They fight our wars. We fight their battles.
News
www.combatstress.org.uk | Newsletter of the Ex-Services mental welfare society | winter 2012
Out of the shadows How we’re helping Veterans of the Northern Ireland conflict
focus
War photographer Intimate portraits of Veterans PLUS
thank you Your amazing fundraising stories
Registered Charity Number: 206002. Charity Number Scotland: SC 038828. Company limited by guarantee: Registration Number 256353
Banishing stigma Update on The Enemy Within Appeal
The brief
Intelligence
News/Campaigns/stats
by Chief Executive Andrew Cameron
Committed to our cause As my first year as Chief Executive draws to a close, this is a good time to take stock and update you on progress at Combat Stress. Combat Stress services are developing quite quickly. We can now help more Veterans than ever and we are trying hard to deliver the best, speediest and most appropriate care. We’ve been commissioned by the NHS in England to deliver a six-week PTSD programme for 224 Veterans per year. So far, 30 Veterans have completed it, with outcomes, at this stage, better than the international benchmark. I am working to provide equity of access to treatment for all our services, wherever our almost 5,000 Veterans are in the UK, but this relies on obtaining the right level of funding. We’re committed to improving still further the support that we provide, but we can’t do what we do on our own. To this end, we are working with other Service charities, including the Royal British Legion, SSAFA Forces Help, the various Service Benevolent Trusts/Funds and Help for Heroes. We need to do all this because last year we saw another 10% increase in requests for help from Veterans (both Regulars and Reservists). More Veterans in their twenties and thirties are making contact – many of whom served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our 14 Community Outreach Teams are all up and running, so we can now see far more people than we could at our three Treatment Centres alone. Our 24-hour Helpline (0800 138 1619) is approaching its first anniversary and, judging by the response, is proving a godsend to potential patients and carers seeking initial advice. See page 9 for more information. It is critical that we explain the situation faced by Veterans suffering from psychological injury and encourage those still suffering in silence to get help. So, on 10 October 2011 we launched a two-year mental health anti-stigma campaign. The launch attracted extensive media coverage in national and local newspapers, and on TV and radio. Our launch event at the Houses of Parliament attracted support from the media, politicians, civil servants and military and mental health charities. We’ll be building on this success in the coming months by reaching out to GPs and other medical professionals who treat Veterans. It promises to be a busy year for us and I thank you for your support.
2 COMBAT STRESS news | winter 2012
Fundraising at the Tower An event at the Tower of London raised vital funds for Combat Stress On the evening of 21 September, The Tower of London opened its doors to 550 guests for a unique event – ‘Heroes at the Tower’. On arrival, guests were presented to the Constable of The Tower of London, General The Lord Dannatt, and CoChairman, Mrs Julian Holloway. The guests enjoyed a champagne reception — sponsored by Diageo — the pageantry of the Band of HM Royal Marines, Portsmouth,
and a charity auction led by Nicholas Bonham. The organising committee, chaired by Lord Dannatt, did a wonderful job of putting on a truly spectacular evening, raising over £165,000 for three charities, with Combat Stress receiving £66,271. We would like to thank all of the committee members who made this evening possible. Thanks also to all Combat Stress staff and volunteers who helped ensure the event ran smoothly.
www.combatstress.org.uk
Intelligence
Veterans cook up a storm Veterans from our Audley Court Treatment Centre have started working with Shrewsbury Town Football Club on an 18-month pilot scheme called ‘Active 8’. Once a fortnight, a group from Audley Court — accompanied by the Occupational Therapy team — spends a day at the club ground, where they learn how to prepare and cook a low-budget yet nutritious three-course meal, tour the stadium, participate in training and attend a photography skills session. The programme aims to help Veterans restore their confidence, motivation and social skills.
The Totaliser
23%
of all calls to our helpline are seeking help for someone else, for example a partner, family member or friend
528
THE TOTAL PLEDGES OF SUPPORT WE’VE RECEIVED SO FAR FOR THE ENEMY WITHIN APPEAL
Building community links
READ MORE ON PAGE 6
Audley Court is forging stronger links with the community in Shropshire and Staffordshire. Residents from HM Prison & Young Offenders Institution Stoke Heath have been working in the gardens of Audley Court. In return, Join the Combat Stress community! Audley Court staff To share your views and read the have assisted in training prison staff latest news, become our friend on at Stoke Heath. Facebook by ‘liking’ our page. Whether Some Veterans you’re a Veteran, family member or end up in the Criminal Justice support the work we do, we’d System, so the love to hear from you. scheme hopes to www.facebook.com/combatstress raise awareness of Combat Stress, as HELPS US RUN well as Combat Stress is delighted to be named ONLINE RESEARCH encouraging as an official charity partner for the Inter INTO THE VIEWS Veterans Services T20 tournament, held at Lord's AND NEEDS OF to seek cricket ground on 19 June. Tickets are VETERANS help sooner. available from www.interservicesT20.co.uk
£25
WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK
Bowled over!
953 The number of new volunteer fundraisers in 2011. To join them, see our events calendar with this issue
81%
OF VETERANS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILL HEALTH REVEALED THAT THEY FEEL ASHAMED OR EMBARRASSED ABOUT THEIR CONDITION, IN RESPONSE TO OUR RECENT SURVEY*
212
The number of Veterans we are currently supporting who served in the Falklands War *Combat Stress survey, Stigma and Veterans’ mental health (2011)
WINTER 2012 | COMBAT STRESS NEWS 3
Fundraising
Thank you!
£30
pays for a one-hour session with a registered Mental Health Nurse
£750
Last year was a bumper year for donations to Combat Stress and, as ever, we are extremely grateful for the array of imaginative and generous ways you’ve found to raise money. From proms, parties and fairs, to treks, rugby matches and marathons, here are some of the events you took part in to help our cause… On their way Cycling towards the sun On 19 September, Nathan Jones set off on his epic journey, cycling from the UK to Japan. You can follow his journey through an online blog and photo gallery at www.cyclingtowardsthesun. co.uk. We wish Nathan a safe journey and thank him for all his fundraising efforts.
Battle Proms reaches £100,000 target
Rugby hero Lawrence Dallaglio shows his support
For the seventh consecutive year, we collected at the very successful Battle Proms concerts and, in 2011, we hit the grand total of £100,000! A very special thank you to everyone who has helped us achieve this and to JSL Productions who invite us to every show and who also kindly donate to the charity. Raising cash – and smiles – at the Battle Proms 2011
A real fundraising drive In November, Ed HolfordWalker and Humphrey Teakle began their journey to travel 15,000 miles through more than 20 countries in their 1994 Toyota Surf. The guys will drive through some amazing countries, including Egypt, Kenya and Ethiopia. We are very grateful for their support and wish them a safe trip. To sponsor them visit www.wix.com/uktosa/uktosa Singing out in support There are currently a number of singles on release from our musically talented supporters. These include the community of Royal Wootton Bassett’s cover of Green Day’s Wake me Up When September Ends (www.woottonbassettrocks. co.uk); the powerful Take the Queen’s Shilling by Fired Up, featuring lyrics by Veteran Jonathan Counsell (www.firedupband.co.uk); and Annie Henry’s moving Other Mothers’ Sons, which she wrote after visiting Flanders Fields (www. anniehenry.com).
pays for a Community Outreach Team for a day
Great game, great collection! Combat Stress was one of the charities that received proceeds from ticket sales and a collection at the St George’s Day rugby match. The game between Wasps and Bath was held on a real scorcher of a day, and a great crowd donated a fabulous £7,878.86. Also many thanks to Wasps and to former England rugby team captain Lawrence Dallaglio, who came to meet us at Tyrwhitt House.
The year of the runner
Coast-to-coast trek raises cash In November, around 90 members of the 73 Armoured Engineer Squadron, led by Sgt Kyle Graham, trekked from St Bees, Cumbria, to Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire, in a non-stop relay. It was a wonderful effort by all – with the Squadron walking 197 miles, day and night, over four days – and has so far raised over £7,500. The walk took place in memory of Section Commander Paul Harris, who sadly ended his own life in May 2011 after returning from Afghanistan.
4 COMBAT STRESS NEWS | WINTER 2012
Last year was very busy for our runners and we would like to thank them for raising nearly £100,000 in total! In October, 40 runners participated in the popular Royal Parks Half Marathon on our behalf – raising a fantastic £16,406.41. Congratulations also to Trooper (Tpr) James Mashiter, Tpr Ed Cain, 2Lt Alex Vakil and Tpr Al Campbell-Grieve, who took part in the Somme Marathon, covering 26 miles through World War I battlefields. They raised a superb £1,371.25!
Emma versus the volcanoes In October, Emma Clink took on the might of three of Italy’s volcanoes, scaling Mount Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano in just three days. Faced with eruptions, torrid journeys over water and a terrifying sprint down the side of Stromboli to escape a lightning storm, Emma still managed to complete her challenge and raised a total of £1,915.
WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK
Fundraising
Fundraisers trekked the length of the Skeleton Coast
Armed Forces fundraisers A big thank you to RAF Cottesmore and the No 4 School of Technical Training for their continued generous support. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to the Royal Navy Faslane Branch, who raised over £2,500 at its Annual Dinner, and to RAF Cosford, who recently donated £500.
Remembrance Day support Thanks to the Royal Hospital Chelsea Chapel, St Nicholas Chute with Chute Forest, St James Chipping Campden and to all the churches and congregations that have supported us throughout the year. We’re very grateful for your support, particularly at Armistice.
A Namibian adventure Joanna Binns undertook an incredible threeweek endurance test to trek unsupported 400km along the remote and beautiful Skeleton Coast in Namibia. Her team carried 35kg of kit and no fresh water (each night, they had to pump 700 litres of seawater and then desalinate it for drinking!). Joanna raised £973.75 for us.
Winter Fair fundraiser For the third year, Ruth Smith, Pamela Marenbach and a team of volunteers held an annual Winter Fair in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Former broadcast war reporter Martin Bell opened the event on 5 November, which raised a terrific £1,686.
Combat Stress Scotland We have had fantastic support from our Scottish fundraisers. Among the many, here are just a few: Forfar local Wink Ogilvy held an evening talk about a vintage car race from Peking to Paris and raised over £2,800; the Order of St Lazarus held a dinner on 22 October in Irvine, raising £1,500; and a ball organised in Carnoustie’s Golf Hotel on the same date raised over £2,000. Also in October, Hawick PSA’s choir night raised over £3,800.
Kilimanjaro Silver Wedding A romantic meal wasn’t enough for Ian and Vicky Tinsley when they were planning their 25th wedding celebrations – they decided to take on Mount Kilimanjaro instead! Despite encountering unfavourable weather conditions, the couple made their final advance up the mountain on Remembrance Day and Ian continued to climb to Africa’s highest point, Uhuru. So far, Ian and Vicky have raised over £1,200.
Lord Haddington, who held a shoot at Mellerstain Hall on the Scottish Borders and raised £1,750. Eighteen-year old Charles Fahie, who cycled over 2,000km solo from his home in Ipswich to Sweden – raising £993.75. Thank you for such a terrific undertaking! Allan Bell, who punched above his weight to raise over £400 for Combat Stress in a gruelling five-hour Boxercise event. Emma King-Farlow for ‘Warriors Remembering the Brave’, an evening of poetry, music and drama that raised £870.
Mike and Irene Lowe, and the staff and customers of the Scrum Half 2 pub in Pontypool. The bar’s collection tin raised an amazing £1,688 during 2011. William and Josephine Miller, who opened their garden for Combat Stress on a glorious warm day in July. The garden has stunning views over Cumbria, and visitors raised over £400.
Calling all Mayors! We are always honoured to be the chosen charity to benefit from Mayors’ Appeals. We would especially like to thank Cllr Andrew Palfreeman who, during his term as Mayor of Kirklees, raised an amazing £44,000 through a host of inspiring events and activities. As well as raising vital funds, the
appeal has also greatly increased awareness throughout the Kirklees community of the work that Combat Stress does. If you would like to choose Combat Stress for your local Mayor’s Appeal, or would like more information, contact Jo Grace on 01372 587 146 or email jo.grace@combatstress. org.uk
We are grateful to everyone who has given their valuable time and energy to promote and fundraise on our behalf. Your stories and commitment are spectacular and we are sorry we only have room to mention a few.
www.combatstress.org.uk
Combat Stress would like to give special thanks to these people for their support:
Wg Cdr Mal Craghill, who took part in the Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest event in Nottingham – an extreme 12km urban adventure – and raised £488.
Mal Craghill took part in an extreme adventure for us
Hell on the Humber August saw David Phillips, a former student nurse at Tyrwhitt House, take part in ‘Hell on the Humber’, a 12-hour night-time endurance race in which participants ran around a four-mile track along the Humber Bridge. Phillips racked up a mammoth total of 50 miles in only 11.5 hours, raising £745 for Combat Stress. As if that wasn’t punishment enough, in February this year, David is tackling the ‘Enigma Quadzilla’ – that’s four marathons in four days!
You’ve been fantastic!
Henry Hyde, Battlegames magazine For the past three years, Henry has run a campaign in Battlegames to raise funds for us. This year he achieved his target, with contributions topping £10,000! Epsom College, Oundle School, Brancrofts School CCF and all the educational establishments who have supported us in 2011. Together you raised an incredible £11,000.
winter 2012 | COMBAT STRESS news 5
The Enemy Within Appeal
Appeal update Since March 2010, when we launched The Enemy Within Appeal, we have received £22.25 million towards our £30 million target. Thank you so much for your support in making such a huge amount in such difficult times. We have already started putting this money to good use. We have established our network of 14 multi-disciplinary Community Outreach Teams to care for people more effectively in the community and improved our treatment and rehabilitation programmes. We have also (with funding from the Department of Health) launched the 24hr Helpline. In the three months since we launched our anti-stigma campaign, 53% more people have contacted us for support compared with the same three months last year. And we’ve reduced the average delay Veterans wait before seeking help from 14.3 years to 13.1 years. However, this is still too long for Veterans to suffer and there remains much more to do.
£30m
£20m
£10m
6 COMBAT STRESS NEWS | WINTER 2012
Battling The Enemy Within Too many Veterans wait too long before seeking help. But The Enemy Within Appeal is helping to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental ill health, encouraging more Veterans to come forward. Here, we highlight the campaign’s achievements so far – and how you can help…
WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK
How can you help? Make a donation to help us raise the last £7.75 million of our £30 million target.
Right: The Rt Hon John Bercow MP. Below: Launching the Anti-Stigma campaign at the Speaker’s State Apartments
Tell your GP about our campaign and ask them to visit our website (we have a special area for medical professionals), so they can better help their Veteran patients. Call a Veteran you know to say hello. They may be lonely and just want to hear from a friend. Host an event or do a sponsored run. See the leaflet included with this issue for more. Visit www.combatstress.org.uk We’ve recently added new information to it... and in April we’ll have a new website!
Last year, Combat Stress saw a 10% rise in the number of ex-Service men and women turning to us for help. But sadly, Veterans still wait an average of just over 13 years after leaving the Services before seeking our help. This is too long for Veterans, and their families, to suffer, and the delay often leads to additional mental health and social problems. Relationships falter, marriages break down and, in a few sad cases, Veterans succumb to suicidal thoughts. Many suffer in silence and don’t know where to turn for help. A shocking one in three of our Veterans say that the fear of stigma prevents them from even telling their own families about their suffering. We need Veterans to be able to come to us sooner for the help that they so desperately need. To help them achieve this, we must address three key things: The lack of education and understanding about mental health issues. The fear of stigma and discrimination that surrounds Veterans’ mental health. The isolation of Veterans with wounded minds who feel alone and are too ashamed or embarrassed to seek help. So, on 10 October 2011, World Mental Health Day, we launched the second phase of The Enemy Within Appeal – a UK-wide campaign largely funded by Comic Relief – to raise awareness of the hidden wounds
www.combatstress.org.uk
of conflict and to address the issue of stigma that surrounds Veterans’ mental health. To spread the word, we’ve been working hard to highlight the Appeal in the news, online and at a special event. With your support we will achieve this sooner, and ensure that all Veterans with wounded minds, and their families, know where to turn for help (see panel, above right).
The Enemy Within Appeal… … in the news We’ve talked extensively to the media, resulting in 175 pieces of print and broadcast coverage across the UK, including an appearance by Veteran Neil Blower on the BBC Breakfast sofa, as well as interviews on 15 regional BBC and commercial radio stations. The Daily Star Sunday – read by over 700,000 people – also ran a one-page feature on us. The potential audience for this activity was over 9.3 million people. And we are always grateful to our media partner, The Telegraph, for their support of The Enemy Within Appeal. … at Westminster Our friends and partners in the mental health and military communities, representatives of the current and future Veteran community, as well as Parliamentarians, all attended the successful launch of the second phase of
The Enemy Within Appeal at the Speaker’s State Apartments in the Palace of Westminster, hosted by The Speaker, The Rt Hon John Bercow MP. In his welcome, The Speaker highlighted that over 80% of Veterans are ashamed or embarrassed about their mental health problems. Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West and a member of the Royal Naval Reserve, spoke passionately about his reasons for supporting Combat Stress and the plight of Veterans suffering from psychological injuries. Our president, General Sir Reddy Watt KCB KCVO CBE urged guests to spread the word about our vital work to raise awareness of the suffering of Veterans with wounded minds, and to address the stigma that so often prevents people from coming forward for help. … and online We’ve also created an online pledge page where you can pledge support to The Enemy Within Appeal. Visit www.combatstress.org.uk and click ‘Enemy Within’ for more information and to sign the pledge. We have even got prolific Twitteruser and comedian Stephen Fry to tweet his many followers about our campaign. At the time of going to press, a remarkable 528 people had pledged their support. Scan the QR code (above) with your smartphone to visit our pledge page.
winter 2012 | COMBAT STRESS news 7
Supporting Veterans
Help for Reservists A dedicated Combat Stress team is reaching out to those from the Reserve Forces, who may have mental health problems
The TA and Reserve Forces Liaison Officers: Lt Cdr (Retd) Glen MacDonald (left) and Col (Retd) Tony Phillips MBE (right)
V
eterans of the full-time Forces are not the only Armed Forces personnel who may suffer from PTSD and other mental health problems – those from the Reserve Forces can also feel its effects. In fact, The Kings Centre for Military Health Research suggests that UK Reservists deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely to experience PTSD than their regular counterparts. Around 9% of British troops serving in Afghanistan come from the Reserve Forces of all three Armed Services – but primarily from the Territorial Army (TA). It is vital that those who develop mental health problems know where to get help. The MoD operates a Reserves Mental Health Programme, but some Reservists are either unaware of it or reluctant to engage with it for fear it could affect their chances of being redeployed.
How are we helping Reservists?
Reservists are often more reluctant to seek help than their Regular counterparts
Reservists can receive all our specialist services, just like Veterans. But we wanted to do more to reach out to Reserve Units and the men and women who serve in them. In June 2011, Combat Stress launched a TA and Reserve Forces Liaison Team to encourage Reservists with mental health problems to seek help. Led by Major (Retd) Mike Burrows, the team comprises Col (Retd) Tony Phillips MBE, the Liaison Officer for England and Wales, and Lt Cdr (Retd) Glen MacDonald, the Liaison Officer for Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. They work part-time and are funded by the Westminster Foundation. The team’s role is to liaise with the military chain of command and Reserve Forces of all three Services – as well as relevant NHS and Veterans’ organisations – to raise awareness of Reservists’ mental health issues and make them aware of the assistance and treatment available through Combat Stress.
Promoting the charity
supportive of the Team’s work and are keen to promote the charity. “Everybody understands and accepts that this is an issue that needs tackling,” he says. “They are keen for us to help their troops, as well as encourage the Reservists to seek help before they descend into a downward spiral that leads to more serious problems. “Reservists are often more hesitant to seek help than their Regular counterparts. Regulars can speak to their chain of command and readily access in-house MoD treatment, but Reservists, once demobilised, go back to being members of the public and may not know who to go to for help.” Some Reserve Units are interested in using the Team in part of the process of debriefing Reservists after their deployment, says Glen. “This would help to build up knowledge and understanding of the work Combat Stress does, and hopefully encourage Reservists to come forward when they first develop symptoms of mental health disorders.” Glen explains: “It’s important that Combat Stress reaches out to Reservists and provides them with help – otherwise we fear they will suffer in silence. Early intervention is the key.” For more information on how we help Veterans, visit www.combatstress.org.uk
Regular and Volunteer Reservists: the differences Regular Reservists Members of the Armed Forces who leave the Services can still be recalled in times of need and are therefore known as the Regular Reserve. How long they remain in the Regular Reserve depends on certain factors, such as the length of their Regular Service, age and gender. Volunteer Reservists The three Volunteer Reserve Forces consist of the Maritime Reserve, made up of the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Marines Reserve, the Territorial Army (TA), and the Royal Air Force Reserve. Reservists lead civilian lives until they are called up, when they are treated the same as their Regular counterparts.
Tony says Reserve Units have been very
8 COMBAT STRESS news | winter 2012
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Supporting Veterans
A lifeline for Veterans The Combat Stress Helpline provides vital 24-hour telephone, text and email support for Veterans, their families and serving military personnel
Helpline in 2011: the stats
Calls per month 615
650 600 550 500 450
392
414
400 350 300
286
250
his own, not wishing to disturb his wife. But, since March this year, he has had someone to talk to. That was when Combat Stress launched a 24-hour helpline. The voice on the other end of the phone has made all the difference to his life.
Since its launch on 11 March 2011, the Combat Stress Helpline has handled over 4,000 calls. The article below includes extracts from a longer piece by Dr Max Pemberton that first appeared in the Daily Telegraph: Several times a week, Peter [not his real name] wakes up in the dead of night. It takes a while for him to catch his breath. He is sweating profusely and the sheets are wringing wet. He is shaking and often crying. Slowly, his nightmare
“The voice on the other end of the phone has made all the difference” fades. Still breathless, he gets up, splashes water on his face and makes a cup of tea to steady his nerves. Then he sits in the friendless silence of his kitchen, thinking. He cannot tell me – a doctor, but a stranger to him – what his nightmares are about; only that for years he had to manage them on
WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK
For Peter and hundreds of other Veterans and their loved ones around the UK, the Helpline is a vital lifeline. Operated for Combat Stress by the mental health charity Rethink, the Helpline staff understand the unique needs of Veterans and provide support and advice, as well as signposting callers to other organisations that can help them. The Helpline is a key part of the range of services that we provide and is a first step for many of those who end up needing more intensive support from Combat Stress. Conversely, many Veterans who are already supported by one of our Community Outreach teams or who already visit a Treatment Centre, also contact the Helpline. Some call in the dead of night – during those dark and lonely hours when they feel most vulnerable. Most calls, however, are made during the day and range from family members seeking help for a loved one, to serving personnel and Veterans requesting advice about practical issues like access to housing or benefits. For all of them, the 24-hour Helpline is making a real difference. Call the Helpline on 0800 138 1619, text 07537 404 719, or email combatstress@rethink.org
200 150
MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Calls by area ENGLAND
2,569
WALES
123
NORTHERN IRELAND
UNKNOWN
241
204
OUTSIDE UK SCOTLAND
12
844
Gender of callers
MALE 2,937 FEMALE 1,056
WINTER 2012 | COMBAT STRESS NEWS 9
When we visit Veterans, we could be going to a high-risk area where we could come under attack
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Supporting Veterans
After the Troubles Veterans in Northern Ireland who served in the Troubles still live in fear of attack. It poses a unique set of problems for the Combat Stress regional team, which is determined to help these mentally scarred ex-Service men and women
*Not his real name. Photograph posed by a model
W
hen Northern Irish soldiers return home from Afghanistan, they find their country a safe environment. For Veterans of the Troubles, however, it is a different story – living in the country in which they served means they never feel safe. As a result, Combat Stress faces challenges unlike any encountered elsewhere to help them. From 1969 to 2007, thousands of British Armed Forces personnel were stationed in Northern Ireland, making it the longest continuous deployment in the British Army’s history. Of those who served, more than 2,600 Veterans are currently receiving support from Combat Stress – and hundreds of them live in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The fear of being targeted by paramilitary activists forces many to live in homes installed with bomb-proof doors, bullet-proof windows, security cameras, and panic alarms linked to the police station – constant reminders that, for them, the Troubles are not over.
Living in fear So how does the regional team help Veterans to rebuild their lives? “It is difficult,” admits Warren Jones*, one of three Regional Welfare Officers who cover Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. “The country has moved on quite a bit and it’s not as bad as it was during the
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Troubles, but there are still people intent on continuing the problems. “When I visit Veterans, I can hear the bolts on the front door being undone. When I enter, they bolt the door behind me. I do the same – at home, I go round checking the doors are locked. And every day, before I get in my car, I check underneath it for bombs.”
‘We’re potential targets too’ The Welfare Officers are all ex-Service men. During their military careers they came to the attention of paramilitaries so they know that they, too, are potential targets. “We don’t discuss our work with people we don’t know,” says Warren. “When we visit Veterans, we could be going to a high-risk area and could come under attack while there. In some cases, while we have been visiting a house, the Veterans have seen paramilitary activists outside.” Warren says paramilitary groups use psychological tactics to play on Veterans’ fears, ultimately affecting their mental health. “Many of the lads aren’t allowed to get on with their lives,” says Warren. “One Veteran had a hearse arrive at his home. His teenage son answered the door and the undertaker gave his condolences and said he was there to collect the body of his father.”
How we are helping Combat Stress has three “patches” in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with each Welfare Officer responsible for one area. They spend four days a week on the road, visiting Veterans, and are
supported by a Community Psychiatric Nurse and two Mental Health Practitioners, as well as three desk officers. Owing to the security risks associated with their work, the team must be careful when raising awareness of Combat Stress. Warren says: “We tend to promote the charity within the ex-Service community. If Veterans need help, they usually go to military organisations such as the Royal British Legion or their regimental association. If we can keep our profile high within those environments then hopefully we will be able to pick those lads up. “We don’t hide what we do, but we don’t stand up at public meetings and talk about it either.”
Building rapport With so many risks to his job, why is Warren so dedicated to helping Veterans? “Being an ex-Service man, I look at these lads as part of the family,” he explains. “We need to stick together and look after them. The biggest issue Veterans have is trust. They are suspicious of everyone. One of the first things they ask when they meet me is if I am ex-Service. When they find out I am, they begin to build a rapport with me and start to open up. “When I tell them about Combat Stress, I can see the relief in their eyes that they’ve found somewhere to get the treatment they need.” For more Veterans’ stories and information on how to support Combat Stress visit www.combatstress.org.uk
winter 2012 | COMBAT STRESS news 11
Corporate Fundraising
Giving big Charles Russell has raised a huge total for Combat Stress as part of their Charity of the Year initiative We would like to say a big thank you to the staff across all of law firm Charles Russell’s offices for their support over the past 12 months, as part of our Charity of the Year Partnership. The Charles Russell staff have channelled their creativity and energy in a variety of ways, helping them to raise over
£42,000. This is the equivalent of: 385 consultations with one of our psychiatrists; or 184 domiciliary visits from one of our Regional Welfare Officers; or 20 weeks of intensive treatment for Veterans with PTSD at one of our short-stay treatment centres.
Charles Russell’s year in fundraising DECEMBER 2010
FEBRUARY 2011
MARCH
Christmas Fayres, raffle and a CD sale
Pancake flipping competition
Tea at the races
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
Bake sales, breakfast event and Easter egg raffles
Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge
Breakfast event
10K run, Kindle raffle and strawberries and cream event
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
The Trainee Solicitors challenge
The Royal Parks Half Marathon
Inspired? There are many ways we can work together. Our professional and dedicated partnership team will work closely with you to create a powerful and mutually beneficial partnership. Whatever the size of your organisation or level of commitment you can give, we can work together to make a difference to the lives of our Veterans. To find out more about Charity of the Year Partnerships, please visit www.combatstress.org.uk or call Michelle Campbell on 01372 587 167.
Employee Fundraising – how to get involved If you would like to support us in your workplace on a smaller scale, Payroll Giving is a fantastic way to get involved. Payroll Giving is a simple and tax-effective scheme that allows you to regularly donate to Combat Stress directly from your gross salary. This means that it costs you less to give more – a £10 donation will only cost you £8 or, if you are a higher rate taxpayer, only £6. Regular donations also reduce our administration costs so that we can spend more of your donation on providing vital service to Veterans. For more information, call Cathy Long on 01372 587 152 or visit our website www.combatstress.org.uk and click on the ‘donate now’ button.
12 COMBAT STRESS NEWS | WINTER 2012
Your feedback counts Thanks to responses to our reader survey, we’ve identified ways to save vital funds We had a fantastic response to the survey we sent out with the Autumn 2011 issue of Combat Stress News – 1,991 of you filled in the questionnaire. As a result, we feel we’ve got to know you far better and would like to share some of the feedback with you. Of supporters who filled out the questionnaire, 84% told us they were happy not to receive thank-you letters in response to donations. It costs us at least 40p for each thankyou letter we send – if the same percentage of all our supporters agreed they didn’t need one, we would save £9,802 sending just one batch of letters. A number of you commented on our website so we’re pleased to tell you that it is currently being re-developed to include far more information – for supporters, Veterans and families. Over 40% of those surveyed have links with the military. Lots of you were kind enough to provide us with your email address. We know that internet access isn’t possible for all of our supporters but if you have an email address please do let us know. In the future, we hope to email many more of our mailings, meaning we could save thousands of pounds each year. Many of you indicated you are interested in attending one of our events, so we’ve included our first-ever events planner with this issue!
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Supporting Veterans
Get involved with the project The next stage for Jake will be to support our upcoming promotional work commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict, and our anti-stigma campaign. If you are a Combat Stress Veteran and would like to be photographed for either of these projects, please speak to your usual Combat Stress contact or email: neil. cox@combatstress.org.uk You can see more images from Jake’s week at Hollybush on his website: www.jakesugden. photoshelter.com
Close-up on Veterans Photographer Jake Sugden writes about his striking project with Combat Stress to capture the legacy of conflict on film “Early in my project at the treatment centre, I attended a group session about anger. The image above [taken from a whiteboard at the session] brought home something that I saw a lot of during the week: guilt about the effects of the Veterans’ actions on others.” Jake says:
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“I’ve been interested in the extraordinary mental aptitude of Service men since my time working on submarines during the 1980s. The memories I have are of comradeship, pride and professionalism – but 25 years on, the mood is very different. “I am a Documentary Photographer, working on a project with Combat Stress to capture in images the issues the organisation deals with. I hope to bring to light the unseen legacy of conflict and the effects that this has on individuals, families and communities. “To gain insight into the workings of Combat Stress, I recently spent a week at one of its residential treatment centres, Hollybush House in Ayrshire.
“After months of meetings and checks, I’d describe my first day as ‘edgy’. I sat on the periphery of group sessions, activities and meals – Veterans were wary of me and kept me at arm’s length. But gradually they began to trust me and, as a result, my photos became more meaningful and emotive. I was even invited to accompany one of the Veterans on a visit to the barber’s [pictured, above]. “I was immensely impressed with one of its residential treatments centres, Hollybush, and with the selfless work of Combat Stress. I was equally impressed with the bravery of those individuals who confront their fears and put themselves in the hands of professionals, so that they may begin to deal with their suffering.”
winter 2012 | COMBAT STRESS news 13
Meet Our Team
C
ommunity Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) are on the front line of providing care and support to Veterans. Their role is broadly similar
to that of Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) – for example, both run client support groups and visit Veterans at home. However, while MHPs may be nurses, counsellors, occupation therapists or social workers, CPNs always have nursing backgrounds. In November last year, the crucial work of Combat Stress’s South Wales Community Outreach Team was recognised when it was nominated for an award at the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards 2012, as part of the All Wales Veterans Health and Wellbeing Service. Their nomination was placed in the top three in two categories: the Mental Health award and the Care of Veterans award. Jake Rattray, the Outreach Team’s CPN, represented Combat Stress at the Awards. Below, Jake tells us about the top five things he has learnt during his time with Combat Stress.
Five things I’ve learnt Community Psychiatric Nurse Jake Rattray helps Veterans see the light at the end of the tunnel. He shares his top five learning points
1
Partnership working is the way forward
“As part of the All Wales Veterans Health and Wellbeing Service, Combat Stress works with the NHS, Veterans Welfare Service, Royal British Legion and the Welsh Government. We all meet regularly to discuss the best ways to proceed. It feels right that these organisations are involved with each other and it’s so important for joined-up thinking.”
2
Clients really value the groups we run
“We run five groups and the guys get a lot out of it. The peer support element is crucial because they can meet up with others who are in the same boat. It helps that there is a mix of participants – some clients will have struggled to get there that day, while others are back in employment or education. When I first met one client, he wouldn’t even leave his house, but he became a very active member of the group and has now even signed up to a do a counselling course at college.”
14 COMBAT STRESS news | winter 2012
J a k e R at t r ay Community Psychiatric Nurse, Combat Stress South Wales Community Outreach Team
3
Feedback from clients makes you realise the difference we make
“It was an emotional moment when a client first told me, ‘If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be alive today.’ It’s not something you ever want to get blasé about, but you do hear it regularly. Once you visit Veterans in the community, they begin to realise that they’re not alone – someone actually gives a damn. After they start attending groups, they begin to see they can deal with their problems. Whereas before they could only go to their GP, now they have Combat Stress too.”
4
Support for Veterans in Wales is amazing
“Because of high unemployment, the Welsh Valleys is a recruitment hotspot for the Army
– guys can use it as an escape route. It seems every family has a member in the Armed Forces. This means lots of charities have been started but sometimes, unfortunately, because money is involved, you do worry about the motives of the people who set them up. So although communities are supportive, we have to be careful about who we recommend Veterans get involved with.”
5
I’m shocked that outdated ideas from the 1970s and 80s still exist
“I used to be a Chief Clerk in the Armed Forces and part of my role was to discharge soldiers. It seemed one minute they were good soldiers and the next they were bad – when really they were suffering from mental health problems. These could manifest in drunkenness or not showing up for parade, for example. But instead of finding out what was behind such behaviour, for some units, it was easier to send them back to Civvy Street. Although issues around mental health are better recognised now, some units still merely get rid of people rather than tackle the root problem.”
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Your Gift to Donations a Veteran
How can I help?
Combat Stress is dedicated to helping those who have suffered wounded minds as a result of their Military Service. Through our Community Outreach service, we visit Veterans at home to see how best we can help. Through our three Centres, we provide treatment to help Veterans cope and to enjoy a better quality of life. Name Address
With so many ways to give, supporting Veterans with a donation to Combat Stress has never been easier…
Postcode Telephone
We are enormously grateful to our growing number of supporters. Without your generous donations, we would not be able to deliver vital care to the Veterans who so desperately need our help. Your support means we can continue to provide hope to Veterans with psychological injuries.
Give online Want a quick, easy and hassle-free way to give? Donate at www.combatstress.org.uk. A host of new features are now available on our website. If you register in our donations area, you’ll be able to update your contact details, see your giving history and change your mailing preferences. We’ll be adding more features during the year, so watch this space! For more information about online donations, please contact Yasmin Niblett on 01372 587 153 or email yasmin.niblett@ combatstress.org.uk
£10
will help us provide materials for our Art Therapy work
£9.17 per month, over a year, pays for a consultation with a psychiatrist
Mail your support Prefer to donate by cheque or postal order? Please send to Combat Stress, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BX, making cheques payable to ‘Combat Stress’.
I wish to help ex-Service men and women. Please find enclosed my donation of £
OR please debit my: Credit/Debit/CAF Card (delete as appropriate) Card No: Expiry Date: Security Code: (last 3 digits of the number on the signature strip)
Recycle
Donating by text couldn’t be easier – in the body of your text simply write PTSD00 followed by the amount you wish to donate, and send to 70070. Text donations will either be deducted from your mobile phone credit or added to your bill – and you won’t pay any VAT on your contribution.
Direct Debit
Giving in your Will
Regular donations reduce our administration costs, meaning we can spend more of your cash on the vital services we provide to Veterans. It also means we can plan our work better as we have a reliable source of income. You can donate as frequently as you like – most of our supporters give monthly to spread the cost. For further information, call Cathy Long on 01372 587 152 or email cathy.long@combatstress.org.uk
Leaving a gift in your Will is a great way to ensure that your generosity continues beyond your own lifetime. For further information, call Charlotte French on 01372 587 144 or email charlotte.french@ combatstress.org.uk.
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01372 587 151 I enclose a cheque/postal order/CAF voucher made payable to Combat Stress.
Our recycling scheme allows us to generate valuable funds through electronic waste, such as old mobile phones and printer ink cartridges. We can provide you with freepost envelopes or, alternatively, if you work in an office, we can arrange for a collection box to be delivered to your workplace and collected once full. For more information call Nikki Catling on 01372 587 151 or email nikki.catling@ combatstress.org.uk.
Mobile donations
I am happy to receive emails from Combat Stress
To make a donation over the phone, or to make a monthly direct debit, please call
For more information on any method of donating, please visit www.combatstress.org.uk and click the ‘Donate Now’ button.
Start Date:
Issue No:
Signature: Cardholder’s name (if different from above)
Please tick this box if you would like to receive a thank-you letter. WNL12 If you are a UK taxpayer (remember, pensions are taxed too) we can reclaim the tax you have already paid on the money you give to help our work. For every £1 you donate we are able to claim an additional 25p from the Inland Revenue. So far, this financial year, we have raised over £250,000 to help our Veterans.
Simply tick the box below: Yes, I am a UK taxpayer and wish Combat Stress to reclaim the tax on all donations I have made since 01/04/07 until I notify them otherwise. The Inland Revenue has asked us to remind you that you must pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the tax we reclaim on your donations in the tax year.
You must complete the name and address box above for us to reclaim your tax. Please return this completed form to: The Director of Fundraising, Combat Stress, Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BX Registered Charity Number: 206002 Charity Number Scotland: SC 038828 Company limited by guarantee: Registration Number 256353
SPRING 2012 | COMBAT STRESS NEWS 9
Fundraising
Do you have space for a Combat Stress clothing bank? Find out how you could turn unwanted clothing into money to support Veterans‌ Combat Stress is delighted that clothing bank charity Greenlight Enterprise Limited is raising much needed funds for us. If you know of a suitable place for a Combat Stress clothing bank then they would love to hear from you! Greenlight is an ethical shoes and clothing collection service that gathers
donated clothes in banks, then sorts and grades them, before selling them at affordable prices to developing countries. The charity receives a minimum of 50% of the proceeds. They would like to place banks in the following areas: the Midlands; Lincolnshire; Cambridgeshire; Aldershot and surrounding areas (Sandhurst,
Camberley, Farnham, etc); Reading; Basingstoke; and Devizes. Do you know a suitable place for a Combat Stress clothing bank? Please call Karen Cookson on 07510 582 118 or email: info@greenlightlimited.co.uk For more information, visit www.greenlightlimited.co.uk
We are sincerely grateful to all our supporters, including the following:
News
Donate now Visit our website to find out more about what we do and how you can help: www.combatstress.org.uk