Recorded Sessions Recorded Sessions We have been working with experts in a number of different fields to bring you content which can benefit you in your daily lives. Introduction to Meditation In this video, Clare talks through the benefits of meditation and introduces how it works and can benefit your life. Mindful Self Compassion Liam, an ex-forces psychiatrist from Kings College gives a Presentation on Mindful Self Compassion Introduction to EFT Annie an expert EFT practitioner gives a short introduction to emotional freedom techniques. Veteran Meditation Clare 00:00 / 10:32 10 Minute Meditation Clare gives a 10-minute meditation specifically for members of the armed forces and their families Guided Meditation A Short 8 minute guided meditation given by Carolina. 30 min Relaxation Chistina 00:00 / 24:43 30 Minute Relaxation Christina gives a 30 minute guided relaxation session. Mindful Self Compassion Starter pack A guide on how to use mindful self compassion in your daily lives. Self Care and Relaxation Starter Pack Easy tips and techniques for better self-care and feeling more relaxed day-to-day.

How To Support Us Volunteer Donate Get Involved Your incredible gifts and efforts will help to empower our Veterans, enabling them to regain purpose in civilian life and their new career path. Volunteer Veterans make supreme contributions to society, you can help make a difference for them by volunteering with the charity. To find out how you can get involved click on the button below - LEARN MORE Donate We have many ways that you can donate to help rebuild lives. From a one-off donation to leaving a legacy. LEARN MORE Fundraise There are so many great ways that you can fundraise - bike rides, cricket matches, quiz nights, tough mudder, bake sales...just to name a few! ​If you'd like to raise money for SWV please get in touch! LEARN MORE Donate

SWV Journeys: Martin Wade

Lest We Forget Foundation Lest We Forget Foundation Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Sapien et ligula ullamcorper malesuada proin libero nunc. Bibendum arcu vitae elementum curabLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Sapien et ligula ullamcorper malesuada proin libero nunc. Bibendum arcu vitae elementum curabitur. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at. Velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti nullam ac tortor.itur. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at. Velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti nullam ac tortor. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Sapien et ligula ullamcorper malesuada proin libero nunc. Bibendum arcu vitae elementum curabitur. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at. Velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti nullam ac tortor.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Sapien et ligula ullamcorper malesuada proin libero nunc. Bibendum arcu vitae elementum curabitur. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at. Velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti nullam ac tortor.

Pain Review "The Pain Review was hugely beneficial to get expert input. The advice to my GP regarding my prescription medication was very helpful and it was good for me to better understand the pain cycle and its impact." We know pain can seriously affect your ability to lead an independent life. That's why SWV offers UK Veterans free one-to-one consultations with a qualified pain consultant. ​ The 45-minute online consultation with a consultant specialist will review how you currently manage your pain, including your medication, and offer advice and/or guidance as to where you could seek further support. ​ Who can attend a consultation? ​ Former UK Armed Forces Service Personnel , Regular and Reserve service, who are suffering with chronic pain. What can I expect? A team who understands Veterans and the types of pain and injuries you may have, 45-minute online, confidential conversation with a qualified pain consultant, Opportunity to discuss your pain management history and ask questions about your medication, Post-consultation follow-up letter which you can take to your GP, Where appropriate, recommendations to other SWV pain management pathways. ​ How T o Book Complete the application form or if you have further questions email Martin Beaney . ​ All you need is your proof of service to apply. ​

Del's Story Read their story A former Staff Sergeant with the Royal Signals, Del, 37, suffered a severe brain injury in Afghanistan in 2009 when the vehicle he was driving hit an IED during a battle with a Taliban stronghold. “I was in an open-top reconnaissance truck which had a reinforced base designed to withstand blasts. But when we hit the IED, I was blown upwards and my head hit an overhead metal bar,” he explains. The impact knocked him unconscious. He was rescued along with the Commander sitting beside him (who was thrown out of the truck and also suffered multiple injuries). Del woke up in hospital at Camp Bastion and soon afterwards was flown back to the Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre in Birmingham, where he learnt he had lost all hearing in his right ear and suffered major bruising to his brain. His memory recall, coordination and ability to process information were badly affected. “It was as if I was living in a permanent fog,” he says. “I became painfully slow at the simplest of tasks and unable to do more than one thing at a time.” At Headley Court, the specialist rehabilitation centre for wounded soldiers, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. “It was a vicious circle – I became tired and sleepy a lot of the time, and that made me frustrated and angry.” Del, who lives in Carlisle with his partner Lisa, a Teaching Assistant, and Step-Daughter Hannah, 18, was medically discharged in November 2012. He had served 19 years, having enlisted as a 16-year-old school leaver. “I’d always thought I would see out my career in the Army, but after my injury, I lost all my confidence and I couldn’t see what I was going to do with my life,” he says. Four months later, he was offered a place on the first Supporting Wounded Veterans ski trip. “One of the first things you realise when you are put together with a bunch of wounded Veterans is that there is always someone worse off that you. We bounced off of each other, shared problems and I made instant friendships.” Del had skied before, but still had to overcome anxiety attacks. By the end of the week, however, he says: “It was as if a line had been drawn in the sand. I stopped thinking about the negatives and realised I could look forward to the future.” On his return home, Del was paired with a Mentor to help him focus on re-employment. Shortly afterwards, he spotted a vacancy for an Assistant in a local fishing and shooting shop. He applied, and, as a keen fisherman, got the job. He has since returned to Klosters with Supporting Wounded Veterans as a helper. “I feel like my life has moved on a million miles and it has been great to pass on my experience to the other Veterans.” Previous Next

Cobseo Cobseo Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Sapien et ligula ullamcorper malesuada proin libero nunc. Bibendum arcu vitae elementum curabLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Sapien et ligula ullamcorper malesuada proin libero nunc. Bibendum arcu vitae elementum curabitur. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at. Velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti nullam ac tortor.itur. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at. Velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti nullam ac tortor. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Sapien et ligula ullamcorper malesuada proin libero nunc. Bibendum arcu vitae elementum curabitur. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at. Velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti nullam ac tortor.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Sapien et ligula ullamcorper malesuada proin libero nunc. Bibendum arcu vitae elementum curabitur. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at. Velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti nullam ac tortor.

SWV Winter Conference and Challenge Come and join the challenge! SWV Winter Conference and Challenge Event Date Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd March 2025 The SWV Winter Conference - Followed By The SWV Winter Challenge Applications for next year's Winter Conference & Challenge are open! Please email johnny@supportingwoundedveterans.com for more details. This year's Winter Conference and Winter Challenge was an all-round success, kicking off with the insightful conference covering a range of interesting topics with great Q&A sessions to answer all of our burning questions. After the conference the teams took to the slopes, taking part in a range of team building activities and competing alongside many of the SWV Veterans. A wonderful time was had by all, and if you would like to enter a team for next year, then please get in touch. Below is the schedule from this year's Winter Conference 2024 THE CONFERENCE: Global Political Risk – The World is shifting, what are the evolving risks going forward, Economically, Politically, for our Security – Update from General Sir Nick Carter (SWV Patron) Who are our Friends now? Financial Security and Risk? Lead Speakers from the City, The Armed Forces and respected senior journalists. THE SWV WINTER CHALLENGE: Combines supporting the rehabilitation of medically discharged veterans back into employment with a team building and adrenaline-fuelled weekend in Switzerland. The challenge also gives our veterans an unparalleled opportunity to meet members of the business community, understand more about the corporate world, share their experiences, as well as being a critical part of our annual fundraising. Participants (in teams of 2 – 4), compete with and against SWV veterans, and the challenge is designed to ensure that able-bodied and disabled skiers compete on equal terms. You do not have to be of, or anywhere near, Olympic standard to take part! (Though some of our veterans are!) and although this is a ski challenge, there will be tasks/challenges that are aimed at challenging your ability to work together as a team and think outside the box affording everyone the opportunity to win that Challenge Cup. SUPPORTING WOUNDED VETERANS’ purpose is to help medically discharged wounded veterans back into meaningful civilian life and employment – many of our veterans have been told they will never be able to work again. However our success rate with veterans on our programmes is that over 90% of recipients get back into employment, training or education. SWV's key support programmes are: Sport habilitation including ‘Skihabilitation’ and the Ocean Challenge. Mentoring. Pain Management Occupation and Training. Medical trials & research at Kings College London. Each of these needs-driven programmes has been established to address the physical and mental health needs of the veterans. VETERAN REPRESENTATIVES (VetReps) Veterans who have previously been on our Ski-habilitation Week and other support programmes and have made positive progress as a result. They are often keen to ‘give back to SWV’ and make the most of their military skills so have volunteered to join The VetRep Team. The Vet Reps have helped run and manage the Ski Challenge (and the Ski-habilitation Week) for 7 years, their experience and skill sets are perfect for event management and they are a huge asset to the Winter Challenge. DONATIONS TO SWV Winter Conference Delegates and Challengers competing in the “SWV Winter Challenge” are asked to donate a minimum of £1,000 per person for SWV - as the Buddies do for the Veteran Ski-habilitation Week; the 2024 Buddy Cohort of 17 - raised over £100K! It is possible that attending the Winter Conference may form a key element of your professional development and so you could engage with your businesses internal finance team over the appropriate tax treatment. The expectation for the Event being that each Challenger, in addition to paying their Travel, Accommodation, Insurance, Ski Kit, Ski Pass and local costs (meals), pledges to raise a minimum of £1k – but like the Buddies, we hope that they exceed that expectation! Companies are invited to match fund donations raised by their teams. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE EVENT PLEASE CONTACT johnny@supportingwoundedveterans.com contact us Previous Next

Ocean Challenge 2024 The Ocean Challenge is part of the SWV Sports Habilitation pathway Ocean Challenge 2024 Event Date 9th - 16th June 2024 The Ocean Challenge is part of the SWV Sports Habilitation pathway. Sport is a potent medium for confidence building and helping Veterans back on track after facing injury, illness and challenging times. During the Ocean Challenge Veterans are supported by the SWV Team as well as Buddies who are on hand to make the week a great one. This amazing challenge - ending with the teams taking part in the famous "Round The Island Race," is also the start of further support from the charity, enabling Veterans to access the other support pathways on offer through SWV. So if you are a Veteran who is keen to get stuck into this challenge, or you are a interested in becoming a sailing Buddy, please get in touch! Previous Next

Ski-habilitation Week 2024 Read the Latest news ​ March 2024 saw another action packed Ski-habilitation Week with 22 Veterans joining 17 supportive Ski Buddies for a restorative start to the next stage of their rehabilitation to a brighter future. This year's Ski-habilitation week saw 22 Veterans travel out to Klosters, joined by 17 supportive Ski Buddies, to take part in this restorative week. The Ski-habilitation week is a programme set in place for Veterans who are living with injuries, illnesses and challenges that impact their everyday life. This week acts as a natural 'reset' for Veterans to link into a support network, to access further help and guidance along with pulling together with other Veterans as they undertake this next stage of rehabilitation. Due to injury and illness, and learning to live with new health challenges many Veterans understandably need extra support and guidance - this is where linking into SWV support pathways, such as the Ski-habilitation week - can be so beneficial. Over the course of this year's Ski-habilitation week all 22 Veterans, with a variety of different illnesses, injuries and health challenges, progressed really well growing in confidence, strength and positivity. At the end of this supportive week Veterans are linked in with their own Mentor - a person who is there to help them set goals, to support and offer guidance helping them to a brighter future. Veterans can also link into other support networks too, helping them to address pain issues, manage their mental health and to find the next step on their new career pathway. Thank you to all who were involved in this year's Ski-habilitation week, it is the hard work and dedication of so many incredible people that make this week extra special. From the Buddies to the Vet Reps, the medical team to the instructors, the SWV team to the lunch team - everyone embraces the week with enthusiasm and positivity, putting this important week in place to support the Veterans. Previous Next

Funding gap of £725k threatens to delay MDMA-assisted therapy for those with PTSD Read the Latest news 24 May 2021 While US research is well underway, the UK programme is threatened by a funding shortfall As featured on Radio 4 Today with Martha Kearney on 24 May 2021. While US research is well underway, research initiated by SWV, which is due to start at King’s College London, is threatened by a funding shortfall. While US research is well underway, research initiated by Supporting Wounded Veterans, is threatened by a funding shortfall, says the charity Warning follows highly successful MAPS Phase 3 trial in the US, in which 67% of participants who received three MDMA-assisted therapy sessions no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis Gilly Norton, CEO of Supporting Wounded Veterans, said: “It would be a national disgrace if veterans elsewhere in the world were able to access this treatment, and British veterans were not.” A funding gap of £725,000 means that British veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could face years of delays in receiving MDMA-assisted therapy, a leading UK veterans’ charity has warned. Its warning follows the recent announcement, on 3 May, of results from a highly successful US trial of the therapy, which treated 90 patients with severe, chronic PTSD. MAPS, the US-based non-profit body that ran the trial, revealed that 67% of participants who received three MDMA-assisted therapy sessions no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis and 88% experienced a clinically meaningful reduction in symptoms, among other positive findings ( 1 ). MDMA-assisted therapy uses medical-grade MDMA produced by licenced pharmaceutical companies administered as one part of a carefully monitored therapy program. It is expected to be particularly effective in treating patients whose symptoms have not been alleviated by other, established treatments. While research to inform a decision about regulatory approval for the therapy is underway and proving successful in the US – where it is designated as a ‘Breakthrough Therapy’ by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration similar work planned in the UK to gain regulatory approval, is under threat. Military charity Supporting Wounded Veterans says that despite its own fundraising, and having secured contributions from the National Health Service England, and from MAPS, additional funding is needed to start the planned UK research this summer. Without UK research results, regulatory approval here would likely be delayed, meaning UK veterans would continue to suffer for years whilst their counterparts in the US and elsewhere may be receiving treatment. Others suffering from PTSD, including victims of violent crime, rape, childhood sexual abuse, and those traumatised by accidents and disasters, would also be impacted by the delay. Supporting Wounded Veterans in December 2020 launched its Pioneer Programme to raise money for the research. So far, it has raised £775,000, including commitments the charity has secured of £300,000 from NHS England and £350,000 from MAPS. A shortfall of £725,000 still needs to be found to meet the £1.5m required. The charity is determined to bridge the gap, and is inviting donations . The aim of MDMA-assisted therapy is to create ideal conditions for re-processing traumatic experiences, reducing an engrained overactivity of the ‘fight or flight’ response in the brain and working with participants through therapy to access their innate capacities for resilience and post-traumatic growth. It involves administering carefully controlled doses of medical-grade MDMA under the guidance of qualified clinicians in a safe, comfortable and medically-controlled setting. The combination of therapy and medical doses of MDMA may make it easier for people with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD to work through traumatic and distressing experiences, in an atmosphere of safety and acceptance, without becoming overwhelmed. PTSD affects many people and is particularly common among those who have served in combat roles. Research by King’s College London’s Centre for Military Health suggests that 17% of veterans whose last deployment was in a combat role suffer from PTSD, including PTSD from other causes, compared with 6% of veterans whose last deployment was in a service role. The rate of PTSD for the civilian population is 4.4% ( 2 ). It is estimated that between a third and a half of PTSD cases overall are resistant to established treatments ( 3 ), and veterans tend on average to be more resistant to treatment. Having sought to help numerous veterans with PTSD that proved resistant to other therapies, Supporting Wounded Veterans last year engaged with a research team at the Centre for Affective Disorders at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, to discuss undertaking the research here in the UK. To assess the MDMA-assisted therapy’s ability to help those with PTSD that has proved resistant to other treatments, most veterans on a trial will have undergone a minimum of 10 years of other treatments with little effect. Gilly Norton, Chief Executive of Supporting Wounded Veterans, said: “We do not want to see British veterans miss out on a potentially invaluable treatment and suffer for even more years. “An important opportunity lies before us, and we are asking the public to help us seize it. Together, we can make a tremendous difference to brave people who need our support. Many veterans with PTSD will have tried existing treatments for years – with determination, but without success. This new therapy has the potential to transform their lives, and those of their families. “It would be a national disgrace if veterans elsewhere in the world were able to access this treatment, and British veterans were not. It is vital the research takes place this summer. “Indeed, this programme could not just help British veterans, but also allow those taking part in the research to be a vanguard, pioneering therapy that could help civilian victims of trauma, too, if the results are positive – as they have been in the US so far.” General Sir Nick Carter, Patron of Supporting Wounded Veterans, said : “This initiative stems from a determined charity that provides a very personal, special service to veterans. It has seen first-hand the problems that veterans face, and the limitations of conventional treatments. Now it may have found a therapy that is likely to make a critical difference to many people suffering terrible effects of trauma, using outstanding British scientists at one of our top universities.” Dr James Rucker, a Consultant Psychiatrist and a Senior Clinical Lecturer in mood disorders and psychopharmacology at the Centre for Affective Disorders at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London (UK), who is an expert in this area, said : “MDMA-assisted therapy is a novel, cutting-edge treatment for PTSD. The evidence suggests that it works by quietening the ‘fight or flight’ system in the brain, which we know is over-active in cases of PTSD. With this more general state of ‘relaxation’ that the drug brings, and in alliance with a specially trained therapist, patients with PTSD can start to reexperience their symptoms without feeling overwhelmed and resorting to the ‘avoidance’ that seem so often to make symptoms worse. The synergy of the MDMA plus the psychotherapy ‘sows a psychological seed’ of self-compassion that allows patients, often for the first time, to face their mental battle scars and the emotional struggles of returning to a civilian life; a life where oftentimes few can truly understand the emotional extent of what they have been through. “With ongoing psychotherapy, this psychological ‘seed’ can be nurtured into a form of self-directed therapy (or ‘emotional toolbox’) that the patient can take away with them, into the real world. With time, this has the capacity to develop into a sense of resilience, post-traumatic growth and the rebuilding of a self-confidence that allows patients to move forward with their lives, with their mental battle scars a part of their own capacity for compassion and inner strength. Martin Hewitt, a former officer in the Parachute Regiment, who lost the use of his right arm leading an attack in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and who is the Lead Ambassador for Supporting Wounded Veterans, said: “I know many former servicemen and women who are extremely high-performing individuals, but whose mental health injury is preventing them from achieving what they want in life. PTSD can affect any rank or role in the military. We urgently need to conduct research on this new treatment, to maximise support for those who are suffering and encourage healing.” Contact details: For further information, or to arrange interviews, please contact media@swv.org.uk, or the SWV media team Andrew Holdsworth: +44 (0)7818 406 692. Previous Next

Our People The SWV Team Patron ​ General Sir Nick Carter GCB CBE DSO ​ Trustees Our Board of Trustees are responsible for the overall control and strategic direction of the charity to ensure we continue to reach our aims and objectives. The Trustees meet regularly during the year to consider, determine and review our strategies and policies, and to receive reports from senior management. All of our Trustees work in an unpaid, voluntary capacity. ​ James Charrington Philip Howell The Right Hon Lord Hamilton of Epsom Paul Kettlety Simon Walker ​ Founder and CEO ​ Gilly Norton ​ Chief Financial Officer ​ Ed Hynes Ambassadors ​ Martin Hewitt (Captain) Manveen Rana ​ Executive Committee ​ The Executive Committee meets monthly and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the charity. The Group produces financial and operational reports for the Board of Trustees together with recommendations for the continued operation of the charity. The Executive Committee do not hold any voting powers. ​ Martin Beaney, Veteran Coordinator Bart Borchardt, Head of Buddies Arron Dindyal, Veteran Support Caroline Gillespie, EFT Faith Griffiths, Head of Fundraising Rikki Jacout, Head of Mentoring, Mental Health Support & Family Support George Littler, Lawyer Zizi Mason, Project Manager - Occupation, Training & Employment Simon Moseley, Project Manager - Medical Trials and Rivers' Forum Johnny Scott Barber, Corporate Relations ​ Full Committee ​ Curtis Adams Nikki Atkinson Ashley Berry Oliver Bleeker Kate Bright Ron de Jong Rachael Dickens Frances (Tuft) Dobson Michael FitzRoy Peter Flynn Anna Gage Nigel Hadden-Patton Polly Hipkins Liam Modlin Sally Ramsay Patrick Emma Resouly Bella Seel Carol Winkler Nicholas Wiszowaty ​ Plus the Executive Committee ​ Veteran Ambassador Board ​​ Bilal Alzalam Stuart Balfour Martin Beaney John Boe Spencer Bull Carl Canavan Gavin Clark Mark Dean Arron Dindyal Richard Gamble Jonathon Giemzapip e Martin Hewitt Ricky Huntley Ryan Knight Trish Lawson Harry Long Lee Manley David Martin Stephan van Niekerk Willie Plowman Steven Reynolds John Tyrer Martin Wade Jez Wa ite Tracey Wood ​ Veteran Ambassador Board Associate Members ​ David O'Mahoney David Scott Del Spry Ed Addington ​