AFCFT supports SWV and HighGround Read the Latest news 17th March 2023 SWV is delighted to have been awarded a £288,000 grant from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. SWV, working with HighGround, will develop new forms of support for veterans under 30 who have left the Armed Forces within the last five years and are experiencing additional challenges that could lead to long term negative outcomes. They will look to develop mentoring, outdoor-focused approach will lead them into land-based employment which complement other forms of support on offer; particularly in the transition and post transition space. The first part of the delivery of this complex project will include detailed scoping and engagement work. Veterans will help to shape aspects of the project using their lived experiences. Previous Next

Summer Drinks Party ​ Summer Drinks Party Event Date 15th May 2024 Please come and join us for this year's Summer Drinks Party, taking place on Wednesday 15th May. This is set to be a wonderful evening at the Cavalry & Guards Club, London. There will be drinks and canapés served throughout the evening, as well as an opportunity to speak to many of the SWV team, meet SWV Veterans and hear about the latest events and news within the charity. Please contact polly@swv.org.uk for any queries, and click on the link below to secure your tickets for the event - www.swvsummerdrinks2024.eventbrite.co.uk Previous Next

Sports Habilitation Veteran Pathways Sport is a proven and potent medium for confidence building. Adaptive sport and access to new challenges enables those with disabilities to level with those without, in a way that few other activities can. ​ The Veteran Ski-Habilitation Week For Veterans, the transition to civilian life is often tough. Those with physical or mental health issues face tough challenges and can become isolated and struggle alone. Our Ski-habilitation week offers a transformative break to help start a new phase in the transition to civilian life, and a relationship with SWV, as well as kick-starting the recovery process. How it works ​- Every year, 25 Veterans from the UK are selected to go to Klosters, in Switzerland. As well as skiing with qualified adaptive ski instructors, the trip provides the chance to discuss pain management needs and career interests with SWV’s coordinators. This ensures every Veteran can receive further support and bespoke mentoring following the trip. There is also a valuable opportunity to share experiences with other wounded Veterans, which often proves to be invaluable, helping Veterans to feel less alone in their battles and ongoing challenges that they face. ​ Medical professionals are also on hand during the trip. This is a dedicated team on site to help the Veterans - these include a GP and Sports Medicine Specialist, a Physiotherapist, an Osteopath, a Sports Massage Therapist and a Psychologist. In addition to medical clinics, there are evening sessions in Relaxation, Mindfulness and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). ​ After the week, each Veteran is introduced to their own Mentor, a person who they can turn to, to provide guidance and support throughout the ongoing recovery process. Learn more about how a mentor could help you. Joining The Programme ​ Ski Week 2024 has already taken place, but applications for 2025 are already open, so please get in touch. Next year's trip will run from 17th March to 23rd March 2025. (Buddies will travel out on 16th March) Due to the Swiss travel requirements, if Covid-19 restrictions are re-introduced then to join us on the Ski Week you will need to have been triple vaccinated against Covid-19. ​ Register your interest in the Ski Week by completing the application form ​ Ski Buddies ​ Our Ski-habilitation Week would not be possible without volunteer Ski Buddies, who help the Veterans both on and off the slopes. Each year, 20 individuals of all ages and backgrounds are selected and raise at least £2,000 each to cover their costs and a donation to SWV. The Ski Buddies are an important aspect to this special week, as well as being on hand to support the Veterans making their week easier, they are a friendly listening ear and help Veterans access further support where needed. Learn more about being a Ski Buddy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ocean Challenge - for Armed Forces Veterans ​​ This is a fantastic opportunity for Veterans to learn or improve on their individual sailing skills. In addition, for those new to SWV we offer you the opportunity of a mentoring scheme and a network for those looking to get back into employment, as well as access to the SWV Pain Management Pathway if required. ​ ​ Application criteria: Proof of service (if selected for interview) Non-serving veterans Open to Tri-Service ​ ​ How much will it cost? The only cost to you is the travel from home to Gosport, near Portsmouth. The sailing trip is paid for by SWV's fundraising activities. The week will include all meals, sailing training and entry to the Round the Island Race. You will need to come with suitable clothing for sailing, but wet weather gear and life jackets will be provided. You will also need to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. Your only expenses will be evening refreshments. ​ ​ Do you have to be a novice sailor? No experience is necessary. ​ ​ What is the daily schedule? A typical day looks like this: 0700 - Breakfast 0900 - Sailing training 1530 - Return to a port – this will be different each day. 1900 - BBQs, suppers and other evening activities. ​ Accommodation is on board the yachts. On the Friday we will have a small regatta between our own boats and on the weekend will take part in the famous Round the Island Race! I am prescribed medication, is this problem? No, if you are responsible for your medication at home you will easily be able to cope on the trip. ​ ​ I am not at a very high standard of fitness, does this matter? No, but we would recommend that you partake in a basic fitness regime so that you are able to get the most out of this week. ​ ​ To apply, register your interest here ​ The Ocean Challenge 2024 will run from 9th - 16th June, taking part in the Round The Island Race on Saturday 15th June. ​ For further information Email : martinb@supportingwoundedveterans.com Phone: 07990 552718 ​ "It made me reflect on how far I've come, but also it made me realise (on race day) that what we were doing could inspire other people who have also been injured/diagnosed" ​ ​

The Ocean Challenge 2024 "The combination of kind people, creating a safe and understanding environment is simply amazing." Join the Challenge Become a Buddy The Ocean Challenge - for Armed Forces Veterans ​ ​ SWV ran its inaugural Ocean Challenge in 2018 with four international teams training and competing in the famous 'Round the Island Race' in the Isle of Wight. ​ This is a fantastic opportunity for Veterans to learn or improve on their individual sailing skills. In addition, for those new to SWV we offer you the opportunity of a mentoring scheme and a network for those looking to get back into employment, as well as access to the SWV Pain Management Pathway if required. ​ ​ Application criteria: Proof of service (if selected for interview) Non-serving veterans Open to Tri-Service ​ ​ How much will it cost? The only cost to you is the travel from home to Gosport, near Portsmouth. The sailing trip is paid for by SWV's fundraising activities. The week will include all meals, sailing training and entry to the Round the Island Race. You will need to come with suitable clothing for sailing, but wet weather gear and life jackets will be provided. You will also need to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. Your only expenses will be evening refreshments. ​ ​ Do you have to be a novice sailor? No experience is necessary. ​ ​ What is the daily schedule? A typical day looks like this: 0700 - Breakfast 0900 - Sailing training 1530 - Return to a port – this will be different each day. 1900 - BBQs, suppers and other evening activities. ​ Accommodation is board the yachts. On the Friday we will have a small regatta between our own boats and on the we will take part in the famous Round the Island Race. I am prescribed medication, is this problem? No, if you are responsible for your medication at home you will easily be able to cope on the trip. ​ ​ I am not at a very high standard of fitness, does this matter? No, but we would recommend that you partake in a basic fitness regime so that you are able to get the most out of this week. ​ ​ To apply register your interest here ​ The Ocean Challenge 2024 will run from 9th - 16th June, taking part in the Round The Island Race on Saturday 15th June. ​ For further information Email : martinb@supportingwoundedveterans.com Phone: 07990 552718 ​ "It made me reflect on how far I've come, but also it made me realise (on race day) that what we were doing could inspire other people who have also been injured/diagnosed" ​ ​ Become an Ocean Challenge Sailing Buddy ​ We are inviting applications from volunteers who have sailing experience and/or sailing qualifications to join the team to support next year's Veterans. ​ If you would like to register as a volunteer, you need to calm, patient, with sailing experience and be prepared to live-aboard the boats during the week. All volunteers are expected to raise £2,000 to support the challenge. ​ Apply to become a sailing Buddy ​ ​

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Andy's Story Read their story Covid was a tough time for all, the world had stopped spinning and businesses were dying left right and centre, mine included. This led to me being homeless. Whilst sleeping rough I eventually realised I couldn't get myself out of the hole I was in alone, I approached the Veteran’s Agency, they could house me, but I had to give up what work I had still to do so - the abyss was in front of me! Zoe stepped in and advised that if I could stay rough a little longer she could surely skip B and go direct from A to C and find me somewhere.. she did. I was then referred by a friend to SWV as the above had really hit hard and my PTSD was becoming an ever increasing debilitation. SWV, saved my life. In the last 18months I've been on the Sports Habilitation ski trip, got therapy to help me deal with my PTSD anxiety attacks, deal with the trauma and to see I'm not broken. They have given me a Mentor, an amazing one at that, who has helped guide me, rationalise my thoughts yet let me set the pace. The charity has also given me extra support within to help me have the requirementI needed to do a course, succeed and to look positively forward. Don't get me wrong, I have my dark days, but they are just mere speed bumps now, not the mountains that led me facing the inevitable leap off a cliff end I was enduring. Previous Next

SWV Rivers' Forum Challenges Faced On UK Rivers ​ ​ Pollution of the UK’s rivers differs between the devolved nations, between industrial, rural and farming areas, from catchment to catchment. Even where people are prepared or not prepared to take ownership for their river management. Types of pollution may have changed over the last 30 years but there is no doubt that the UK’s rivers are still very polluted. Unless there is collaborative leadership, investment and innovative focus on their management now, there will be no improvement for future generations. Challenges include; Insufficient progress in the amount of collaboration, communication and transparency between government, the water companies, environmental and recreation groups. Prioritisation of infrastructure investment and resources deployed to execute. An inconsistent regulatory framework and a lack of resources to enforce it. An inconsistent approach to monitoring and water quality testing. There is a need for a single structure for pollution management and data capture UK-wide. Insufficient recognition and enforcement of agriculture’s impact on pollution, e.g. of rising nitrate levels etc. A need for more technology input and opportunities to be used to solve problems on the rivers. Lack of a UK-wide approach to testing & monitoring personnel, training and fundraising.​​ ​ Venue, Travel & Accommodation Read More Challenges Faced On UK Rivers Read More Why SWV? Read More

Anna's Story Read their story Anna’s 12 years’ Army service included two tours of Iraq, but she sustained her life-changing injury away from a war zone as a Combined Services candidate for the British Bobsleigh Team at the Winter Olympics. Anna, a former Captain in the Adjutant General Corps, seriously damaged her leg as she sped downhill at 70 mph while training in Latvia in 2005 after her foot hit a small block of ice. “Basically my left leg went left, and the rest of me went straight on,” she says. She underwent multiple operations and lengthy rehabilitation treatment at Headley Court, all of which failed to prevent her becoming confined to a wheelchair. By 2009, she found herself poleaxed by a deep depression. “I was on a cocktail of medication for the pain, struggling to function and feeling as though life was slipping away from me.” Finally, in 2011, Anna had an elective through-the-knee amputation. “My depression lifted instantly and I realised that what disables me – having only one leg – is also the very thing that enables me.” Within months, she was not just walking, but skiing on her new prosthetic leg. Anna, 39, was medically discharged from the Army in 2012. The same year, she met her husband Ollie, a car mechanic, and they now live on Exmoor. She took part in the 2014 Ski Week, knowing that on her return, she would have to undergo further surgery because of nerve damage to her leg. “The trip was awesome,” she says. “How can you not smile when you are in the mountains with sunshine and beautiful panoramas?” But even more valuable to Anna than enjoying the week’s skiing was the support she received following her return from Klosters. SWV arranged for her to be mentored through recovery by Jane Durgan, a former solicitor who is also a lifelong amputee, not through injury, but because of a congenital condition. “She completely understands my frustrations, because she has lived with them herself. And she constantly reminds me that it’s possible to be an amputee and live a full life,” says Anna. “I don’t need professional support at the moment, but having Jane’s shoulder to lean on has been invaluable.” Previous Next

Transforming Negative Transitions Programme Read the Latest news ​ HighGround and Supporting Wounded Veterans have been awarded a grant by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to fund a 3 year Transforming Negative Transitions (TNT) programme. To find out more click the button below. On 7th September 2023, Zizi Mason and Martin Beaney from Supporting Wounded Veterans (SWV) visited HighGround at Bicton College in Devon to meet HighGround’s Founder Anna Baker Cresswell and Chris Shepherd who manages HighGround’s Rural Weeks programme at Bicton College. HighGround and Supporting Wounded Veterans have been awarded a grant by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to fund a 3 year Transforming Negative Transitions (TNT) programme and in 2024, HighGround will deliver 2 Rural Insight Career Weeks which will be a blend of HighGround’s Rural Weeks and the Rural Experience Weeks which the Charity has developed over the last 3 years thanks to funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. Following the Rural Insight Career Week, SWV will deliver their Mentoring and Occupation, Training & Employment (OTE) Programmes. Martin Beaney SWV’s Veteran Co-Ordinator said “Over the last 11 years SWV has successfully developed Mentoring and OTE interventions for veterans, and by partnering with HighGround, we are looking forward to developing new pathways for the cohort we have identified under the TNT programme.” Anna Baker Cresswell, Founder of HighGround added, “Without funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, the concept of Rural Experience Weeks, a slower paced Rural Week with an emphasis on improving veterans’ wellbeing using the outdoors would not have been possible. To be working with Bicton and SWV to further develop this concept to help those most at risk of a negative transition following brief careers in the military, is a great privilege.” If you require more information about the programme please do contact martinb@supportingwoundedveterans.com Previous Next

Pain Resilience Programme "This new programme was really useful for my pain management. It helped reduce isolation and improved my mental health through group activities." The Pain Resilience Programme (PRP) is a Veteran-specific online course. It is delivered in small groups with fully qualified clinicians to help Veterans struggling with chronic pain. The course provides Veterans with the tools required to understand and manage their pain. ​ PRP is a 26-week course with online sessions relating to: Pain management, Psychology of pain and ways to manage this, Medication review and management, Physical interventions, Pain management and work/occupation. PRP is a Veteran-led group-based programme, with the group component reported as particularly helpful since it allows a discussion of pain in a safe environment with others who have had similar experiences and problems. Throughout the programme, participants have the support of two Veteran team leaders who are on hand to help facilitate discussion and assist with any issues. Veterans have access to information about: ​ The physiological response to pain, and an understanding as to why pain develops, The function and effects of medication on the brain, and when they are most effective, Individual advice and full support are given regarding medication reduction, Strategies to manage pain more successfully with the end goal of considering employment options, Strategies to improve sleep patterns and relaxation, Strategies to manage negative changes in mood caused by chronic pain, using psychological approaches, in order to harness a better understanding of thoughts, beliefs and feelings in relation to pain and its impact on their quality of life, How to identify meaningful goals and work out how to achieve them, Specific exercises to aim to help affected areas feel less sensitive. ​ How To Join ​ PRP is available to veterans who:​ Are able to commit to a 26-week online course from home or work with clinicians and follow-up group sessions. You will be required to attend two 90 minute sessions weekly led by an SWV veteran to share your thoughts and feedback on the sessions Provide proof of service ​ Complete the application form, or if you have further questions email Martin Beaney . ​ Meet The Team Dr Dominic Aldington BScHons MBBS FRCA FFPMRCA Pain Medicine Learn More Liam Modlin Psychological Therapist and Research Associate Learn More Cameron Angus MSc MCSP MMACP Physiotherapist Learn More Ben Graveston PRP Team Leader Learn More Ryan Knight Pain PRP Team Leader Learn More Charlotte Dore Clinical nurse specialist pain management Learn More Martin Beaney SWV Veteran Recruitment Learn More Zizi Mason SWV Welfare Officer (IoW) Project Manager for PRP and Occupation, Training and Employment (OTE) Learn More

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Mental Health Resilience Veteran Pathways Need Urgent Support? If you feel unable to cope or keep yourself safe, Samaritans offers free 24/7 listening support - please call 116 123 or visit the Samaritans website for the urgent help. Reaching out for help can be extremely hard, so you need to know what options are out there for you. Mental health care isn't a "one size fits all" so it's good to know that there are different options for you. There are many organisations who have the expertise and experience to help Veterans in need of mental health support, we hope these links below are helpful to you too. The first step of SWV support is accessed by engaging in the Sports Habilitation Pathway or Pain Management Pathway, from here you will be guided through to your next stage of support, including Mental Health Support if you feel this is appropriate to you. To learn more about this, please visit the bottom section of this page - ​ Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service ​ Op COURAGE is here to help and have an understanding of the courage it takes to speak to someone. When you contact Op COURAGE, you'll speak to people who understand the armed forces and military life. They are either from the armed forces community themselves, or highly experienced in working with serving personnel, reservists, Veterans, and their families. The Op COURAGE team will work with you to make sure you get the right type of specialist care, support, and treatment ​ Veterans Welfare Service ​ VWS is run by the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Veterans UK and provides free one-to-one support to veterans or anyone supporting a veteran, their families and dependants, with a national network of welfare managers across the UK and Republic of Ireland. ​ One Is Too Many One is too many offers information, coping tools and advice for service leavers and veteran who feel isolated or are struggling with their mental health. The site also lists the contact information for NHS crisis teams for veterans which can be found here. ​ Need Urgent Support? If you feel unable to cope or keep yourself safe, Samaritans offers free 24/7 listening support. Call 116 123 or visit the Samaritans website . Support for Veterans on an SWV Pathway EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) ​ EFT sessions are available to Veterans with PTSD, pain and other mental health difficulties who have participated in an SWV programme or are currently taking part in one. ​ EFT is an evidence-based treatment method with over 100 clinical studies demonstrating its efficacy for issues including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. It has also been shown to be effective at helping people cope with chronic pain and sleep disturbances, so has so many benefits. The treatment combines elements of exposure therapy, cognitive therapy, and somatic therapy in the form of 'tapping' with the fingers on acupressure points on the face and body. It is safe, non-invasive, and does not require Veterans to revisit their trauma in painful detail – something that many Veterans frequently report back as a huge benefit of the method. Our sessions take place one-on-one with a qualified practitioner, either in-person or online. Veterans also learn EFT techniques to use outside of sessions when needed to reduce symptoms or improve their daily lives. If you are an SWV Veteran who has completed, or currently on an SWV Pathway, and you would like to apply, then please speak to your SWV Mentor and they will action this for you.