The Royal British Legion (RBL) has welcomed a new funding boost of £500,000, raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and says the award will help support and transform the lives of veterans.
The RBL will use the funding raised by Postcode Lottery players to continue its vital work providing practical, financial and emotional support for life to those in need across the Armed Forces community.
One veteran to have benefitted from the RBL’s support is 42-year-old RAF veteran Naomi Hall from Manchester. Following a 16-year career in the military as a Senior Aircraftwoman, Naomi turned to the Royal British Legion for support as she adjusted to life on Civvy Street.
Naomi said:
“To be honest, I loved it, but immediately after I returned home, a colleague was shot and killed whilst doing his job, and that affected me deeply. He had a nine-week-old baby daughter, and, as a young mother myself, it shook me. I was left feeling guilty about coming home in one piece.”
Following the loss of another close friend and a severe bout of glandular fever, Naomi’s depression worsened. She said:
“I was put on sick leave for 27 months and I never went back to work in the service.”
Medically discharged in 2015, Naomi underwent rehabilitation including two courses at the Royal British Legion’s Battle Back Centre in Lilleshall, Shropshire, which uses adaptive sport and adventure activities to improve confidence and positively impact mental health and wellbeing.
Naomi said:
“The Royal British Legion’s Battle Back Centre gave me the confidence to rebuild myself, mentally and physically.”
Everything was going well until a horrific motorway accident in 2017 left Naomi in an induced coma for a fortnight. When she came round, she couldn’t remember who she was. After 10 weeks in hospital, Naomi returned home in a wheelchair, and fought back, learning how to walk and talk again.
She said:
“The Royal British Legion supported me through mental health issues in the military, during transition to Civvy Street and then supported me after my accident, to help me through physically challenging periods – they have been incredible.”
The cost of providing a weeklong multi-activity course (MAC) at the RBL’s Battle Back Centre like the one that changed Naomi’s life is currently £3,000 per participant. The £500,000 raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, could help the RBL fund places for more than 160 veterans.
Naomi, who has a 16-year-old daughter Natasha, still undergoes gruelling sessions with a personal trainer every week as she continues her recovery, but with the support of the RBL she is looking forward to a positive future.
Paul Flood, Head of Recovery at the Royal British Legion, said:
“The Royal British Legion is incredibly grateful for the amazing funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. We’ve seen a growing demand from veterans and serving personnel for recovery services like our Battle Back Centre, so this funding will allow us to continue scaling up and helping individuals like Naomi with their recovery journeys.
“Many who have attended a course at our Battle Back Centre reported a positive effect on their lives, as well as their family and friends, so the impact of the funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery will be long lasting and far reaching.”