treatment programmes with Combat Stress.

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In focus: Combat Stress at a glance

We are currently supporting

1,374 veterans from the Iraq conflict

Falklands veterans on average seek treatment after 17 years.

Veterans from recent conflicts are seeking help earlier

3 YEARS

20 YEARS OLD

Afghanistan veterans on average seek treatment three years after leaving service.

The youngest veteran we are supporting is 20 years old.

4 YEARS

98 YEARS OLD

Iraq veterans on average seek treatment four years after leaving service.

1,296

The average age a veteran seeks our help is 46 years old.

The oldest is 98 years old.

For every £1 raised we spend:

EIGHTY-FOUR PENCE FOURTEEN PENCE TWO PENCE on veteran treatment and support

veterans of the Afghanistan conflict

on fundraising

on raising awareness and improving access

£1 = £4.62

For every £1 we spend on fundraising, we raise £4.62

All statistics relate to the period 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 unless stated otherwise

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How we help: A day in the life

EAT CAKE AND RAISE MONEY From a classic cake sale to a great big ‘bake off ’, fundraising can be lots of fun – and help raise vital funds for us That’s just one of the ways you could support us – you could put on a street party, hold a sponsored silence or have a singalong. Whatever you choose, our fundraising team will help you make the most of it.

FOR FUNDRAISING INSPIRATION

Contact fundraising@combatstress.org.uk or 01372 587 140 for help and advice

A DAY IN THE LIFE Bernard Tye, a senior psychiatric nurse, manages a team of community nurses who cover areas including the Midlands, parts of the North East and Wales

lthough Bernard lives in Swindon, he travels regularly to meet with colleagues and former servicemen and women at The Royal British Legion Pop In Centres in the Midlands, parts of the North East and Wales. Bernard trained with the NHS and worked in hospitals before spending 22 years in the RAF as a psychiatric nurse. He joined Combat Stress in September 2016. For Bernard, no one day is the same and that’s one of the reasons he enjoys his job so much. 07.30 I enjoy travelling so I don’t mind leaving home early to travel to a team meeting at least once a month. It really helps to catch up with colleagues face to face. We are very close even though we are spread across the country. 11.00 I run a community psychiatric workshop which lasts for three hours and typically involves ten veterans. We focus on different issues and explore how to help veterans learn different ways to manage their conditions. This can include anger management and helping veterans with sleep problems and depression. I usually hold these sessions once a month and they are a good way for veterans to get together and share their experiences as well as giving them practical advice. I also work with Hannah, one of the occupational therapists, running weekly workshops for veterans in Cardiff (see page 14). Veterans can explore their feelings through activities such as photography or painting. 14.00 After a workshop, I sometimes see other veterans on a one-to-one basis for an assessment. We’ll talk about every aspect of their life, exploring both their mental and physical health and taking them from their

childhood to the present day. Through learning about their family history, support networks and past experiences, as well as discussing their current problems, I can work out what support they require and help them to get the help they need. Usually I do two of these types of sessions a week. 16.30 Although my shift ofﬁcially ends around this time, I often represent Combat Stress at open days and different events to raise awareness of our services. Having a military background does give you an insight into what the veterans have experienced. I have a fantastic team who are as committed as I am to supporting everyone who needs us. To unwind I like to spend time with my family. We have a 27-year-old VW camper van and have recently adopted two puppies from Greek Animal Rescue that we are training at the moment.

Having a military background gives an insight into what the veterans have experienced” combatstress.org.uk 19

Get involved

How we help: Benefactors

HELP SUPPORT OUR WORK

SUDOKU PRIZE DRAW We have three goody bags to give away in our prize draw

Your donation can help us to provide vital treatment and support to veterans with mental health problems I would like to give a gift to Combat Stress of:

I enclose a cheque (payable to Combat Stress) OR Please debit my MasterCard/Visa/Maestro/Amex/CAF card

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8 7

3 6

1 1 5

(Maestro only)

Full Name: ...................................................................................................

2 5

(last three digits on back of card)

/ / /

2 8

Card no: Security code: Start date: Expiry date: Issue no:

3 9

6 1

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Email: ........................................................................................................... Data protection laws are changing and we need you to tell us if you want to continue hearing from Combat Stress. Please see the back page of the magazine or visit combatstress.org.uk/consent. Combat Stress promises to respect all personal data that you share with us, or that we receive from other sources. We intend to keep this data safe and we will not do anything you would not reasonably expect. We will never sell your personal data, or share it with third parties for their marketing purposes. We are committed to only communicating with you by the method you prefer and sending you information that may be of interest to you. For full details on how we process your data please visit combatstress.org.uk/privacy-policy. You can update your preferences at any time by contacting our Supporter Care Team on 01372 587 151 or emailing fundraising@combatstress.org.uk

Please send me a thank you letter.

AuM17

Enter the prize draw in two easy steps: 1. Complete the Sudoku puzzle 2. Send the completed form to: Combat Stress Magazine, Combat Stress, Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey. KT22 0BX

W IN!

Name: ......................................................................................... Address: ...................................................................................... ..................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................... Telephone:...................................................................................

By ticking this box I conﬁrm that I would like all donations to Combat Stress, past, present and future to be treated as Gift Aid donations. I am a UK Tax Payer and understand that if I pay less Income tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year that it is my responsibility to pay any difference. Please notify us if you want to cancel this declaration, change your name or home address or no longer pay sufﬁcient income and/or capital gains.

Return address: Freepost RTKB-SYUY-CZYR, Combat Stress, Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey. KT22 0BX

20 24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

If you would like to receive communications from Combat Stress via email please provide your email address below.

Email: .......................................................................................... ..................................................................................................... Terms and conditions: The prize draw is free to enter. Not open to employees of Combat Stress. Closing date is Thursday 30 November 2017. The winners will be drawn after this date and notiﬁed.

VITAL SUPPORT FOR OUR FUTURE Generous support from our Benefactors helps us to look ahead and plan for the future

ur Benefactor programme launched in late 2015 and we now have 26 Benefactors, with 12 of these supporters making multi-year commitments. We’re so grateful for these signiﬁcant gifts in support of our work. Michael White, a serving reservist, and his wife Helen, a former reservist, became Benefactors last year. “I’ve been on two operational tours and have seen the effect post-traumatic stress Disorder can have,” Michael explains. “You are the result of your experiences – these can dictate how you behave and who you become. There are many military charities out there but Combat Stress is in a unique situation, offering a practical method for combating demons. “Helen and I visited one of the treatment

Michael and Helen White

Thank you We would like to thank our Benefactors for their generous support. New Benefactors to the Programme include*:

Gold Benefactors • Mrs G M Bramall Silver Benefactors • Mr and Mrs Anthony Coleridge

centres last year and it was really useful and uplifting to see the charity’s work for ourselves. Reservists have fewer support systems in place than those in the regular Services and that’s why we’ve chosen to help Combat Stress.” The Benefactor programme provides a very personal way to support Combat Stress as Nicola Wearing, Major Gifts Manager, Combat Stress, explains: “Through the programme we can work to identify a speciﬁc project for people to support and champion. In Michael and Helen’s case, their money will be used to fund our support and treatment for reservists. “Benefactors also have the chance to attend special events, and to meet veterans and employees from across the organisation to get a real insight into our work.”

Benefactors • David Dutton and Mave Turner • And two anonymous Benefactors *Current as of June 2017

How to become a Benefactor To find out more please contact: Nicola Wearing Major Gifts Manager on 01372 587 155 or nicola.wearing@combatstress.org.uk You can also read more about the Combat Stress Benefactor Programme on our website: combatstress.org.uk/majorgifts

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Last word

Supporters

RICHARD DANNATT

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS

General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL on cricket, career highlights and Combat Stress

he former Head of the Army, Lord Dannatt was awarded the Military Cross during his second tour of duty in Northern Ireland. He joined the Green Howards from Sandhurst in 1971 and retired as Chief of General Staff in 2009. Lord Dannatt is involved with a number of charities and is Chairman of the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

My experience has shown me that we work best in teams but there needs to be strong leadership.

When I was growing up I wanted to open the batting for Essex. I enjoyed being in the Combined Cadet Force and considered a military career, but my school masters wanted me to go to Cambridge to study law. Fortunately I messed up my interview, and went to Sandhurst. I joined up for three years but I stayed for 40.

My favourite way to relax is reading. History, biographies and particularly the recent books which have come out about the First and Second World Wars, which offer new insights and analysis.

At school my favourite subject was history. After writing my autobiography in 2009 my publishers asked me to write a history of the British Army since 1945 but I opted to write Boots on the Ground as a history of our country from that time, as seen through the eyes of the British Army. What I admire about our soldiers is their humour, determination and grit. This is down to the British character and their training. It is tough but thorough and produces soldiers as good now as in decades past. The highlight of my career was as Commander British Forces in Bosnia 1995-96. What stays with me is how we helped people rebuild their lives after that terrible conﬂict.

22 24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

In my spare time I play golf rather indifferently, shoot on the family farm in Norfolk and ﬁsh for salmon. I once caught four ﬁsh in an hour all weighing between 17-19lb, I don’t think that will happen again!

I became involved with Combat Stress when I was asked to join the board for the Enemy Within fundraising campaign in 2010. We raised over £30 million. I very much admire the work the charity does, supporting veterans with mental health problems. I’d say to a veteran to put their hand up and ask for help if they need it. There is no shame in getting support as you cannot do it by yourself. Particularly if you are feeling down, drinking too much or getting angry – go and see your GP or talk to Combat Stress. Lord Dannatt will be speaking at this year’s Combat Stress Armistice Lecture on Wednesday 1 November 2017 at Royal United Services Institute, Whitehall, London. Contact Nicolle Grace on 01372 587148 or email nicolle.grace@combatstress.org.uk to reserve tickets.

Worshipful Company of Innholders

I joined up for three years but I stayed for 40”

Partner proﬁle

ombat Stress provides help for former servicemen and women across the UK and we have recently received generous support from Poppyscotland to help us develop our community team in the Scottish Highlands. Thanks to a £25,000 grant, we are now able to provide a part-time community psychiatric nurse at the Poppyscotland welfare centre in Inverness. The nurse holds a community clinic at the centre two days a week, providing assessment, treatment and support to veterans with mental health conditions from across the Highlands. A key role of the community team is to provide assessments. We know that the quicker a veteran is assessed and the sooner we are able to provide the advice, support and treatment required, the greater chance a veteran has of recovering and maintaining that recovery. It is therefore essential that we are able to help assess and support veterans as soon after they come forward. By having a nurse available at the Poppyscotland centre, it is easier for veterans living in the Highlands to access our services. “The Highlands is a challenging area to cover but this funding is helping us to provide the support veterans living in this area need and complements the residential treatment we provide at our Hollybush House treatment centre in Ayrshire,” says Andy Smith, Operations Manager, North region.

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