Story
I'm raising £2,000 for 2 charities that help military veterans on their recovery journey following service for their country.
Sorry in advance………theres quite alot to read…. But its worth it.
I want to raise money for 2 great charities that have helped me and many service men and women, that have needed support after leaving the forces with their physical and/or psychological injuries that have been obtained whilst serving their country.
The Royal British Legion Battleback centre………..
The Royal British Legion Battle Back Centre Lilleshall was opened in 2011 to help Armed Forces personnel and the veteran community through participating in individual and team challenges. The Veterans’ Multi-Activity Course aims to support recovery and wellbeing, helping veterans to embrace an active, positive lifestyle despite existing injuries or health conditions. Engaging in physical activities has immediate benefits for wellbeing, and our courses combine adaptive sports and adventurous activities with life skills sessions that contribute to physical, mental, and social recovery, building a foundation for positive thinking.
Our coaching team includes experts in adaptive sports and adventurous training who bring a wealth of experience. The team includes both male and female coaches from military and civilian backgrounds, ensuring well-rounded support for all participants. The veterans Multi-Activity Course is a free 5-day residential course, the activities are “challenge by choice” to encourage participation. The Battle Back Centre is located in the grounds of the National Sports Centre, Lilleshall, Shropshire.
The Veterans Community Working Party…
The Veterans Community Working Party CIC (VCWP) is a transformative Community Interest Company working with Veterans and outdoor spaces to support and develop additional employability, self care and creative skills in Veterans that will be learned and applied during working party weekends across Cumbria.
VCWP transforms the experience of Veterans; from across the UK, suffering from isolation or mental health disorders by bringing them together, to work on creative, restorative outdoor projects. By encouraging mindful connections to the natural world, with a range of practical and creative skills Veterans help each and support each other whilst transforming outdoor spaces for organisations and individuals.
They have formed an initial partnership with the YMCA Lakeside where they are already meeting for three day working weekends. This initial project will rejuvenate outdoor classrooms, spaces and buildings impacted by Storm Arwen and more recently the unexpected snow that made a surprise appearance in Cumbria.
In exchange for these endeavours, YCMA Lakesie provides accommodation and some time and space in which Veterans can gather to peer mentor, learn new skills, take time out and focus on their own well being. VCWP provides supervision, training, project management, governance structures to ensure projects run well.
Godfrey, Centre Director for YMCA Lakeside observed that "Our partnership with VCWP is making a significant contribution to the site. The Working Party's visits each month have meant many positive improvements to the site and the Veterans are quickly becoming members of our community".
VCWP Director and Mentor says “VCWP is important to me because it helps other veterans like me, and I thought, being a mentor I could give back to others struggling to cope after service life and considering I have PTSD, complex trauma and had two strokes, It is a community where the families can be involved which is really important to me.”
The impact on the veterans involved is huge: “The Working Party (WP) affords me the opportunity to mix with like-minded people and is something I look forward to each month. Without the WP I know my mental health would enter a downward spiral, plus it's the only opportunity to get out of my flat.”
“VCWP helped me when my head had completely fallen off and being diagnosed with complex PTSD. The working party enabled me to give something back, work alongside like minded people each with our own different skills and attributes. I've met loads of new friends, completed some great work which gives us a sense of achievement, worth and sanity. I learned to laugh again and where else could be better than the Lakes - with boss people 💚.”
“VCWP allows me the time to reset my head amongst a group of men and women who also enjoy the act of volunteering without a need to explain my quirks.”
VCWP will be looking for more opportunities to run these projects in the future, for more information contact Nicole Blair e-mail: info@vcworkingparty.org
To raise the cash, i am embarking on 2 ultra run races. The first being THE CHESTER 50 mile ultra on Saturday 15th March 2025. This is a trail race near the city of Chester. Here is the link if you would like to have more information about the event.
My 2nd event is THE LAP, and this is also a trail race. It covers 47 mile, all the way round lake Windermere, taking in all the fells that surround it. This race takes place on Saturday 10th May 2025. Here is the race link..
Both of these events, will really test my fitness, endurance and mobility and mental strength…. Please help me get to my target of £2000 for these fabulous charities.
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