Combat Stress News - Winter 2013
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Transcript of Combat Stress News - Winter 2013
They fight our wars. We fight their battles.
WWW.combaTsTress.org.uk
NewsNewsletter of the ex-services meNtal welfare society
spriNg 2013
Registered Charity Number: 206002. Charity Number Scotland: SC 038828.
Company limited by guarantee: Registration Number 256353
How supporters are going the extra mile to raise funds
life in the dayof a Community Outreach Team
Campaign successUpdate on The Enemy Within Appeal
battliNg stigma
Drawn from experienceHelping Veterans heal through Art Therapy
rehabilitatioN
treatmeNt
new heights
fundraiser Keith bunnett on top of mont blanc
Reaching
2 COMBAT STRESS nEwS | spring 2013 www.combatstress.org.uk
The Invisible woundedalthough it was some months ago now, you may have seen
the powerful, thought-provoking documentary The Invisible
Wounded on sky tV. presented by ross kemp and broadcast
on 12 november 2012, it explored the devastating effects of
mental illness on those who have served in our armed Forces.
we worked closely with ross and his team and were very
pleased with the result. many of the Veterans who spoke in
the programme are supported by combat stress and i was
humbled by the courage they demonstrated in sharing very
personal dark times, on camera in front of journalists, for
public consumption. without such powerful testimony, the
documentary could not have been made and our ability to
reduce stigma, find those in need and help them would be
compromised. thank you to everyone involved with this fine
programme which reinforces the good work we are doing,
with the help of comic relief, to reduce stigma.
this year, the number of approaches to combat stress for
help has risen steadily. we continue to diversify the care we can
give, seeking to share the load with the nHs, local authorities
and other charities. with invaluable support from our extensive
community outreach service, we are all working hard and in
new ways to provide our Veterans with the right treatment
and support, at a time and place that is right for them.
to this end we have recently expanded our ptsD intensive
treatment programme to our two other treatment centres —
audley court in shropshire and Hollybush House in ayrshire,
meaning that we can provide this innovative treatment
programme to more Veterans around the uk (page 10).
in the last month we have also had unannounced inspections
by the care Quality commission and the scottish care
inspectorate. the outcomes were most satisfactory and we
were commended for our openness and for involving our
Veterans and staff in the change programme that is underway.
community outreach services are very stretched and in
need of careful reorganisation to ensure Veterans get the
best care we can afford. we are increasingly working with the
nHs and sister charities to share the load, but we have to do
more. a study is underway, which reports to me in march, to
work out how we can do better. please turn to pages 6-7 to
read more about the support we offer in the community.
i hope you enjoy this edition of Combat Stress News. i also
hope you will support us on our journey to reach out to more
ex-service men and women and help them rebuild their lives.
Thank you.
The briefby chief executive Andrew Cameron
Intelligencenews/campaigns/stats
A farewell to Clive Fairweather
Colonel Clive Fairweather, a great
friend of Combat Stress and a
champion for Veterans across the
UK, passed away in Edinburgh on
12 October 2012.
Clive was a wonderful man
whose commitment to Veterans’
welfare never faltered. His
distinguished career saw him
serve in the King’s Own Scottish
Borderers and 22 SAS (he was
second-in-command at the
Iranian Embassy siege in London
in 1980). After leaving the Army,
Clive worked as Chief Inspector of
Prisons in Scotland and fundraiser
for Combat Stress in Scotland.
His compassion and leadership
skills were abundantly clear,
and all those who worked with
him will remember not just his
commitment but his charm and
good humour.
Andrew Cameron, Combat
Stress’s Chief Executive, paid
tribute to Clive: “It was with great
sadness that we learned of Clive
Fairweather’s passing. Clive was a
tireless servant of Combat Stress,
and a wonderful advocate of our
work and the issue of Veterans’
welfare. He raised thousands of
pounds to support our vital work
and greatly raised awareness
of the mental health needs of
Scottish Veterans.
“Clive had a wonderful rapport
with Veterans and, as an ex-
Service man of considerable
distinction himself, was trusted
and respected by them. His energy
and passion will be sorely missed.”
Clive Fairweather will be greatly missed by
everyone at Combat Stress
Veterans’ champion & friend
RAISIng A FORTunEA massive thank you to the Daybreak team (right) for donating their £30,000 winnings on ITV’s All Star Family Fortunes to Combat Stress.
Ph
oto
: T
he S
cots
man
Pu
blic
ati
on
s LT
D
WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK SPRING 2013 | COMBAT STRESS NEWS 3
Intelligence
John Marham, Julian Sayers and Peter Poole at the National Service of Remembrance
Veterans’ poetry published Courage and Strength is an inspiring collection of stories and poems by Combat Stress Veterans, featuring an introduction by broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and a foreword by General the Lord Richard Dannatt, GCB CBE MC DL. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to Combat Stress. To purchase a copy please visitwww.legendpress.co.uk or call 01372 587 146.
Paying our respectsOver 30 Combat Stress Veterans, along with wives, partners, carers and staff, represented Combat Stress at the National Service of Remembrance held at The Cenotaph, to show their respect for the sacrifi ces made by Service men and women. Paul Barnsley, ex-Royal Artillery, handed over the Combat Stress wreath before the group marched to Horse Guards Parade to observe the salute from HRH The Earl of Wessex.
Hanging up your boots The forthcoming event Hanging up your boots
will feature Josh Lewsey MBE (left) talking to
Michael Vaughan OBE, former England cricketer;
Brigadier. Ed Butler CBE DSO, former commander
of the SAS; and Damian Hopley, CEO of the
Rugby Players’ Association. Ed will discuss life
after the Services, while Michael and Damian will
talk about life as sporting stars. Proceeds from
the event, taking place on Thursday 21 February,
will be split between Restart and Combat Stress.
To book tickets see the enclosed events calendar
or visit www.combatstress.org.uk/events.
Veterans take Gadget ChallengeAudley Court Treatment Centre is running ‘Gadget Challenge’ sessions courtesy of RAF Cosford educational unit. Veterans have been building vehicles powered by an air compressor (such as a hovercraft). The goal is to travel furthest, and we even have a leader board, just like on Top Gear!
Fancy a holiday in rural France?If the answer is 'yes', then Rosy
and John Rabson simply request
that you donate generously to
Combat Stress to stay in their
delightful cottage in rural
Burgundy, France. The
cottage sleeps four to
fi ve and is equipped down
to the last teaspoon. For
bookings, photographs and
links to tourist attractions
etc, please visit www.
charity-cottage.org.uk
or email Rosy or John:
Arise Sir SimonCongratulations to Combat Stress Trustee Prof Simon Wessely on his recent knighthood for services to Military Healthcare and to Psychological Medicine.
New website launched
The new combatstress.org.uk website has now gone live! The
site offers more information about the work we do, as well as easier access to all of our services for those who may
need our help. Come and visit us!
This event is proudly sponsored by:
Fundraising
4 COMBAT STRESS NEWS | SPRING 2013 WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK
£450pays for a day’s
Outpatients assessment, diagnosis and clinical sessions at one of our
Treatment Centres
£70will help run a
support group in the community for the partners and carers
of Veterans Thank you!Our supporters continue to amaze us with inventive and challenging ways to raise funds. A massive thank you to every single one of you. We really appreciate your dedication.
March 2012, raising £863.75. The March is an
annual 46-mile long-distance walk around the four
main air bases of the Pathfi nder Force: RAF Wyton
(the HQ), RAF Graveley, RAF Oakington and RAF
Warboys (Training Base).
A Minute for the FallenTony Gardner completed the ‘A Minute for the
Fallen’ challenge, running/cycling one minute for
every fallen soldier in Afghanistan (totalling more
than seven hours), raising over £2,000.
Port to portFalklands 30: 2012 was the 30th Anniversary of
the Falklands War. To mark this occasion, four
ex-members of 9 Parachute Squadron, Royal
Engineers, Bob Chatterton, Steve Morris, Dave
Leibrick and Jamie Rankine, ran non-stop from
Port San Carlos to Port Stanley in November 2012.
Redwoods Challenge Staff of South Staffordshire & Shropshire NHS
Foundation Trust completed a 54-mile walk over
two days, raising over £1,500.
Sky diveThank you to Alba Military Fitness who train
at Strathclyde Park, Motherwell, for their
fundraising efforts, including a sky dive by
Skye McLeod raising £1,000!
Tank’d upTeam Tank’d Up are four Ayrshire taxi
Support through music
Our supporters with
musical talents have been
busy again with a number
of singles released in
support of Combat Stress.
Indie/rock band Clacket
Lane moved us with their
fantastic song Home Again
and touching accompanying
video; 17-year-old singer-
songwriter Rebecca James
released the beautiful
Feel The Rain; and the
poignant Soldier Song
came from folk musician
Steve Donnelly.
WINCHESTER CONCERT In November,
Winchester Music Club,
led by Christopher Green,
organised a powerful
performance of Benjamin
Britten’s War Requiem at
Winchester Cathedral. With
more than 300 performers
from Winchester Music Club,
Winchester College Glee
Club and Winchester Music
Club Orchestra combining
forces with Winchester
College Quiristers and
Southern Pro Musica, the
night was a huge success,
raising well over £9,000 for
Combat Stress.
SCOTTISH SUPPORT Catherine Ross
organised superb
entertainment in Aberdeen
with the Royal Marine
Military Band, raising
a fantastic £3,215.
The congregation
of Coylton Church
held a musical
evening, raising
£1,300.
Mountain LionsWill Quilter, aged 16, climbed Kilimanjaro,
raising a wonderful sum of £2,257.50 and
ex-Service man Keith Bunnett climbed Mont
Blanc as a personal challenge, raising £906.
Climbing the MatterhornCaroline Horsburgh and Tobias Buckler climbed
the Matterhorn, raising £8,872 between them.
The challenge consisted of nine days walking and
climbing in the mountains, with an ascent of the
Matterhorn in the fi nal couple of days.
Tough Mudders and TriathlonGavin Mann and Ben White completed Tough
Mudder in November, raising over £1,400.
Major Cameron Angus and Team True Spirit
Triathlon raised £958.25. The team consisted of
Service men and support staff who undertook a
series of races in 2012, culminating in the Ironman
UK Triathlon — a one-day endurance event.
RAF Pathfi nder MarchPeter Sullivan took part in the RAF Pathfi nder P
ho
to: C
hri
s L
aw
ren
ce/A
lam
y
Our cover star Keith Bunnett on top of
Mont Blanc
Tough Mudders Gavin Mann and Ben White
Fundraising
www.combatstress.org.uk� spring�2013�|�COMBAT STRESS nEwS��5
You’ve been fantastic!Combat Stress would like to
give special thanks to these
people for their support:
Paul welton has raised
over £1,700 since June
2011 through collections
and selling our charity
merchandise.
Mike Ingle climbed
Kilimanjaro, raising £1,297.75
in the process.
Thorntoun Estate at Crosshouse held their annual
fete and donated £2,500
as a result.
Hugo Parkinson ran the Race
to Midnight, raising £1,746.20
Pupil Tilly Barley of Heathfield
School, Ascot, nominated
us to be the recipient of
proceeds raised from the
school’s annual Christmas
Fair held on 24 November,
totalling over £1,000
Paul McVey held a martial
arts evening in Kilmarnock in
November and raised £717.
Steve woodford and staff at
the White Horse at Dalrymple
held a gala day for the Jubilee
and donated £870.
Glensone Garden opened its
gates as part of the Scottish
Open Garden Scheme,
and owners william and Josephine Millar were able to
send us a cheque for £640.
Isobelle Quigley raised
£1,018 by selling her hand-
made knitted poppies for
Remembrance Day.
We are grateful to everyone who has given up their time and energy to fundraise on our behalf, and to everyone who has donated. Your stories and commitment are spectacular and we thank every one of you.
drivers�who�travelled�over�2,500�miles�across�
europe�in�a�camouflaged�Volvo�as�part�of�this�
year’s�screwball�rally�and�raised�£1,180.
Summer runnersJuly�saw�85�combat�stress�runners�brave�the�
british�summer�in�the�british�10k�London�run�and�
enjoy�a�post-race�picnic�at�the�in�and�out�club,�
raising�over�£13,000.�our�supporters�again�hit�the�
streets�of�London�in�october�for�the�royal�parks�
Half�marathon.�61�runners�(including�a�team�from�
allocate�software�and�a�combat�stress�Viking!)�
made�their�way�around�the�13.1�mile�course�and�
raised�a�fantastic�total�of�over�£36,000 in�the�
process.�Hundreds�of�our�other�amazing�volunteers�
took�part�in�runs�the�length�and�breadth�of�the�
country,�including�Sean Bonner�(66�mile�ultra�
marathon),�Holly Hodge�(glasgow�Half�marathon),�
and�Dean Bailey and his team (24-hour�adidas�
thunder�run),�helping�to�raise�over�£123,000�for�
combat�stress�in�2012.
Intrepid adventurerin�september�2011,�volunteer�fundraiser�and�
courageous�explorer�nathan Jones left�home�in�
bristol�for�an�intrepid�journey�cycling�the�12,000�
miles�to�tokyo.�nathan�faced�torrential�rain,�snow�
and�problems�with�visas�along�the�way.�a�huge�
thank�you�and�congratulations�to�nathan�because�
in�september�2012�he�completed�his�epic�challenge,�
raising�a�fantastic�amount�for�combat�stress.�en�
route�nathan�kept�us�all�up�to�date�with�his�fantastic�
blog.�to�read�about�his�trip�and�see�nathan’s�
photos�visit�www.cyclingtowardsthesun.co.uk
Battle Proms�it�was�our�eighth�year�at�the�ever�popular�
battle�proms�and�both�staff�and�volunteers�had�
tremendous�fun�at�all�six�shows,�collecting�£21,536�
in�the�process.�JsL,�the�company�behind�the�
proms,�has�topped�up�our�funds�with�an�additional�
donation�of�£1,500,�and�the�raF�association�
and�their�partnership�with�the�blade�aerobatic�
Display�team�raised�£11,490,�taking�this�year’s�
total�to�over�£34,000!�a�very�big�thank�you�to�JSL
Productions, The Blades Aerobatic Display Team
and all our lovely volunteers,�particularly�those�of�
you�who�keep�coming�back�to�help�year�after�year.�
Bring and buy boosta�christmas�bazaar�and�bring�and�buy�sale�
took�place�in�the�beautiful�grounds�of�naseby�
Hall,�thanks�to�Lady Rowley, Mrs Latham and
their team of helpers.�the�morning�raised�
almost�£3,000.
Emma King-Farlow: The Poetry & The PityHaving�already�staged�two�original�
remembrance�shows,�emma�and�shadow�road�
productions�took�on�their�third�for�combat�
stress,�reaching�their�target�of�over�£1,000�on�
the�night.�emma�and�the�team�are�now�looking�to�
reach�out�to�a�larger�audience�by�staging�a�new�
show�in�2013�in�a�much�bigger�venue.
Caroline Copland: Feet to Remembercaroline�undertook�an�epic�journey,�walking�(in�five�
days)�from�the�cenotaph�in�London’s�whitehall�to�
the�menin�gate�in�belgium�to�lay�a�wreath�at�the�
last�post�ceremony.�she�also�held�a�fundraising�
reception�at�the�raF�club�(kindly�sponsored�by�
wa�ellis)�in�may�and,�together�with�sponsorship�for�
the�walk,�raised�an�invaluable�£8,186.23.
Reading Lions: Heroes Dinnerthanks�to�Reading Lions,�Stuart Rowsell and�
Martin Upstone,�who�put�an�enormous�amount�
of�time�and�hard�work�into�organising�this�very�
special�black-tie�event.��
the�evening�raised�£7,000�
for�combat�stress.�
�
Charity of the year Allan Swift�(club�captain)�
and�Forest Park Golf Club�
chose�combat�stress�as�
their�charity�of�the�Year�
—�we�received�a�very�
generous�cheque��
for�£1,636.30.�
Above: Combat Stress Viking ‘Keef’ at Royal Parks Half Marathon.Left: Nathan Jones cycled 12,000 miles for Combat Stress
The White Horse at Dalrymple held a Jubilee day for
Combat Stress
Part of a nationwide network
of Combat Stress Community
Outreach Teams, the South Central team
comprises two mental health professionals
— Community Psychiatric Nurse Graham
Poulter and Mental Health Practitioner Jayne
Rowe — as well as Regional Welfare Officer
Vikki Muir and Welfare Desk Officer Neil
Cottrell, all of whom work closely together
to offer the best possible clinical and welfare
support to Veterans. They are supported by
Pat Donnachie, a Regional Welfare Officer
based at Help for Heroes’ Tedworth House.
While Graham, Jayne and Vikki spend
much of their week working directly
with Veterans in their own communities,
Welfare Desk Officer Neil, based at
the charity’s Tyrwhitt House HQ in
Leatherhead, is many Veterans’ first point
of contact. “He’s the glue that binds us
together,” says his colleague Vikki. “We
couldn’t manage effectively without him.”
Neil says: “We get some very distressing
calls. It takes courage to phone; on average
it takes Veterans 13 years to muster
that courage. These aren’t five-minute
Life in the day of a Community Outreach Team
Reaching out to VeteransThe clinical and welfare support offered by our Community Outreach Teams is an invaluable service for Veterans. We take a look at the great work being done by the South Central team
6 COMBAT STRESS nEwS | SPRING 2013 WWW.COMbaTSTReSS.ORG.uk
It takes courage to phone our helpline
£35can pay for a session
with a Registered Mental Health Nurse
in the community
conversations. Vikki will usually be their
first face-to-face contact and will make an
assessment at the Veteran’s home address.”
Listening to Veterans’ stories
“This can be the first time they have
talked about their experiences so it can be
emotional,” Vikki says. “We go through the
Veteran’s story, picking up on key areas.
The Veteran will then either be referred to
the clinical team or for an assessment with
the Psychiatrist at Tyrwhitt House. I will
also follow them up to see whether they
need further support from us or other
agencies, such as the Royal british Legion
(RbL), the Soldiers Sailors airmen and
Families association (SSaFa), Services
Personnel & Veterans agency (SPVa) or
Help for Heroes.”
key to the team’s work are monthly
Veteran Support Groups. “These meetings
help Veterans realise they are not isolated,”
says Graham. “They are a chance for
Veterans to meet people with common
experiences, and offer valuable clinical
support as well as advice from NHS
professionals on topics such as sleeping
disorders, anxiety and depression.” They
include open forums, group and one-to-one
sessions, and advice on mental health.
Neil also deals with calls from wives,
carers and partners, as well as referrals
from social workers, psychiatrists and GPs,
but says he needs the Veteran’s consent
to begin the process. another source of
referrals is the 24-hour Helpline which
receives many calls from Veterans suffering
from confusion, anger or depression.
Increasing media exposure of the charity’s
work has meant more Veterans are seeking
help. “We have over 280 Veterans in our
area and this is rising,” says Vikki. “We cover
a wide area, from bedford to the Isle of
Wight and from bristol to ascot,” Jane adds.
Left: The South Central Community Outreach TeamBelow: Graham Poulter with a Veteran at one of our support groups
Jane Rowe with Veteran at one of our support groups
Meet the teaM
Life in the day of a Community Outreach Team
Vikki Muir Regional Welfare Officer Vikki has worked in a
number of military hospitals providing welfare support. She has worked at Combat
Stress for nearly three years.
Graham Poulter Community Psychiatric Nurse Graham spent 15 years in the Royal Navy. With a Masters
degree in community nursing and mental health, he joined Combat Stress in May 2011.
Jayne Rowe Mental Health Practitioner With wide experience in
mental health services, Jayne has been with us since the
South Central Outreach Team was launched 18 months ago.
Neil Cottrell Welfare Desk Officer
Neil joined Combat Stress in November 2009 and is in his
final year of studies for a Certificate in Mental Health with the Open University.
www.combatstress.org.uk� spring�2013�|�COMBat StReSS newS��7
we�currently�have�over�280�Veterans�in�our�area�and�this�is�rising
while�Vikki�and�neil�offer�welfare�support,�
graham�and�Jayne’s�work�focuses�on�
Veterans’�mental�health�needs.�graham’s�
work�involves�liaising�with�primary�
healthcare�practitioners�to�identify�best�
avenues�of�treatment�and�advising�gps�on�
medication�management.�He�draws�on�his�
experience�not�only�as�a�nurse�but�as�an�ex-
service�man�—�understanding�the�effects�
of�conflict�as�well�as�which�conditions�
respond�best�to�which�medication.�“part�
of�my�assessment�is�to�determine�what�
treatment�might�be�suitable�for�the�
Veteran�and�to�work�in�partnership�with�
other�organisations�to�ensure�that�the�
Veteran�receives�timely�treatment,”�he�
says.�“this�includes�referring�them�to�
local�nHs�therapists�or�back�to�their�gp�
for�a�more�formalised�programme.”�a�
significant�part�of�his�work�he�refers�to�as�
“psycho-educational”�—�taking�
the�charity’s�message�and�
awareness�of�the�problems�
facing�serving�personnel�
to�other�organisations.
part�of�the�problem�
the�team�faces�is�that�
Veterans�are�often�unable�
or�unwilling�to�accept�
they�have�a�problem�until�
years�after�active�service.�
once�they�come�to�combat�
stress,�graham�and�Jayne�waste�no�time�
addressing�Veterans’�mental�health�needs.�
“i�spend�time�visiting,�conducting�needs�and�
risk�assessments,�providing�support�and�
counselling,�as�well�as�delivering�community-
based�cognitive�behavioural�therapy,”�
says�Jayne.�“my�role�is�to�encourage�self�
management�and�promote�fulfilment�and�
well-being�alongside�managing�a�mental�
health�condition.�i�also�signpost�Veterans�to�
local�services�for�assessment�or�intervention,�
liaise�with�gps,�community�mental�health�
teams�and�other�services�or�refer�them�to�
our�treatment�centre�in�Leatherhead.”
aside�from�mental�health�issues,�Veterans�
also�need�to�cope�with�practical�issues�such�
as�finances,�housing�and�pensions.�this�is�
where�the�team�calls�on�the�likes�of�the�rbL,�
ssaFa�and�spVa.�Vikki�says:�“we�liaise�
with�other�agencies�to�ensure�the�Veteran�is�
supported�from�every�angle.�i�help�with�getting�
the�Veteran�housing�and�financial�
support�—�be�it�emergency�food�
vouchers,�benefits,�war�pensions,�
even�holidays�to�Jersey�through�
Holidays�for�Heroes.”
a rewarding role
the�demands�placed�on�the�
team�are�immense�but�there�
are�real�benefits�too.�“it�is�very�
satisfying�for�me�to�see�their�
journey,”�says�neil.�“those�who�are�in�
darkness�coming�out�at�the�other�side.”
graham�elaborates:�“our�clinical�
supervision�helps�Veterans�deal�with�their�
experiences�and�emotions�and�goes�some�
way�to�allowing�them�to�lead�a�‘normal’�life,�
something�we�often�take�for�granted.”
For�Vikki,�there�is�no�such�thing�as�a�
‘typical’�day.�“You�never�know�what�you�may�
encounter,�especially�with�a�first�visit,”�she�
says.�“the�important�thing�is�that�after�that�
visit,�the�Veteran�is�on�their�way�to�gaining�
support,�treatment�and�understanding�of�
what�they�are�going�through�and�accessing�a�
wealth�of�other�resources�they�may�not�have�
known�about�before.�that�is�what�makes�the�
day�worthwhile.”�
Help for Heroes have pledged to fund the
first three years of the South Central and
South West Community Outreach Teams
as part of their contribution to The Enemy
Within Appeal.�
£5,000 is what it costs
to run one of our Community Outreach
Teams for a week
Jane Rowe with Veteran at one of our support groups
Funded by
8 COMBAT STRESS nEwS | spring 2013 www.combatstress.org.uk
It has been an honour to serve as the
chairman of the enemy within appeal
over the past three years. as someone
who has helped pioneer mental health
treatment in the uk, i have a deep
understanding of the needs of Veterans
suffering from psychological injury and
wholeheartedly believe that this need is best
served by combat stress.
the success of the appeal and
raising the £30 million has been a
combined effort and i would like to
thank you all for playing your part —
participating in active challenges, hosting
events, running charity of the year
initiatives, making generous donations etc.
Your enthusiasm, creativity and loyalty
towards fundraising has been inspiring.
thank you.
together we have re-shaped the way
combat stress has been able to deliver its
services to Veterans and also addressed
the stigma that surrounds Veterans’
mental health, encouraging both Veterans
and their families to seek help sooner. in
2010, it was taking all our Veterans with
mental health issues an average of 14.3
years between leaving the armed Forces
and seeking help from combat stress.
i am delighted that for personnel who
have served in iraq and afghanistan, the
timelag has now reduced to 29 and 18
months respectively.
i believe strongly in the military covenant
— put simply, in return for the risks taken
on our behalf by our service men and
women, we have an absolute obligation
to look after those who are wounded,
and their families. as part of the combat
stress family, i do hope you will join me
The Enemy Within Appeal
Appeal impact
Dr Chai Patel CBE FRCP
A message from Dr Chai Patel CBE FRCP, Chairman of The Enemy Within Appeal Board
and continue to be there for Veterans with
psychological injuries so that they have
access to the right treatment, in the right
place and at the right time. “I would like to thank you for playing your part”
They fight our wars. We fight their battles
HRH The Prince of Wales launches
the Appeal
The Enemy Within Appeal
www.combatstress.org.uk� spring�2013�|�COMBAT STRESS nEwS�9
Appeal highlightsThe Enemy Within Appeal has enjoyed great success in meeting its aims over the past three years. Here are just some of the highlights…
LAunChing ThE AppEAL in�march�2010,�our�patron�HrH�the�prince�of�wales�launches�the�enemy�within�appeal�to�transform�the�way�combat�stress�delivers�its�mental�health�services�and�encourage�Veterans�and�their�families�to�seek�help�sooner.�
giving AS yOu wORk 350�of�you�have�signed�up�to�support�combat�stress�via�the�payroll��giving�scheme.��with�an�average�monthly�gift�of��£23,�you�have�raised�over�£100,000.
BREAk pOinT EvEnT the�Hon�mrs�sally�bedford�and�her�committee�organised�our�biggest�fundraising�event�—�break�point.�Focussed�around�screening�the�wimbledon�men’s�Final�at�10�of�england’s�most�prestigious�country�houses,�the�event�raised�over £270,000.
hEROES AT ThE TOwER the�Volunteer�committee,�chaired�by�the�Lord�Dannatt,�have�run�two�unique�evenings�at�the��tower�of�London,�raising�over�£95,000 for�combat�stress.�
OuTREACh TEAMSwe�successfully�rolled�out�our�network�of�14�multi-disciplinary�community�outreach�teams,�six�months�ahead�of�schedule,�thanks�to:�Help�for�Heroes,�raF�benevolent�Fund,�the�royal�british�Legion,�abF�the�soldiers�charity,�seafarers�uk,�amongst�others.
prime Minister David Cameron
pM pAyS A viSiT Following�release�of�the�
Fighting Fit�paper,�prime�
minister�David�cameron�and�
Dr�andrew�murrison�mp�visit�
tyrwhitt�House�and�commit�
the�government�to�working�
with�military�charities�to�ensure�
Veterans�can�access�services�
effectively�and�engage�with�
treatment�provided.�
pTSD inTEnSivE TREATMEnT 133�Veterans�suffering�from�ptsD�and�other�complex�conditions�have�completed�our�ptsD�intensive�treatment�programme�since�it�was�launched�at�tyrwhitt�House�in�september�2011.�this�has�now�been�rolled�out�to�our�shropshire�and�ayrshire�treatment�centres
TA AnD RESERvES the�combat�stress�ta�and�reserve�Forces�Liaison�team�was�launched�in�June�2011,�supported�by�the�westminster�Foundation.�it�has�engaged�with�over�3,211 reservists,�military�staff�and�professionals�to�date.
Anthony Andrews and Joshua Miles in Bully Boy
BULLY BoY pLAy Driven�by�her�horror�at�the�legacy�of�war,�comedy�star�sandi�toksvig�has�written�a�heart-felt�play,�Bully Boy.�to�much�acclaim,�anthony�andrews�and�Joshua�miles�challenge�the�moral�issues�of�contemporary�military�occupation�and�its�effect��on�military�personnel’s��mental�health.�
pERSOnAL SuppORT24,700�of�you�have�responded�to�our�mailings�over�the�past�three�years,�giving�an�average�gift�of�£47 and�securing�over��£1.16 million.
BATTLing STigMA81%�of�Veterans�say�they�are�ashamed�or�embarrassed�about�their�mental�health�problems.�to�address�this,�the�rt�Hon�John�bercow�mp�launched�our�national�awareness�campaign,�funded�by�comic�relief,�to�battle�this�stigma�that�surrounds�Veterans’�mental�health�and�encourage�more�Veterans�to�seek�help�sooner.�
hELpLinE On CALL we�have�worked�closely�with�
the�Department�of�Health�to�
launch�the�new�Helpline�for�
those�members�of�the�military�
community�living�with�mental�
health�issues.�to�date�there�
have�been�10,855�calls,�texts�
and�emails.�
10 COMBAT STRESS nEwS | spring 2013 www.combatstress.org.uk
Supporting Veterans
In our last issue, Dr walter Busuttil,
Director of medical services, outlined
our newly established ptsD intensive
treatment programme and its
development at our surrey treatment
centre, tyrwhitt House. we are pleased to
report that this programme has now been
rolled out to our two other treatment
centres in shropshire and ayrshire.
the programme was introduced
at the Hollybush House treatment
centre, ayrshire, on 17 september
and to the audley court treatment
centre, shropshire, on 29 october.
the programme works with groups
of up to eight Veterans at a time, and
to date 14 Veterans have completed the
programme at audley court and 12 at
Hollybush House.
at both treatment centres we are
now running two groups at a time, in
order to support as many Veterans as
possible. However, this expansion will
still allow us the resources to continue
admitting Veterans for assessment
stays and our short-stay treatment
programme, as well as the follow-
up appointments to those who have
completed the intensive programme.
Like at tyrwhitt House, the ptsD
intensive treatment programme at
Hollybush House and audley court offer
three key treatment methods: psycho-
education, skills training and individual
trauma-focused therapy. as part of this
we have introduced new concepts to the
course such as behavioural activation
and compassionate mind training.
as Veterans are expected to stay
at our treatment centres for six weeks, a
well-being programme has also been set
up at each centre. this allows Veterans
to take part in structured occupational
therapy, as well as social and training
activities during evenings and at
weekends. it also enables Veterans to
carry out the homework tasks set by the
six-week course.
Staff feedback:
“We have received positive feedback
and it has been a good experience so far.
the ptsD intensive treatment programme has been rolled out to our shropshire treatment centre, audley court, and to Hollybush House, our treatment centre in scotland
Expanding our Intensive PTSD Programme
A VeterAn’s experience Falklands Veteran Brian Jones was just 21,
when British Ship HMS Sheffield was hit by an Argentinian missile. Twenty of Brian’s comrades perished that day, and survivors spent hours fighting fires before their ship was abandoned.
Every second of that traumatic day and the subsequent weeks is still seared into Brian’s mind. Brian tried to repair his life, but was badly affected and continued having “episodes”.
For years afterwards, Brian drank too much and withdrew from friends and family, feeling “angry, frustrated, even violent at times”. It was only in 2009 that Brian finally sought treatment and was diagnosed with PTSD at Combat Stress.
The PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme was a turning point. “Brian was completely different,” smiles wife Melanie, describing his transformation. “It was like living with a new person.”
For Brian, seeking help has made all the difference, giving him the strength and tools “to break the cycle of depression and the black thoughts”.
Staff are enjoying the structure and focus
that the programme allows.”
Clare Armstrong, Operations Manager
north, Hollybush House
“Staff told me that they could see
the Veterans becoming more
relaxed and in a lighter mood and
spirit. One of our Community
Nurses visited and couldn’t believe the
change in a Veteran she knew.”
Jackie Jones, Service Development
Manager, Audley Court
DATE EACH CEnTrE BEgAn THE ProgrAMME:• tyrwhitt House: 4 September 2011 • Hollybush House: 17 September 2012 • Audley court: 29 october 2012
VETErAnS wHo HAVE CoMPlETED THE ProgrAMME• tyrwhitt House: 107 (a further 16 are currently on the course) • Hollybush House: 12 (a further 16 are currently on the course) • Audley court: 14 (a further 16 are currently on the course)
It costs us
£14,500for a (non-English)
Veteran to take part in our PTSD Intensive Treatment
Programme. (English Veterans are funded
by the Dept of Health)
www.combatstress.org.uk� spring�2013�|�COMBAT STRESS nEwS��11
Meet the Team
Five things I’ve learntas�a�clinical�nurse�specialist�at�combat�stress,�morag�Heggie�helps�Veterans�with�ptsD�to�move�on�in�their�lives.�Here�she�shares�her�top�five�learning�points
1�A sense of humour is essential“i�wouldn’t�have�survived�16�years�
working�with�Veterans�without�a�sense��
of�humour.�once�a�client�starts�to�trust��
you,�you�can�help�them�to�start�the�process�
of�rekindling�old�skills�—�and�humour�is��
a�valuable�survival�skill.�people�let�off�
steam,�relax,�bond�with�peers�and��
deflect�painful�emotions�by�using�humour.�
Very�often,�clients�say�to�me�they’d�
forgotten�how�to�laugh�until�they�met�
other�Veterans�at�audley�court.�Despite�
undergoing�some�very�difficult�work,�they�
say�they’ve�laughed�more�here�than�they�
have�in�years.”
2�There’s no quick fix�“some�of�our�clients�have�long-term�
complex�needs�and�sadly�often�mistrust�
people�who�are�trying�to�help�them.�
our�job�is�to�build�a�safe,�trusting�and�
therapeutic�relationship�with�them.��
trauma�sufferers�need�to�trust�their�
therapist�implicitly;�they�may�have�been�
suffering�for�decades�and�it’s�our�challenge�
to�show�we’re�worthy�of�their�trust.�
only�when�we’ve�established�a�strong�
therapeutic�relationship�can�we�work�
together�effectively.”
3�working with traumatised ex-Service personnel is challenging
“Veterans�haven’t�just�been�through�one�
traumatic�event�—�often�they’ve�survived�
dozens�of�incidents,�any�one�of�which�
would�have�a�profound�effect�on�any�
of�us.�therapy�can�be�really�hard�work�
for�both�Veterans�and�staff�—�emotions�
run�high.�but�just�when�you�are�feeling�
exhausted,�there�will�be�a�light�bulb�
moment�and�you’ll�recognise�that�you’ve�
made�a�breakthrough.�For�example,�
i�use�eye�movement�Desensitisation�and�
reprocessing�therapy�a�lot.�Following�
a�session,�someone�who�had�been�
suffering�with�severe�ptsD�for�over��
30�years�will�suddenly�say,�‘it’s�over,��
morag.�it’s�in�the�past.’”
4 Family and friends are enormously important
“if�we�can�help�Veterans�to�maintain�
relationships�by�providing�education�and�
support�to�partners�and�families,�their�
chances�of�recovery�undoubtedly�improve.�
communication�is�a�key�component.�our�
aim�is�to�help�strengthen�and�maintain�
clients’�key�relationships�as�the�support�
of�others�is�an�important,�evidence-based�
component�of�recovery.�that’s�why�we�
bring�in�partners�for�group�therapy�in�the�
treatment�centres,�and�we’re�working�hard�
trying�to�establish�more�partner�groups�
with�our�community�outreach�teams.”
5 Having a single point of contact for Veterans provides
a ‘Rolls-Royce’ service“each�nHs�primary�care�trust�is�working�
toward�provision�of�a�Veterans’�champion,�
who�provides�a�single�point�of�contact�for�
Veterans.�recently,�working�with�this�service,�
i’ve�seen�first-hand�just�how�effective�this�
approach�can�be.�Diverse�and�complex�
issues�affect�Veterans,�so�they�may�need�
a�number�of�different�professionals�to�
create�comprehensive�care�packages.�
this�may�include�help�with�housing�issues,�
neurological�investigations,�mobility�aids,�
treatment�for�their�mental�health,�and�help�
with�financial�issues�and�finding�work.�
champions�can�co-ordinate�the�multiple�
agencies�involved�in�addressing�those�needs�
and,�as�such,�provide�Veterans�with�timely�
appropriate�care,�as�is�their�right.”�
Audley Court Treatment Centre
MORAG HEGGIE �is�a�clinical�nurse�specialist�
based�at�the�combat�stress�
audley�court�treatment�
centre.�morag�works�with�
the�multi-disciplinary�team�
of�psychiatrists,�therapists,�
psychologists,�nursing�staff�and�management�
to�provide�the�best�possible�care�for�Veterans.�
audley�court�recently�introduced�the�intensive�
ptsD�treatment�programme�for�Veterans,�
in�which�morag�plays�a�key�part.�“my�role�is�
to�help�the�team�share�their�knowledge�and�
experiences�to�create�an�effective�team�to�
deliver�this�complex�programme,”�she�says.
“Just when everyone is exhausted there will be a light bulb moment, and a breakthrough”
Art Therapy
12 COMBAT STRESS nEwS | SPRING 2013 www.combatStReSS.oRG.uk
Art Therapy allows Veterans to express hidden feelings
WhAT The VeTerAns sAy:
“If you have trouble communicating, it’s another form of communication.”
“It’s easier to communicate like this than sitting eyeball to eyeball with someone, because there is a focal point (the image).”
“The unconscious is trying to communicate with your conscious brain to say, ‘That’s what’s worrying me.’ ’’
“You are looking at yourself through the images.”
“It brings an understanding of what is happening inside you. It opens up things that explain an awful lot.”
“It’s amazing what’s actually in there but you didn’t realise — it just comes out.”
“It’s a snapshot of what’s in my head at the time, my emotions and my feelings.”
“This is the therapy that opens the doors.”
£66 can pay for a two-
hour Art Therapy session for a group of up to five Veterans £10
will help provide materials for our Art
Therapy work
www.combatstress.org.uk sPrINg 2013 | COMBAT STRESS nEwS 13
Art Therapy
Art therapy is a
treatment that
features in our
programmes for
Veterans at our
surrey treatment
centre, tyrwhitt
House. Veterans do not have to be good at
art to participate as it is the creative process
itself, rather than the quality of the end
product, that is important. creativity is the
antidote to rigid, repetitive thought patterns
that can hamper recovery, opening up new
ways of thinking and seeing.
an art therapy session can be with
an individual or a group, usually lasting
up to two hours. sometimes a theme is
suggested then Veterans can move into a
creative space to explore what this theme
means to them, using art. afterwards, the
group comes together to discuss each
Veteran’s interpretations of the theme.
on armistice Day 2011, bbc2 broadcast
a culture show special entitled ‘art for
Heroes’, about art therapy with Veterans.
the documentary was watched by over
two million people and involved filming an
art therapy group at our tyrwhitt House
New ways of thinking and seeingArt Therapy helps break destructive thought patterns, providing a valuable release for Veterans, writes Jan Lobban, Trauma Therapist at Tyrwhitt House.
treatment centre. we were given the uncut
version of the footage by the bbc so I was
able to transcribe what was discussed on
film and, with the Veterans’ consent, made an
analysis of the content (Lobban, 2012) to try
to pinpoint how and why art therapy helps.
Connecting with others
the group identified problems in specific
areas: feeling disconnected, avoidance
of emotions, presenting a ‘mask’ to the
world to protect a sense of vulnerability,
and the ‘stuckness’ of traumatic memories.
However, during the art therapy process
the group demonstrated being able
to connect with others and their own
emotions. they were able to drop the
‘mask’ and to express their feelings, as well
as start to process their experiences.
through art therapy, it is possible to
integrate experiences in ways that might
not be possible by using words alone.
Neuroscientist Dr Lukasz konopka,
who also featured in ‘art for Heroes’, has
worked extensively with Vietnam Veterans
who have PtsD and has done scientific
research into the effects of art therapy.
He considers art therapy essential as it taps
into primitive brain networks and helps to
establish new neural pathways that can alter
function and be long lasting, introducing
new learning at a structural level.
traumatic memories are held in the (non-
verbal) right brain hemisphere which can
be accessed by art therapy, using its own
language of symbols and sensations. once
expressed through art, these memories can be
decoded and put into words to make sense
of experiences using left brain reasoning
and analysis, and therefore assisting the
processing of trauma.
References
Belkofer, C.M., & Konopka, L.M. (2008).
‘Conducting art therapy research using
quantitative EEG measures.’ Art Therapy:
Journal of the American Art Therapy
Association, 25(2), 56-63.
Lobban, J. ‘The Invisible Wound: Veterans’
Art Therapy’, In: International Journal of Art
Therapy Routledge, online Sept. 2012.
Samuels, T. (Presenter), & McArdle, L.
(Director). (2011, November 11). ‘Art for
Heroes: a Culture Show Special’ [Television
series episode]. The Culture Show.
Glasgow, UK: BBC2.
14 COMBAT STRESS NEWS | SPRING 2013 WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK
Fundraising
We appreciate that family and loved
ones come fi rst when making a Will but
we would like you to consider leaving a
small gift or proportion of your estate to
Combat Stress after taking care of those
closest to you.
As a charity, Combat Stress depends on
donations to provide expert treatment to
traumatised Veterans, which can turn around
their lives and the lives of their families. A
gift in your Will can make this possible.
If you have already pledged a gift
to Combat Stress, thank you very
much. However, did you know that by
making this gift at least 10% of your taxable
estate you will decrease the amount of tax
your other benefactors have to pay? This is
due to the introduction of a new law which
reduces the rate of Inheritance Tax from
40% to 36%, if 10% of the taxable estate is
given to a qualifi ed charity. If your legacy
to Combat Stress is under 10% why not
consider making this change; your other
benefactors could be better off.
To check if you qualify please visit
www.hmrc.gov.uk/inheritancetax
We realise that this is a big decision
and would like to assure you that a gift
of any size will have a real and lasting
impact on the lives of many Veterans
and their families.
We understand that your Will is private
but if you do decide to leave a gift to
us in your Will, please do let us know
as it helps us plan our long-term work. We’ll
treat the information that you give us as
strictly confi dential.
To request a Combat Stress legacy
leafl et please contact us by phone on
01372 587 154 or email victoria.monks@
combatstress.org.uk
On 5 December 2012, Combat
Stress was chosen as one of the
charities to benefi t from the
ICAP Annual Charity Day. ICAP
is a world-leading broker and
provider of post trade risk and
information services.
When its brokers came in to
work on Wednesday 5 December
they donated 100% of their
commissions that day to charity
and the company donated 100%
of its revenues. Lord Archer,
actor Cliff Parisi and opera singer
Camilla Kerslake all helped to
raise a signifi cant sum from the
day for Combat Stress. Further
funds were raised through
various auction prizes generously
donated by our supporters. The
total raised globally on the day
was an amazing £11 million for
200 charities around the world.
ICAP’s support has provided
vital funds for Combat Stress’s
Outpatient Programme
at our Surrey Treatment
Centre, as well as our
Community Outreach
Team in Central England.
The Outpatient Programme
will mean that Veterans
who do not wish to or cannot
stay at one of our Treatment
Centres have access to
accurate and timely
assessments of their
psychological needs.
Appeal for Legacies
Corporate support
If your company would like to support Combat Stress, please contact Michelle Campbell on 01372 587 157 or email [email protected]
ALLOCATE SOFTWARE RUNNERSWell done to Allocate Software employees Ubaldo
Matty, Jules Martinez and Chris Fenton who successfully
completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon, raising
a fantastic £2,087! The company has a number of
contracts with defence organisations and consequently
the staff understand the challenges faced by our
military community. A big thank you to Allocate
Software for donating generously towards this sum!
RAISES FUNDSCobham plc, international developer of aerospace
and defence technology, has held many fundraising
events in support of Combat Stress. During a dedicated
fundraising day in September, staff raised over £16,000 for Combat Stress — a truly fantastic amount!
Michelle Campbell, Partnerships and Sponsorship
Manager at Combat Stress, said: “I would like to thank
the staff at Cobham plc. A donation of this size can
make a big impact: for example, £16,200 would fund
the running of one of our vital Community Outreach
Teams for three weeks.”
ICAP CHARITY DAY 2012
WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK SPRING 2012 | COMBAT STRESS NEWS 9
Donations
01372 587 151
We are enormously grateful
to our supporters. Without
your generous donations,
we would not be able to deliver
vital care to the Veterans who
need our help. Your support
means we can continue to
provide hope to Veterans with
psychological injuries.
Direct Debit Regular donations
reduce our admin costs,
meaning we can spend more of your
money on the vital services we provide to
Veterans. It also means we can plan our
work better as we have a reliable source
of income. You can donate as frequently
as you like — most of our supporters give
monthly to spread the cost. For details
call Cathy Long on 01372 587 152 or email
Give online Want a quick, hassle-free way to give?
Donate at www.combatstress.org.uk.
For more information about donating
online, please contact Rachel Kulsdom on
01372 587 153 or email rachel.kulsdom@
combatstress.org.uk
Mobile donations Donating by text couldn’t be easier — in
the body of your text simply write PTSD00
followed by the amount you wish to donate,
e.g. PTSD00 £5, and send to 70070. Text
donations will either be deducted from your
mobile phone credit or added to your bill —
and you won’t pay VAT on your contribution.
Mail your support Prefer to donate by cheque or postal
order? Send to Combat Stress, Tyrwhitt
House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead,
Surrey KT22 0BX. Cheques are payable to
‘Combat Stress’.
Recycling The recycle scheme has helped to raise
a total of £1,800 for Combat Stress in
the past year. Massive thanks to all who
have got involved, it really does make a
difference. If you would like to read more
on the scheme, please visit the Each One
Counts website www.eachonecounts.
co.uk and click on ‘Charity Partners’ to
search for Combat Stress, or contact
Gemma Hughes on 01372 587 151 or
eBay eBay for Charity is an easy way for
sellers to support their favourite charity.
You can support Combat Stress whenever
you sell an item. Whether you’re an
individual or business, you can donate
a percentage from any sale to Combat
Stress. Please turn to the back page for
more information.
For more information on any
method of donating, please visit
www.combatstress.org.uk and click the
‘Support us’ button.
£75can pay for a Veteran’s
consultation with a psychiatrist
£12a month, over a year, can pay for a home visit from our Community Outreach Team
Appeal for LegaciesName
Address
Postcode
Telephone
I am happy to receive emails from Combat Stress
To make a donation over the phone, or to
make a monthly direct debit, please call
Your Gift to a VeteranCombat Stress is dedicated to helping those who have suffered mental ill-health as a result of their military service. Through our Community Outreach Teams, we visit Veterans at home to see how best we can help. Through our three Treatment Centres, we provide treatment to help Veterans cope and enjoy a better quality of life.
I wish to help ex-Service men and women. Please fi nd enclosed my donation of £ I enclose a cheque/postal order/CAF voucher made payable to Combat Stress.
OR please debit my:
Credit/Debit/CAF Card (delete as appropriate)
Card No:
Expiry Date:
Security Code:
(last 3 digits of the number on the signature strip)
Start Date: Issue No:
Signature: Cardholder’s name (if different from above)
Please tick this box if you would like
to receive a thank-you letter. SNL13
If you are a UK taxpayer (remember, pensions are taxed too) we can reclaim the tax you have already paid on the money you give to help our work. For every £1 you donate we are able to claim an additional 25p from the Inland Revenue. So far, this fi nancial year, we have raised over £207,500 through Gift Aid.
Simply tick the box below: Yes, I am a UK taxpayer and wish Combat Stress to reclaim the tax on all donations I have made since 01/04/2008 until I notify them otherwise. The Inland Revenue has asked us to remind you that you must pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the tax we reclaim on your donations in the tax year.
You must complete the name and address box above for us to reclaim your tax. Please return this completed form to:
The Director of Fundraising,Combat Stress, Tyrwhitt House,Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead,Surrey KT22 0BX
Registered Charity Number: 206002Charity Number Scotland: SC 038828Company limited by guarantee: Registration Number 256353
With so many ways to give, supporting Veterans with a donation to Combat Stress has never been easier…
Ways to donate
Fundraising
We are sincerely grateful to all our supporters, including the following:
DONATE NOW Visit our website to fi nd out more about what we do and how you can help: www.combatstress.org.uk
eBay for Charity donations
NEWS
You can raise money for Combat
Stress whilst selling your unwanted
goods online. eBay for Charity allows
you to list an item on eBay and select
a percentage of the fi nal sale price to
donate (10%-100%, with a £1 minimum
donation per listing). If you’re a UK
taxpayer, you can increase the value of
your charity donations by 20%, by simply
selecting the Gift Aid box when you fi rst
list an item. Visit www.ebay.co.uk/charity
to learn more.
There are many
opportunities
to successfully fundraise
for Combat Stress in
your workplace, and
many companies
now allow employees
to raise funds for their
chosen charity through
a scheme known as
‘Matched Giving’. This
simply involves the
employer donating
a pound for every
pound that the employee
raises. Depending on
company policy this
could be up to the full
amount raised!
Matched Giving can also
benefi t your company:
• It can boost employees’
morale by supporting their
fundraising efforts.
• The publicity attracted
as a result of their
charitable giving can be
invaluable to the company.
• The company can write
off charitable donations
against taxable profi ts.
Ask your employer
about Matched Giving
as a way to double your
fundraising donations to
help support our Veterans.
Matched Giving schemeSell something and give something — it’s an easy way to raise funds for us!