Pathfinder International Magazine – the leading UK Military Resettlement Magazine

Tag: Isolation

  • Charity’s Christmas Campaign To Combat Veteran Isolation

    Charity’s Christmas Campaign To Combat Veteran Isolation

     

    Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes has launched a highly emotive campaign that urges the public to ensure veterans are not forgotten this Christmas…

    More than 80,000 veterans in Great Britain could spend the holiday season lonely and isolated, so Help for Heroes is asking people to send messages of hope, support and thanks to let them know they are not alone.

    The heart-warming short film features a forgotten toy solider ornament, which has been left off the Christmas tree. A hand, adorned with a Help for Heroes wristband, can be seen picking it up and placing it back in its rightful place on the tree, demonstrating how the Charity’s work ensures veterans are not forgotten and can find a place and purpose in society again with Help for Heroes support.

    One third of veterans supported by Help for Heroes, and who have a long-term health condition, often or always feel lonely. These feelings of isolation are magnified at Christmas, as many veterans have specific mental and physical health challenges related to their service.

    At a time when there’s pressure to be having fun and be cheery, veterans may find themselves cut off from society, friends and even family, having lost the secure support structure they had in the army.

    In December 2022, Help for Heroes saw a 77 per cent increase in requests for support compared with the same period in 2021, meaning the Charity’s services are needed now more than ever as it has continued to see demand rise over the past year as well.

    It provides veterans with life-changing support and a sense of community, where they no longer feel isolated or alone.

    There are still many veterans who need help, and some will not receive, cards or gifts, sit down to a Christmas dinner with loved ones, or may simply feel forgotten by the society they gave so much to protect.

    Help for Heroes is looking to change this with the new campaign that looks to deliver messages of hope and support this Christmas to those who need them most.

    Beth Miles, Director of Marketing at Help for Heroes, said: “We are incredibly proud to have created this impactful short Christmas film to lead our campaign this year. It is very personal to who we are as a charity and delivers an incredibly powerful message to support our veterans this holiday season.

    “Our new Christmas ornament characters represent veterans from the Army, Navy, and RAF. We hope they resonate with the public as well as our veteran community and we look forward to seeing them again in future campaigns.”

    Help for Heroes champions the Armed Forces community and helps them live well after service. The charity helps them, and their families, to recover and get on with their lives. It has already supported more than 30,000 people and will not stop until every veteran gets the support they deserve.

    The Charity supports veterans, and their families, from any branch of the UK military – regulars or reserves – irrespective of length or place of service, and locally embedded civilians (and their families) who worked alongside our Armed Forces.

    The Help for Heroes’ Christmas film may be viewed here, while messages of support may be sent here.

  • The Buddy Buddy Check Initiative – Lockdown: Looking After You, Mates & Charities One Year On In Association With Angel Call Handling

    The Buddy Buddy Check Initiative – Lockdown: Looking After You, Mates & Charities One Year On In Association With Angel Call Handling

    The March issue of Pathfinder features an in depth look at our mental health with the one year anniversary of lockdown nearly upon us.

    Entitled, The Buddy Buddy Check Initiative in association with Angel Call Handling, we talk about isolation, loneliness, depression and anger management.

    The entire supplement can be accessed inside the current issue of Pathfinder International for free HERE! 

    Below we see editor, Mal Robinson’s introduction to the supplement for a little taster of The Buddy Buddy Check.

    Incredibly, in what seems like some kind of suspended animation Groundhog Day, we have nearly eclipsed the one-year anniversary since Prime Minister, Boris Johnson called a national lockdown, a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

    It has been a rough ride for us all in some instance from the loss of family members and friends to the virus through to something simple as a person’s ability to conduct normal daily life as we knew it pre-covid.

    With that in mind, Pathfinder has launched the idea of the Buddy Buddy Check Initiative and a look at various elements of mental health in a bid to talk about it, get it out there and if anyone needs help, then please do so – don’t suffer alone.

    We also felt charities are in need of support in these times and we have also included a small focus on them within this section too. They say charity begins at home and for us it does at home this issue within our military family parameters.

    When I was in the RAF going through basic training, the idea of a Buddy Buddy check meant checking on your mate, mainly before heading into the gas chamber or should I say Respirator Test Facility, as part of your NBC training.

    The Buddy Buddy check was seeing if your mate, your oppo, your mucker, your colleague, your friend, your buddy was going to be Okay before potentially leaving themselves open to the effects of the CS gas canisters that lay await.

    In this instance, it means all of the above, yet swap the idea of facing the gas canisters for facing life itself and the main gist and ethos of the Buddy Buddy check remain true.

    Stay safe out there and remember to look after one another.

    Kind regards,

    Mal Robinson, Editor, Pathfinder International magazine.

  • DCMS Extends Grant To Combat Loneliness And Isolation Amongst Armed Forces Community

    DCMS Extends Grant To Combat Loneliness And Isolation Amongst Armed Forces Community

    SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has announced the extension of their project ‘Keep Calm, Get Connected and Carry On’ thanks to a grant from The Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS).

    The project, titled ‘Keep Calm, Get Connected and Carry On’, run by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, aims to combat loneliness and isolation amongst those most vulnerable in the Armed Forces community. Thanks to a recent grant extension from the DCMS, who have awarded a further £450,000, the charity has been able to extend the project into 2021.

    In June 2020, the Government announced that they would be donating £5 million to national organisations to help them tackle loneliness. SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has now received a total of £950,000 from DCMS to help combat loneliness and isolation amongst veterans and their families.

    The grant has gone towards supporting those most at-risk during the Covid-19 pandemic across England, from adapting services, such as Forcesline, to delivering breakfast rolls to those isolating in rural communities.

    The project aims to create social connections for lonely veterans and their families, co-ordinated across England, delivered locally through SSAFA’s branches in local communities, and supported by more than 4,000 trained volunteers. It aims to enable a technological adaptation of services, enabling services to be delivered online and remotely where required, providing a positive impact beyond the grant.

    The funding will enable the charity to support people through SSAFA’s casework and visiting service, Forcesline, their one-to-one mentoring service and activities for groups more at risk of loneliness.

    Sir Andrew Gregory, Controller at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said: “The extension of the ‘Keep Calm, Get Connected and Carry On’ project and this extremely generous grant from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will help SSAFA to continue to tackle loneliness and isolation amongst the Armed Forces community during this particularly challenging time.

    SSAFA was already concerned about loneliness and isolation amongst some veterans, especially given the team ethos that is at the heart of military service; Covid-19 has exacerbated this problem.  We are most grateful to the DCMS for this second grant that will enable us to continue to address a real, current issue that has been heightened over the last year.”

    Baroness Barran, Minister for Loneliness said: “We can’t underestimate the support that charities like SSAFA are giving to veterans and their families, who may be feeling particularly isolated and lonely in these difficult times. Tackling loneliness remains a priority for the government and I’m thrilled the funding allocated to SSAFA will help the Armed Forces community access the services they need. This will not only create meaningful social connections but also help eradicate the stigma associated with loneliness.”

    If you, or someone you know, requires support, you can reach out to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity by visiting ssafa.org.uk or contacting Forcesline on 0800 731 4880.

  • SSAFA’S Forcesline, Helping To Combat Isolation During The Covid-19 Pandemic

    SSAFA’S Forcesline, Helping To Combat Isolation During The Covid-19 Pandemic

    Last year, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity were awarded a grant by the DCMS to help alleviate loneliness and isolation amongst the Armed Forces community during the Covid-19 outbreak and pandemic.

    Part of this grant was dedicated to SSAFA’s Forcesline, a free and confidential telephone helpline, email and webchat service.

    Forcesline is available to all members of the Armed Forces community, including serving personnel, veterans and their families.

    The helpline acts as a ‘front’ door’ to the wider support services offered by the charity and beyond. Forcesline can be a telling indicator for the overall wellbeing of the military community currently serving (regulars and reserves), veterans and their families.

    The service allows individuals the space and time to discuss their problems with an experienced advisor, who can offer an ear to listen, for as long as they need. Many callers contact Forcesline having not spoken to anyone about their issues or experiences, and the ability to talk to another person who listens to them can make a huge difference.

    The support offered to those feeling lonely and isolated will vary and the individual will often be referred to a local SSAFA branch or signposted to another SSAFA service, or one of our partner organisations, to help with their specific needs.

    As lockdown started to lift in June 2020, there was an instant 7% uplift in contact (vs. June 2019) illustrating that people needed support facing these new and difficult times.

    Additionally, compared to the previous year, Forcesline had an 80% increase in requests from April to June specifically for befriending and support with loneliness, highlighting the need for support amongst the Armed Forces community.

    SSAFA’s expert advisors from the Forcesline team have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, and thanks to the DCMS grant, SSAFA were able to upgrade their equipment to allow them to work from home and continue supporting those in need during the pandemic.

    Bill Grant, Forcesline Manager at SSAFA said: “Thanks to the DCMS Grant, we were able to fund computers and other accessories for our team of Forcesline advisors to work from home during the pandemic. Our team were working consistently throughout and after the lockdown and their work never stopped.”

    “Across the globe, we have seen a cutting of the support systems that keep us feeling grounded and human – social distancing brings a hidden cost as people feel isolated and scared to reach out. Not being able to have a friendly coffee or meet up with family has left many people feeling adrift. It is our job to continue supporting them and give them the space to explore their feelings and talk about what’s going on for them.”

    “I think it is important to remember that loneliness and isolation isn’t just something that people on their own feel. You can feel very lonely in a room full of people, including your family and friends. I would encourage anyone experiencing these feelings to reach out and get in touch – we’re here to help.”

    If you would like to find out more about SSAFA, visit www.ssafa.org.uk

  • Supporting Engagement For Limbless Veterans

    Supporting Engagement For Limbless Veterans

    Blesma, the only charity that supports limbless veterans in the UK throughout the duration of their lives, has unveiled a new free app, Blesma Connects, that aims to encourage its members to communicate and engage with each other…

    At a time when loneliness and isolation impacts one in four ex-Armed Forces personnel*, Blesma Connects will provide ongoing member-to-member connectivity via its Chat function exclusive to the app along with personalised information and content tailored to each Member’s interests and needs.

    Blesma Connects is the first military charity app built exclusively for its members only and will allow them to discover new routes to secure medical information, grants, welfare counselling, national Blesma events and local meetings.

    To support the launch, the charity will be running a series of digital inclusion sessions to help upskill its Members who have no regular independent access to the internet. These informal sessions will be run by Blesma’s Outreach Officers and Digital Ambassadors across the country over a cup of coffee.

    Blesma, which currently provides life long support to 3,000 members, has been at the forefront of connecting limbless and injured veterans with one another since WWI, from the early days of championing their medical treatment and rights, to facilitating a series of trips, challenges and meet-ups to enable its members to help and support each other.

    The decision to launch Blesma Connects comes following a six-month research and 18 month development programme during which Members, Blesma’s staff and Support Officers stated they would value more frequent updates from the charity along with more opportunities to connect with other Members.

    Ian Waller, Operations Director and Interim Chief Executive, comments: “No one really understands a military person quite like a fellow comrade, so creating connections and comradeship are two important objectives for us at Blesma to combat loneliness and social isolation.

    “After speaking with a variety of our members from 19-year-old veterans to 95-year-old widows during the last 18 months, we know our Members need a tool that will enable them to build friendships with those who have shared similar experiences within their local communities. I’m looking forward to hearing how our Members will respond to the new Blesma Connects app and supporting sessions.”

    The free app was developed with Blesma by award-winning creative agency, Way To Blue and is now available to members to download from the app store. It is also compatible with a Member’s accessibility settings on their device, including screen readers, font sizes and dexterity controls.

    * Findings from Royal British Legion: Loneliness and Social Isolation in the Armed Forces Community

  • National Lottery Funds ‘Together Project’

    National Lottery Funds ‘Together Project’

    SSAFA’s Together Project, which aims to better support lonely and isolated veterans, has been boosted by a £100,000 donation from the National Lottery Community Fund…

    There has been a growing need to tackle loneliness and isolation amongst veterans, with 41 per cent of working age veterans admitting they have experienced loneliness and isolation in 2017. A further 31% said they have only one or no close friends. In response to this need, some SSAFA volunteers have introduced veterans’ groups to bring individuals together and ease the feelings of isolation.

    The National Lottery Community Fund will go towards developing and sustaining five established groups across SSAFA’s local branches. The areas that are involved in the initial stages of SSAFA’s Together Project include Romford, Southend, Port Talbot, Gloucestershire and Morley. The groups have been chosen due to the high number of veterans in the local communities.

    The fund will also provide SSAFA with a dedicated staff member who provide guidance to volunteers and develop a framework which allows flexibility for local need. The fund will also aid the recruitment and training of dedicated volunteers and gives SSAFA the opportunity to explore the potential for similar activities in other areas of need.

    Sophie Nathan, Together Project lead, said: “The impact of feeling lonely or isolated can be devastating, and many of our volunteer caseworkers are finding that our beneficiaries are seeking help far too late. The project aims to bring veterans and service leavers together to ease the feelings of loneliness and isolation but also prevent those feelings from surfacing.”

  • Feeling Isolated This Christmas?

    Feeling Isolated This Christmas?

    A poll from SSAFA has revealed that nearly a quarter of service personnel are experiencing loneliness in the lead up to Christmas this year, yet the Nation is oblivious, with only 19% of Brits surveyed believing that serving personnel suffer from loneliness more than average in society…

    Young people surveyed are also on the brink of a loneliness epidemic with nearly a quarter of those aged 16-35 having felt lonely within the last week. This contradicts the popular belief that the loneliest group in society are our older generation – with well over a half of Brits citing that single people over 70 living on their own are the worst hit. In fact, only 14% of over 55s surveyed felt lonely or isolated in the last week.

    Christmas exacerbates feelings of loneliness, as pressure to enjoy picture-perfect moments builds. The statistics show that Christmas can be a difficult time for the general population. For GenY and Millennials on Civvy Street, Christmas time proves to be hard – with just under 4 in 10 claiming they feel lonelier than usual. Just under a third of Brits feel that Christmas brings an onset of more loneliness than usual. More surveyed women than men feel loneliness at Christmas.

    For those surveyed in the military, well over two thirds said they felt lonelier than usual at Christmas. Of those polled, over two thirds of those serving said that they spend Christmas without loved ones most years. Furthermore, nearly a half of those serving in the military believe that forces spouses are one of the groups suffering from loneliness more than average in society.

    Colonel Dame Kelly Holmes, DBE comments: “Whilst I was in the British Army, I was also training for the Olympics and heavily involved in athletics. There were moments where I would find myself all alone in my barracks, struggling with my emotions on my own and trying to find an escape. I realise now that you can get help if you ask for it.

    “So when half of you is dying, and half of you is trying to live – because actually you know you can be good at something still, you have to fight and battle through that. And there is help out there, whether it’s reaching out to your local SSAFA branch or just talking to a family member or friend. There is always someone who will listen to you, you just have to have it within you to ask for it.”

    Bill Grant, Forcesline Manager at SSAFA says: “There’s a perception that the elderly are the most lonely group in society, but in reality isolation affects many of us. Reaching out could be a daunting but life-changing first step. For the Forces community, I hear first-hand that this can be a difficult time. Whether deployed and away from home, or just struggling to adjust to civilian life, loneliness and isolation can hit those serving and their families, of all backgrounds.

    “Knowing that there is someone to listen makes a difference. SSAFA supported 82,000 people last year and we are seeing a steady increase in this ‘need’. We want to encourage people to reach out to those who may be experiencing feelings of isolation at Christmas – a simple gesture can be all that it takes. Your support of SSAFA will help us to be there for even more members of the Forces family when in need.”

  • Film Highlights Isolation Felt By Older Blind People

    Film Highlights Isolation Felt By Older Blind People

    Blind Veterans UK has released a new film entitled “Ken’s Story” which demonstrates the loneliness often experienced by the veterans the charity supports, as issues of isolation can increase with age if you have lost your sight…

    The average age of ex-Service men and women supported by Blind Veterans UK is 84 and the vast majority of the veterans they support have lost their sight later in life, decades after their service, due to age-related conditions.

    The film, made by Brighton-based creative agency Morever, follows the journey experienced by Ken, a blind veteran supported by the charity since 2015. It captures the loneliness and isolation that Ken felt when he lost his sight due to age-related macular degeneration.

    Ken, who joined the Royal Air Force in 1949, says: “At the time my sight started to go I’d been in hospital and my wife had just died, everything was going around me. I was more or less at the bottom and didn’t know how far I was going down. The first thing Blind Veterans UK did was to arrange for me to visit their training centre down in Brighton for an intro week. Just having company again did and still does make a huge difference.”

    Research performed in 2014 by the Thomas Pocklington Trust into Loneliness, Social Isolation and Sight Loss highlighted that “difficulties with communication and social interaction can contribute to people with sight loss feeling socially isolated.”

    Independent Age also conducted research in the same year into the emerging crisis of isolation for older men which found that men aged 80 and over were more likely to report high levels of loneliness (12%) compared to men aged 65-79 (7%). The research also found that older men are more isolated than older women with 14% of older men experiencing moderate to high social isolation compared to 11% of women.

    As well as demonstrating the isolation felt by blind veterans like Ken, the film also shows the difference made by the training, rehabilitation and support the charity provides. Ken is shown with new equipment, provided by Blind Veterans UK, which allows him to read his mail again and keep in contact with friends and family.

    Ken’s Story also shows the relationship that has developed between him and a Blind Veterans UK volunteer called Liam who now visits Ken several times a week. The charity has set a target to recruit 500 more volunteers with a specific focus on recruiting Home Visitors like Liam. Blind Veterans UK views this as crucial in helping to combat the isolation experienced by so many of its beneficiaries.

    Blind Veterans UK currently supports more blind veterans than ever before in the charity’s history, but it knows there are many thousands more who still need their support.

    Chief Executive of Blind Veterans UK, Major General (Rtd) Nick Caplin CB says: “We estimate that there are up to 50,000 veterans out there who are entitled to our support but not receiving it. Veterans like Ken, who are living with sight loss and possibly experiencing those same feelings of isolation demonstrated so powerfully by him in this film. Together we can help rebuild blind veterans’ lives after sight loss.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • New Community Scheme To Help Isolated Veterans

    New Community Scheme To Help Isolated Veterans

    Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk have been selected as pilot locations for a new project aimed at supporting RAF veterans who face loneliness and isolation…

    The RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, is launching a Community Engagement Worker scheme to help older veterans get involved in their local communities. The scheme comes in response to research carried out by the Fund which highlighted these challenges as issues which most concern the older generation of RAF veterans.

    Pete Ashcroft, Welfare Projects Executive at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “The Community Engagement Worker project is just one measure we have introduced to tackle the issue of loneliness and social isolation among older veterans. Other new initiatives include a Telephone Friendship Group service and group wellbeing breaks.

    “This year marks the RAF Benevolent Fund’s centenary and we are asking the public to help us reach out to the members of the RAF Family who may have fallen off the radar and let them know, we are here to help. We want to ensure every RAF veteran, no matter how long they served, receives the support their service to their country deserves.”

    The Community Engagement Workers will get to know the social activities, groups and associations across the four counties and work with individuals to understand what the barriers are to them becoming more socially engaged and help them to overcome that, from attending a veterans’ breakfast meeting with someone for the first time, to establishing activities where none currently exist.

    Declan Geraghty, 44, of Thetford, will be taking on the Suffolk Community Engagement Worker role. His 24-year career as a Royal Air Force armourer means he knows the service well. He said: “It has always been deeply humbling, the sacrifices that whose who fought before us made and as an RAF veteran I have some insight into that.

    “This is an opportunity of a lifetime, and I feel like I’m part of the RAF family again. Success in this job is going to be very different for each person. This is about individuals and what they need to feel part of the RAF Family, and the wider community again.”

    The pilot scheme will run for two years.

     

     

     

     

     

  • A Wild Walk Home In Colchester

    A Wild Walk Home In Colchester

    Staff, Veterans and volunteers from the Help for Heroes Recovery Centre in Colchester have taken a walk on the wild side, completing their Walking Home for Christmas event around an Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserve…

    The walkers were joined by local MP Will Quince, as well as Santa, Hero Bear and Boris the Badger for the family-friendly two hour walk around Fingringhoe Wick, Essex.

    This year Help for Heroes have joined forces with Walking With The Wounded to support even more Veterans and their families who may be struggling this Christmas, simply by going for a walk and fundraising.

    Ann Scott at Help for Heroes explained why those at the Recovery Centre wanted to get involved: “This will help support wounded, injured and sick Veterans who are at risk; some battling isolation and struggling with their mental health. We wanted to get involved to raise much needed funds but more importantly bring Veterans and their families together at a fun event”.

    The walk also brought the wider community together. Tyler St-George didn’t just take part in the two hour hike but walked from his home 20 miles away to get to the fundraising event. The 22 year old from Clacton-on-Sea, who suffers from autism and ADHD, was determined to raise money for his heroes.

    12 year old Mark Cole from Witham saw an article in his local paper about the event and begged his mum, Tracy to take him. She reports that he didn’t want to see Santa, Hero Bear or Boris the Badger but wanted to shake the hand of a war Veteran. He was delighted to meet Colin Branch who showed him his newly decorated prosthetic leg.

    Will Quince, who joined the walk, said: “Not only is Help for Heroes a fantastic charity that works across the UK but we’re so lucky to have a Recovery Centre in Colchester. It was a great opportunity to talk with staff and Veterans from Chavasse VC House, but also to thank the volunteers for the amazing fundraising that they do”.

    Walking with the Wounded and Help for Heroes will split all funds raised from this year’s campaign to pay for vital support for Veterans at risk.