Combat Stress Magazine Spring 2016

TH E MAGA ZIN E OF TH E VE TE R ANS' M E NTAL H E ALTH CHARIT Y

COMBATSTRESS combatstress.org.uk

TOP TIPS FOR FANTASTIC FUNDRAISING

ROAD TO RECOVERY A Veteran tells his story on the difference Combat Stress has made to him

Spring 2016

Veteran Tommy Addison explains the benefits of being a Peer Support Worker

WELCOME

MEET OUR NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY

MIND OVER MATTER

Understanding mindfulness

A fresh approach to working with Veterans FUNDRAISING

A MARATHON EFFORT

N E WS • S U P P O R T • F U N D R AI S I N G

COMBAT STRESS ONLINE SHOP

THE COMBAT STRESS ONLINE SHOP has a great range of brilliant buys. From pin-badges and pens, to car stickers and mugs, buying through the shop is a great way to support us and helps to raise awareness of Combat Stress.

If you’re planning an event, our T-shirts, hoodies and running vests are the perfect way to tell everyone who you’re supporting.

Visit combatstress.org.uk/shop for the full range and to place an order Combat Stress Registered Charity Number. England & Wales No 206002 Scotland No SC038828.

Company registered in England and Wales No 256353.

WELCOME

Contents Spring 2016

Since joining, I’ve enjoyed meeting Veterans

A

s Combat Stress’ new Chief Executive, I would like to welcome you to the new Combat Stress Magazine.

Following our readership survey in our last issue, we’ve merged our two publications In Touch and Combat Stress News into this new magazine.

We hope that both Veterans and supporters will enjoy reading about the support we give, the people we help and the services we provide.

You can read more about our pilot Peer Support Worker scheme in Scotland on page 4 and find out how we use mindfulness in our treatment programmes on page 6. You can also hear first-hand from Veteran Greg Dulson on page 14 about how Combat Stress has changed his life.

I’m deeply honoured to have joined such an incredible organisation that is so important to Veterans with mental health conditions and their families.

I’m looking forward to meeting many of you as I visit our treatment centres and community services in the coming weeks and months.

I would personally like to thank all our supporters for your generosity towards our work helping Veterans.

Without you, we would not be able to provide our vital services.

4 4

Peer Support Workers

6

Treatment techniques

8

Out in the community

10

Supporter story

12

Fundraising top tips

14

Road to recovery

17

Leaving a legacy

18

Our new Chief Executive

20

The Forces Lottery

21

Benefactor programme

22

Talking Point

23

The Military Mind Symposium 2016

24

Take a Break

6

10

14

COMBAT STRESS, Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 0BX Published by James Pembroke Publishing Produced by the Combat Stress Communications Team with contributions from Veterans, Supporters and Staff General enquiries: 01372 587 151 Email: magazine@combatstress.org.uk Helpline: 0800 138 1619 (for Veterans, serving personnel and their families)

Sue Freeth Chief Executive

If you would like to change how you hear from us in the future please contact Maggie Picken on 01372 587 151 or Maggie.Picken@combatstress.org.uk

Photography by Lewis Darling, Martin Shields and other contributors COMBAT STRESS (Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society) Company Registered in England & Wales No 256353.

Charity Registration No 206002.

Charity Scotland No SC038828.

3

PEER SUPPORT WORKERS

PEER SUPPORT WORKERS

A little help from your friends

this to.’ I do know how they feel and I’m pleased they feel able to open up to me.

I can see the difference I make by simply having a chat with someone.”

SHARED EXPERIENCES Andy Smith, Operations Manager for the North region for Combat Stress, adds: “We developed the pilot Peer Support Worker project, based on the Canadian model which has been in place for 10 years, to provide an opportunity to share knowledge, experience and practical support with Veterans engaged in the recovery process. The introduction of the pilot project enhances our ability to provide meaningful support to Veterans.”

Our new pilot scheme offers Veterans support from other Veterans

A Tommy in action – a simple chat can make all the difference

Top tips from our Peer Support Workers for Veterans • Don’t be afraid to open up – the staff at the treatment centre have heard it all and are there to help you • Try all the techniques offered – one of them will be right for you • You’ll get out what you put in – be prepared to work hard for the time you are at the centre

4

t our treatment centres, we know how much Veterans informally support each other, have a shared sense of respect and hold their peers in high regard. Recognising the importance of this, we’ve recently introduced a pilot scheme to build on this informal peer support and offer a more structured and beneficial form of help.

The pilot has been introduced in Scotland where three Veterans from Hollybush House have undertaken Peer Support Worker training. In partnership with Mindspace College in Perth, the Veterans undertook a 26-week course, learning more about different mental health conditions. Equipped with the skills to help them recognise mental health issues, these three Veterans are now able to provide help and advice to their peers.

GETTING QUALIFIED Tommy Addison, a Veteran who received treatment at Hollybush House twice during 2014, has undergone the Peer Support Worker training and now helps Veterans visiting the Coming Home Centre at the Pearce Institute in Glasgow.

“What I say to everyone I meet at the Coming Home Centre is ‘I’m you, but in recovery.’ I came to the centre in the early summer of 2014 and was referred to Combat Stress for a two-week residential programme at Hollybush House. That helped but it wasn’t until I attended

another two-week programme in November 2014 that I really turned the corner and understood how much all the different treatments could help.

“I was contacted by Combat Stress after my second programme to see if I’d be interested in taking part in its Peer Support Worker pilot scheme. I’d really learnt a lot from my treatment programmes and thought sharing my knowledge, tips and advice with other Veterans would be a good thing, so I said yes. The course was hard going but I did it and achieved the professional qualification at the end.”

NATURAL CONNECTION “As well as Tommy, we also supported training for two other Veteran Peer Support Workers – Iain McPhail and David Ferguson – now working out of our Hollybush House treatment centre.

Iain and David meet Veterans on an informal basis at the centre during their stay. It works really well as there is connection between both parties naturally. In fact, Iain says it is often like ‘two old pals talking together’ when he talks to Veterans.

“We have learnt a huge amount from the pilot scheme and currently we are reviewing and exploring how we build upon this to deliver something similar across the UK. Having Peer Support Workers benefits both the Veterans they are supporting as well as themselves by increasing their own confidence, self-esteem and aiding their own journey of recovery. Tommy is a great example of just how well the service can work for both parties.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE “Now I work at the Coming Home Centre every weekday, seeing guys just like me and telling them about the help available. I’ve found that they open up to me when I explain I’ve been where they’ve been, I’ve seen what they’ve seen. What I found most important is explaining what happens when you go to a place like the Combat Stress treatment centres.

Everyone is understandably anxious about entering a treatment centre and I try to put their minds at rest.

“I’m so honoured when guys tell me ‘You’re the first person I’ve told

24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

Making a difference Veteran Tommy Addison is now a qualified Peer Support Worker

combatstress.org.uk

Help us make a difference with schemes like this by making a donation.

Text PTSD11 to 70004 to give £5 today.

Texts cost £5 plus network charge. Combat Stress receives 100% of your donation.

Obtain bill payer’s permission. Customer care 01372 587 153. Charity No 206002.

5

TREATMENT TECHNIQUES

TREATMENT TECHNIQUES

Mindfulness and how it can help The term ‘mindfulness’ seems to be everywhere, with all kinds of experts recommending we become more ‘mindful’. But what does this actually mean and how can it help you?

H

ere at Combat Stress, we know exactly how it can help – we’ve been using this technique in our treatment programmes for many years. Dr Hardeep Kaur, Manager of Psychological Therapies at Tyrwhitt House, gives us the heads up on this form of treatment.

“To put it simply, mindfulness is about getting out of your head and into your body. If you’re struggling with emotions and your mind is caught up with a past situation or you’re worrying about the future, mindfulness teaches skills so that you can bring yourself back to the present moment. That might be through touch or smell, sight or sound – we’ll work with you to find something that helps to ground you. And through mindfulness training, you’ll learn how to relate differently to thoughts – responding rather than reacting.

Mindfulness teaches you to learn to observe before you jump in.

“Every Veteran on one of our residential courses has the opportunity to take part in several group mindfulness sessions. The main aim

Dr Hardeep Kaur is Manager of Psychological Therapies at our Tyrwhitt House treatment centre

is to teach meditation techniques and develop mindfulness skills. Many find it really helps, something that is increasingly backed up by research.

For example, research has shown mindfulness-meditation practice helps to manage anxiety and stress. In fact, research in people struggling with anxiety has found that 90% experience significant reductions in anxiety*. Those using mindfulness techniques have also seen positive changes in their brain structure in relation to self-awareness, compassion and introspection.

“Becoming more mindful is just one of the techniques we use to help Veterans manage their symptoms, such as nightmares, flashbacks and anxiety, more effectively. Some Veterans find one thing works better than another so we offer a range to help try and identify the best coping strategy for them.”

IT WORKED FOR ME Veteran Tony Smith explains how using mindfulness techniques have helped him “I didn’t know much about mindfulness before I went to the treatment centre but I was open to trying anything to help myself.

I found it really useful and now it’s something I turn to in my everyday life.

“I don’t do it every day, probably about three times a week, but I know that if I start worrying or over-thinking, using the mindfulness techniques will help me. I always come back to it – it really helps me look at life in a nice, positive manner.

“For me, mindfulness has been great. But different things work for different people. Combat Stress mentally equips you with a toolbox of techniques and for me mindfulness was the tool I found most helpful,” says Tony, a Veteran who underwent a treatment course at our Tyrwhitt House centre.

* Source: Headspace

In the mindset

6

If you think that mindfulness might be for you, there’s lots of help and advice available: • Try the mindfulness exercise on our website: combatstress.org.uk/ veterans/mindfulness • Ask your GP for a referral to a local therapist • At headspace.com a meditation course is available either online or via a smartphone app

24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

combatstress.org.uk

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OUT IN THE COMMUNITY

OUT IN THE COMMUNITY

increase their independence. This could be anything from learning how to cook healthy food or how to incorporate exercise in their daily routine – everyday actitivies that can make a real difference.

Carol Smith, Assistant Director of Operations, Health & Social Care at TRBL, said: “We are proud to support Combat Stress and pleased to provide our network of Pop In Centres for community treatment clinics, which will help meet the increasing demand for services. This means that more people than ever will get the help they need.”

Dr Sorfleet adds: “Our focus is to make the best use of our funds to help as many Veterans as possible.

Our new approach is a big change but it will make a huge difference to how many Veterans we can help.”

The community clinics will initially be based out of TRBL Pop In Centres but our plan is to add more locations working with other relevant partners and organisations. We are currently developing a similar approach for our Community Service in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Reaching out, reaching you With more Veterans than ever before looking for support from Combat Stress, we outline a new approach to our Community Service

I

n the 2014/15 financial year we received 2,328 referrals – a 28% increase on the previous year. We had to find a way to support more Veterans without spending more money.

So from 1 October 2015 we introduced a new way of working in the community to help us meet the growing demand for assessment and treatment programmes.

WHAT’S CHANGED? This new approach is designed to get Veterans into treatment faster and support them before and after through our Community Service. The aim is that after an initial telephone assessment with a trained referrals and triage nurse, you will be booked into the first available appointment at a community clinic in your region. We are working in partnership with The Royal British Legion (TRBL) to connect Veterans to relevant help and advice.

Through this partnership, we are using TRBL Pop In Centres countrywide for appointments and group sessions.

Triage nurse Clare Giblett explains how the new system works: “If you’ve contacted us, your details will be passed to me and I’ll call you to assess your needs. This takes about half an hour.

If any of our programmes are suitable, I will set up an appointment with a welfare officer or specially trained nurse in one of our community clinics.

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“When you attend the clinic, a nurse will assess you so that we can put the best treatment plan together for you.

This might take the form of a one-day workshop where you learn new skills and get the chance to practise them.”

Dr Nicola Sorfleet, Associate Director of Operations and Head of Psychological Therapies for Combat Stress, adds: “Our new approach means we can act more rapidly and get Veterans back on their feet as quickly as possible.

“As well as providing mental health support, we have also introduced community occupational therapists so we can help equip Veterans with everyday life skills. It’s the first time we’ve had this kind of therapy available through our community programme.”

Talk to us

Referrals and triage nurse Clare Giblett is your first port of call

If you’re already in contact with us and want to know more about how these changes affect you, please call: 01372 587 080 (South region) 01952 822 700 (Central region) 01292 561 300 (North region)

HELPING MORE VETERANS More Veterans can be helped than before and we can get them into treatment much faster too. We can also now see more Veterans a day for individual assessments and run group sessions.

And with the introduction of the occupational therapists working alongside the community psychiatric nurses, we hope to help more Veterans rebuild their lives.

Funding from TRBL has enabled us to introduce 10 community-based occupational therapists who will help Veterans learn practical skills and

24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

Help on the high street • Some of our community clinics are now based at The Royal British Legion Pop In Centres so your sessions will take place here.

• Open Monday to Friday, centres are located on the high street in 16 towns and cities.

combatstress.org.uk

• Each centre offers a welcoming space for Service personnel, Veterans and their families to get practical help.

• You could visit for an individual or group Combat Stress session to give you the support you need.

• Our community support is not limited to Pop In Centres – we are developing a network of additional locations where help can also be accessed.

• Find your nearest Pop In Centre at combatstress.org.uk/ veterans/in-the-community

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SUPPORTER STORY

SUPPORTER STORY

money for Combat Stress last June when she ran the Humber Bridge Half Marathon.

“I loved the atmosphere and that helped me to decide to apply for one of the Combat Stress charity places for the London Marathon,” she says.

A marathon effort for a friend Jess Jagger will race against the clock at the 2016 London Marathon to remember Cpl Channing Day

SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT

Corporal Channing Day, whose memory will be kept alive

R

unning a marathon is on most people’s bucket list and Jess Jagger is no exception. “I’ve always wanted to run a marathon.

It’s one of the many things I would like to do before I die,” she says.

For Jess, running the 2016 London Marathon is about proving that with a little determination she can achieve things she’s ‘not necessarily good at’. But, more importantly, it’s a way for Jess to honour the memory of her friend and fellow Army medic, Corporal Channing Day, who was killed while on foot patrol in Afghanistan in October 2012.

Channing, who was 25, and her 27-year-old comrade, Corporal David O’Connor, were shot dead by an off-duty Afghan policeman while they were on their way to give first aid lessons to local police officers. Jess, who is also an Army medic, served in the same regiment as Channing and they became good friends when they trained and toured together.

“Combat Stress was a charity that was close to Channing’s heart,” Jess explains. “Her family has raised lots of money for the charity and I thought I would run to keep Channing’s memory alive and to remind her family that we haven’t forgotten about her.”

Although she has never run a marathon before, Jess has completed two half marathons. She raised

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“Combat Stress was a charity that was close to Channing’s heart. Her family has raised lots of money for the charity and I thought I would run to keep Channing’s memory alive” 24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

Left and below, Lance Corporal Jess Jagger will run in memory of Channing

Challenge yourself Combat Stress offers a wide range of fundraising events including skydiving, cycling, walking and swimming. But you don’t need to be a marathon runner to raise money! You can also support us by helping out at the Battle Proms or by cheering on our runners at an event.

Jess hopes to raise at least £1,900 To get involved, contact the for Combat Stress. As well as Combat Stress fundraising setting up an online fundraising team on 01372 587 140, email page (see box below for details fundraising@combatstress.org.uk about how to sponsor Jess), to or check out the Support boost her fundraising total even Us section on our website: more Jess organised a Christmas combatstress.org.uk/support-us market and is also planning a fancy dress party. She says the charity has been really helpful in supporting her fundraising efforts and giving her everything she needs from posters and t-shirts to charity collecting boxes.

As well as fundraising, Jess is training hard for the 26.2-mile course. She admits that she is not a natural runner and says a marathon “will not be easy”, but she has enlisted the help of physical training instructors at the Defence School of Transport and is working to a marathon training plan. “It’s going to take some effort to get out in the cold weather,” she says. However, as a keen horse rider she is used to getting out whatever the conditions.

Although ramping up the miles through the winter won’t be easy, Jess is resolute. “I am determined to do it and the more sponsors I get, the more it pushes me to keep training. I really don’t want to let people down,” she remarks. “I’m determined to do Channing proud and prove to myself that even if I’m not good at something, if I work hard I can succeed in whatever I put my mind to.”

For anyone thinking of taking up a challenge event for Combat Stress, Jess has some simple advice. “Go for it. When you challenge yourself you feel a huge sense of achievement, self-satisfaction and pride. It is really rewarding too – people are so generous when it comes to sponsorship.”

Support Jess To sponsor Jess in this mammoth challenge visit virginmoneygiving.com/jessicajagger

combatstress.org.uk

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FUNDRAISING

FUNDRAISING

TOP TIPS FOR

FANTASTIC FUNDRAISING MONEY RAISED by our supporters in communities across the country is essential to ensure we can provide vital support for Veterans with mental health conditions. Every year thousands of people have a great time doing all kinds of different challenges or attending events while raising valuable funds for us. We’re so grateful for this support – it makes a real difference to our work so thank you for getting involved.

Our treatment and support services are always free of charge, so support from fundraisers really is crucial to making our work possible. Here are a few examples of what money raised helps us provide:

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£5,320 A TWO-WEEK ANGER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

£250 A VISIT FROM A REGIONAL WELFARE OFFICER

£272 AN HOUR WITH A PSYCHIATRIST

£380 ONE DAY’S TREATMENT FOR A VETERAN IN ONE OF OUR SHORTSTAY TREATMENT CENTRES

£10

£31

FUNDS OUR HELPLINE SERVICE FOR ONE HOUR

£119 AN HOUR WITH A THERAPIST

£923 A ONE-DAY OUTPATIENT’S ASSESSMENT

WANT TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT? THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS you can raise money for us – in fact the possibilities are pretty much endless. The most successful ways often involve doing something that you enjoy and that fits in with your lifestyle, hobbies and interests

QUIRKY

AT WORK

BAKED BEAN BATH HEAD SHAVE FANCY DRESS

CAKE SALE DRESS DOWN DAY SPORTING SWEEPSTAKE

SPORTING GOLF TOURNAMENT SPONSORED RUN FOOTBALL MATCH

ACTION AND ADVENTURE EVEREST TREK IRONMAN TOUGH MUDDER

SEASONAL AND PARTY TIME CHRISTMAS BALL REMEMBRANCE DAY COLLECTION COCKTAIL PARTY

COMMUNITY STREET COLLECTION BRING AND BUY SALE STREET PARTY

Whatever you end up choosing, make sure you have fun doing it and remember that every pound you raise helps support Veterans with mental health conditions

MATERIALS FOR OUR ART THERAPY WORK

£110,835 ANNUAL COST OF A BED AT A TREATMENT CENTRE

24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

HOW TO RAISE THE MOST MONEY START EARLY Don’t leave it to the last minute to tell people about what you’re doing

GET PERSONAL Create a personal online sponsorship page – a fast, secure and easy way to publicise your fundraising event and get sponsorship at the same time.

Check out justgiving.com or virginmoneygiving.com

SHOUT OUT PROMOTION Promote your event or activity on social media. Mention @CombatStress in your tweet and we’ll try and share your story

combatstress.org.uk

Call your local paper or radio – tell them what you’re doing and why. It’s a great way to raise awareness and more money

THINK

BIG!

Get a big first donation on your online sponsorship page (and Gift Aid it) to encourage others to follow suit

Need some help?

If you’re planning a fundraising event, the fundraising team at Combat Stress can provide help and advice as well as a free fundraising pack. Contact them on 01372 587 140 or email fundraising@combatstress.org.uk

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ROAD TO RECOVERY

ROAD TO RECOVERY

PLACE OF SAFETY Greg Dulson (front row, far right) with the Royal Green Jackets

Greg and his wife Kim

“

From strength to strength At our treatment centres and out in the community we are supporting Veterans across the country. One of these was Greg Dulson who tells us here just how much a difference the charity has made to him

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24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

I

joined the Army when I was 15 – I had a dead-end job after school so signed up as a Junior Rifleman in 1967. My regiment was the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Royal Green Jackets. During my eight and half years’ service I travelled the world on tours taking me to Germany, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Malaysia.

“When I left the forces, I got married and got a job but both were short-lived due to my bad temper and my negative outlook on life.

I remarried a few years later, secured a job with the Royal Mail and became a volunteer caseworker for SSAFA. “Many of my clients mentioned symptoms I was experiencing – what I now know is recognised as PTSD. I mentioned to the secretary of the local SSAFA branch that my mental health and behaviour patterns mirrored those of my clients and he suggested that I contact Combat Stress as he thought they might be able to help me.”

combatstress.org.uk

“From the very first moment I walked into Tyrwhitt House I’ve never looked back. I was met by a nurse who welcomed me and reassured me that this was a safe place.

“I spent quite a few years going backwards and forwards to Tyrwhitt House for two weeks at a time as an inpatient and each visit gave me the strength and guidance to persevere. Every time I came, I learnt a new technique or coping strategy and I was then able to put them to good use in my everyday life.

“My wife Kim has stood by me all these years and been with me every step of the way. She and other family members have all noticed the change in me.

“I’ve now reached the point where I can manage my PTSD condition with the coping mechanisms I have learnt from Combat Stress. I no longer need to continue receiving support as an inpatient but I can’t emphasise enough how much of a difference their help has made to my life. It really was a lifesaver. I have held down a 30-year career with the Royal Mail, enjoyed life with family and friends, and am now a volunteer for Compass, a substance abuse organisation based in Milton Keynes.

“If you think you need help but aren’t sure whether to call, I’d say just do it – you’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.”

Our services are free for Veterans It’s thanks to our generous supporters that we are able to help Veterans like Greg rebuild their lives. Donations help us to fund: • Our 24-hour Helpline for Service personnel, Veterans and their families (0800 138 1619) • Short-stay clinical treatment – at one of our three treatment centres • Treatment and practical support for Veterans in their local area

Support our work Please help us to continue to support Veterans like Greg. A regular monthly donation makes a real difference to us.

You can set this up by calling one of our friendly team on 01372 587 140, or by simply texting COMBAT11 to 70004 for £3 a month donation.

Texts cost £3 plus network charge. Combat Stress receives 100% of your donation.

Obtain bill payer’s permission. Customer care 01372 587 153. Charity No 206002.

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LEGACY One in five Veterans are supported by us thanks to gifts in Wills

A Veteran in a one-to- one session

Audley Court – our treatment centre in Shropshire

Veterans get the chance to explore the calming effect baking can have

Leaving a legacy If you would like to support the work we do at Combat Stress but are unsure how, why not consider leaving us a legacy in your Will?

M

any of our supporters want to play an important role in our future and they choose to do this by leaving us a gift in their Will – to ensure we’re here for every Veteran who will turn to us in the years ahead.

Quite often, these gifts have a special poignancy. For supporters such as Patricia, whose uncle suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, this is especially true. She felt that remembering Combat Stress in her Will would be a very personal way of

honouring anyone who has sustained psychological injuries in conflict.

“People from the Armed Forces who fought to keep the rest of us alive and safe can suffer greatly as a result. They need our help now and in the future.”

A Veteran’s road to recovery can be a long one, but every single gift we receive in a Will helps to keep us by their side every step of the way.

If you’d like to find out more about this meaningful way of supporting exService men and women with mental health issues, please get in touch with us to request our new booklet A Life

Without Fear. It features the inspiring stories of Veterans who have battled the trauma of war and explains in more detail how important gifts in Wills are to our vital work.

Find out more For an informal chat with us about leaving a legacy or to request a copy of our free guide about gifts in Wills, please call Fia Parry on 01372 587 144, email her via fia.parry@combatstress.org.uk or simply fill in the form opposite

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OUR NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

OUR NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Bright future Combat Stress’ new Chief Executive Sue Freeth tells us how excited she is to be joining the charity You spent 11 years working at The Royal British Legion (TRBL) and now you’ve taken on the role of Chief Executive at Combat Stress. What is it that drew you to work for military charities?

I was headhunted from Scope to join TRBL. My father and brother both served in the Army when they were young but when I joined I knew little about the Veterans’ charity sector or Service life in the Armed Forces. What appealed to me about joining TRBL was the range and scope of its activities, its independence from Government funding, and historical campaigning and policy-influencing role.

What made you want to take on the role of Chief Executive at Combat Stress?

I am ready for my next leadership role and respect how much Combat Stress has changed over the last decade. I feel strongly

about the importance of good mental health and see how demand is growing for support in this area. I think as mental health and the NHS commitment to Parity of Esteem becomes more recognised in British society, there is a real opportunity for Combat Stress to take a leap forward. I also think with the prospect of Combat Stress’ 100th anniversary, it is a great time to join and help it to step up to make an even greater contribution to changing Veterans lives for the better.

How do you feel about becoming the charity’s first female Chief Executive in its 96-year history?

I am very excited. I have some previous experience now and know a lot of people after 11 years of working in this sector as well as knowing many of the organisations operating in the mainstream mental health sector. I am passionate about involving

“It is a great time for me to join and help the charity step up to make an even greater contribution to changing Veterans’ lives for the better” 18

Veterans and will be looking to bring their voice more into the work of Combat Stress.

What do you think of the work Combat Stress does to support Veterans and help them to rebuild their lives?

Combat Stress provides an important ‘safe’ place for Veterans and their families to refer people for help, a voice for people with combat-related psychological trauma, and a growing range of effective and evaluated community and residential psychological treatments and therapeutic programmes. Combat Stress is still learning with the wider community at large about what works but leads some of the world’s best work in this field.

creating a compelling case for support to the public, NHS commissioners and donors that will secure and grow our voluntary and contract income.

A WARM WELCOME Chief of Staff Peter Poole looks at the importance of Sue’s new role

Finally, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy fashion, the arts, walking, reading and motorsport.

What are your short- and long-term goals?

To stabilise income, help the organisation to articulate what it does well, help it become more focused and, with the trustees and directors, provide a clear direction to take the charity up to and beyond the 100th anniversary.

What do you see as the challenges facing Combat Stress and how will the charity overcome them?

Q&A with Sue Our next issue will feature a Q&A with Sue, so if you’ve got a question you’d like to ask her, please send it to magazine@combatstress.org.uk for consideration by the end of March 2016.

Choosing where to concentrate our efforts,

24-hour Helpline: 0800 138 1619

combatstress.org.uk

“I am particularly pleased to welcome Sue to Combat Stress at this pivotal time.

I have long been aware of her interest in the work of our charity and how we help Veterans.

“Sue brings with her an in-depth knowledge of the ex-Service community, both from her practical experience with The Royal British Legion and more widely from many years of campaigning to ensure that Veterans’ issues are kept at the forefront of Government thinking.

“Sue’s arrival coincides with a time of change for Combat Stress as we approach our centenary and we adapt to meet the needs and expectations of the many younger Veterans seeking our help, while ensuring that those who have more enduring needs continue to receive the care they need.

“The fresh thinking, new and innovative ideas that are certain to be a feature of her arrival will help to make Combat Stress fit for the next 100 years.”

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BENEFACTOR PROGRAMME

Investing in our future Become one of our Benefactors to help maintain regular support for Combat Stress

£1 per week to enter

3,000 The number of active players supporting our lifechanging work

5,000 winners have shared prizes since the Lottery was launched 20

SUPPORT FOR THE FORCES LOTTERY continues to grow. We now have over 3,000 active players taking part for their chance to win up to £10,000 to support our life-changing work with Veterans across the UK. Since we launched the lottery nearly two years ago, almost 5,000 winners have shared prizes to the value of £36,555, helping to raise over £62,000 for us.

Playing The Forces Lottery is simple.

Everyone plays with a unique six-digit lottery number and each week a winning six-digit number is drawn. All you have to do is match the winning number in the correct order to win!

You can play The Forces Lottery for as little as £1 a week and be in with a chance of winning £5, £20, £500 or even £10,000. By joining through Combat Stress, you are pledging up to 50p of every £1 from your entries to us each time you play. The money goes directly towards the work we do treating and supporting Veterans with mental health conditions across the UK.

A winner’s story “If you support our Armed Services, what better organisation to support than Combat Stress, especially if like me you win £500 within a fortnight of joining the Combat Stress Lottery. Better odds than the National Lottery and a truly great cause” Mr Patrick Nicholls

£62,000 The amount you have helped raise for Combat Stress

£10,000

The amount you could win by playing WEEKLY LOTTERY

PLAY... WIN... SUPPORT

Visit theforceslottery.com or call The Forces Lottery Hotline on 0870 050 5891 to start playing today!

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ombat Stress has launched a new Benefactor programme for supporters wishing to invest in the charity on a regular basis.

The three-tier Benefactor programme will help many more Veterans get the help they need and ensure we continue providing our vital services for ex-Service men and women with mental health conditions.

Benefactors committing to the programme will receive tickets to key events, acknowledgement on the Combat Stress website and in the charity’s publications, and opportunities to meet the Combat Stress staff and leadership team.

Our first Benefactors We’d like to thank our first eight Benefactors for their generous gifts in support of our work. These Benefactors were: Silver Benefactors • The David and Claudia Harding Foundation • One anonymous donor

MAKING A CONTRIBUTION Adrian Johnson recently signed up to support Combat Stress for three years through the Benefactor programme. A big attraction for Adrian is that the programme enables donors ‘to better understand how the charity works and what it’s all about’.

Although he usually focuses his philanthropy on charities he has direct experience of, Adrian admits that Combat Stress is an exception. “It’s an excellent cause that brings to light something that is not generally known about,” he says. “As I’ve become more involved in the charity, I’ve become increasingly impressed by its work,” he adds.

Adrian has previously attended a number of Combat Stress events. Being part of the Benefactor programme will enable him to attend more functions and this was a key reason he signed up to the scheme.

The programme enables funders to support and champion specific projects within Combat Stress.

While Adrian says he is happy for ‘the people running the charity to channel funds as they see fit’,

Benefactor Adrian Johnson will support the charity for three years

he says he might pursue this opportunity later.

The advantage of signing up to a longer-term scheme also helps with financial planning.

“Making a three-year commitment suited my budgeting,” Adrian says.

Benefactors • Dr and Mrs Rami Ranger • Mr and Mrs Jens P Jensen • Mr Adrian Johnson • Three anonymous donors Current as of January 2016

Become a Benefactor To find out how to become a Benefactor to help our vital work email Nicola Wearing at nicola.wearing@combatstress.org.uk or call 01372 587 155. You can also read more about the Combat Stress Benefactor programme on our website: combatstress.org.uk/support-us/give-a-major-gift

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The Military Mind Symposium 2016

TALKING POINT

Your news and views

Senior Art Pyschotherapist Janice Lobban with General The Lord Dannatt

We regularly receive some great feedback from our supporters and Veterans about the work that we do. Here are just a few of the comments we’ve recently received: I still love hearing from you, as your works are close to my heart. My family and I do appreciate all you are doing for the ex-Service men and women in this time of stress.

Melodie Morrison, F & M H Morrison Trust “You certainly have made a difference to my son’s life in such a short time. I can’t thank you enough... amazing people doing a wonderful job!”

“As I found out, this could be the best contact you ever make.”

Paul Hanks

Stu Brooks

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TICKETS

David Snowdon, David Snowdon Trust

Star comment TIC

“You do wonderful work. Your charity is so very necessary.”

The star comment of the next issue will receive a pair of tickets to a Battle Proms picnic concert.

Keep in touch: we love to hear from you!

Facebook: Stay in touch: facebook.com/CombatStress Twitter: Follow us: @CombatStress, use #CombatStressMag LinkedIn: Search for Combat Stress to see latest updates Email: Send your comments: magazine@combatstress.org.uk

The value of Veterans in the workplace and tools for achieving good mental health

SPONSORED BY:

JOIN US and learn how you can support Veterans and Reservists working within your organisation.

9am-1.30pm Tuesday 19 April, Welcome Collection, 183 Euston Rd, London NW1 2BE

Award-winning Art Therapy Combat Stress’ Art Therapy team has been presented with a prestigious commendation at the Royal Society for Public Health’s Arts and Health Awards. Janice Lobban, Senior Art Psychotherapist, and Mark Redgrave, Art Therapist, were presented with the Special Commendation by General The Lord Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff, at the awards ceremony in November 2015. Art Therapy was introduced nationally at Combat Stress in September 2013 and is now part of all courses at our three treatment centres.

We were delighted to receive this recognition for Art Therapy – and some Veterans also shared their support for Janice on social media:

TO ATTEND For more information or to register please contact Garry Burns, Corporate Fundraising Officer, on garry.burns@combatstress.org.uk, 01372 587 158 or visit themilitarymind.combatstress.org.uk

Combat Stress is sincerely grateful to all our valued supporters including the following:

Website: Find out more: combatstress.org.uk This magazine is produced by the Communications team with help from Veterans and supporters. Thank you to everyone who has contributed towards this issue.

Please contact us with comments, letters or feature ideas (unfortunately we can’t always include everything supplied or respond to all correspondence).

Terms and conditions: The star comment will be chosen from all letters, emails and social media comments received by the end of April 2016. The winner will be able to choose which Battle Proms concert they attend – for more information on dates and venues please visit battleproms.com.

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“Thoroughly well deserved.

Continued Art Therapy sessions with Jan have been an absolute lifesaver.” Alan Walker

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TAKE A BREAK

Puzzles Take a break with these brain teasers. And if you complete the Sudoku and send it in, you could win a prize!

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Sudoku prize draw We have three pairs of tickets to the Battle Proms summer picnic concerts to give away in our puzzle prize draw.

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

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SPONSORSHIP STRATEGY STRENGTH SUPPORT TECHNIQUE YOGA

TICKE

LOTTERY MEDITATION MINDFULNESS OBSERVE OCCUPATIONAL PEER PROGRAMME

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AWARENESS BENEFACTOR COMMUNITY EVENTS FUNDRAISING HELPLINE HOLLYBUSH

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How many of our words can you find?

TIC

Wordsearch

Name: Address:

Previous winners!

Two of our lucky previous winners in the Combat Stress hoodies they won as prizes.

Margaret Chambers (left) and Valerie Brown

Telephone: Email: Please tick this box if you are happy to receive emails from Combat Stress

Terms and Conditions: The prize draw is free to enter. Not open to staff of Combat Stress. Competition closing date is end of March 2016. The winners will be drawn after this date and notified. Winners will be able to choose which Battle Proms concert they attend. For more information on dates and venues please visit battleproms.com.

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