Team Forward Assist & Salute Her are taking a well earned break over the festive period but you can still contact us at admin@forward-assist.com and we will pick up your message when we return to work in a few days time. In the meantime stay safe, be kind and look after yourselves and others.
We are delighted to report that the Forward Assist Veteran Retreats will be back in 2021. Richard Skerritt has kindly agreed that we can use his property in France, in March 2021 for the Women Only Veterans Retreat. The male Veteran Retreat will once again take place in September.
Our wisest and oldest veteran Jack Hearn has been awarded his 10th Dan black belt in Judo aged 97 years young. Jack is a regular visitor at the Forward Assist HQ and spent his 96th birthday with the charity at our annual veterans retreat in France. Jack epitomises our belief that a life lived well is one lived in the service of others. During the lockdown, keep fit and healthy eating guru Jack has kept in touch with the team and received a fruit hamper for Christmas from a local firm who were in awe of his life long achievements and can do attitude. Read about his remarkable life here: Cramlington's 'Judo' Jack Hearn, 97, gets his 10th Dan black belt and maybe a world record - Chronicle Live
We were delighted that Chi Onwurah MP took the time to mention Forward Assist on 11th November 2020. Forward Assist’s virtual support service came into being in March during the first national lockdown. Since that time, the uptake of veterans accessing ‘one to one’ confidential advice and support has quadrupled with veterans accessing support from as far afield as Holland, France and Germany. Forward Assist are seeking funding to expand this much needed service. See video link: https://twitter.com/ChiOnwurah/status/1326545172897824768/video/1
On 3rd November in House of Commons, Patron Sarah Atherton MP kindly talked of the ground breaking work of Forward Assist and Salute Her UK. You can watch the clip here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1323959599863574529 We look forward to meeting up with Sarah in 2021. (Covid-19 Permitting )
In partnership with ‘Baseline Research’ Forward Assist are delighted to be facilitating an ethnographic research inquiry into the impact ‘Military Sexual Trauma’ has on male service personnel during and after service. Read more here: ……… download pdf
Paula Edwards was delighted to be shortlisted as a finalist in the Soldiering on Awards 2020. Paula was recognised for her outstanding work supporting veterans with mental health issues access benefits and entitlements. Paula’s holistic approach to trauma informed care and support has enabled many isolated and lonely veterans access engage with mainstream services transforming their lives in the process. Everyone at Forward Assist was delighted to see her work recognised in this prestigious award ceremony.
The importance of a healthy nutritious diet is often overlooked by military veterans. Forward Assist CEO Tony Wright writes about the need for diet to be taken seriously by veterans and service charities. https://cloresocialleadership.org.uk/blogpost/1885767/359349/Leading-from-the-kitchen
Tony Wright and Paula Edwards were delighted to be invited to share the findings of their ground breaking ‘No Man’s land’ ethnographic research report with others from USA, New Zealand, Australia Canada and the UK. Links to the webinar and slideshow can be accessed here: https://www.ascnnewzealand.org/no-mans-land-tony-wright-paula-evans-2720
Tony Wright, 2018 Clore Social Fellow, writes about being a CEO of a small charity, looking after yourself and family life… all amidst a pandemic.
See https://cloresocialleadership.org.uk/blogpost/1885767/359348/The-important-things-in-life
Team Forward Assist and its army of volunteers were delighted to be awarded the Queens Award For Voluntary Service in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the community. Forward Assist actively encourage military veterans to be of service to others when their military service comes to an ends. The award is the organisational equivalent of an MBE and everyone connected to the charity couldn’t be more proud to receive this prestigious award. Susan Winfield, Lord-Lieutenant, commented:
“I am delighted that Forward Assist have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2020, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. This organisation is a nationally recognised charity for military veterans and whose local activities have been showcased as far afield as the USA. My warmest congratulations to all those who have played a part in achieving this honour.”
Forward Assist Patron, Mary Glindon MP said:
“This is a richly deserved
tribute to years of hard work by Forward Assist in one of the
country’s main military recruitment regions. Those who have served our
country so well deserve support in civvy street, which is sometimes
very difficult for them.”
Our CEO Tony Wright and Paula Edwards ‘Salute Her’ women veterans lead, share their thoughts on the potential psychological impact on veterans and their families during an extended C-19 ‘lockdown’ during 2020.
Read the article here:
Part One: download pdf part one
Part Two: download pdf part two
Amidst a global pandemic, the Forward Assist Trustees and Staff were delighted to see CEO Tony Wright was awarded the Prime Ministers Points of Light award for his sterling efforts supporting military veterans over the last decade.
“Its a great honour to be recognised in this way but in reality its a team effort and a reflection of the outstanding effort and commitment of our fabulous staff, veteran volunteers and supporters. Thank you”
On 14th Match 2020 we decided to close down all our face to face community based projects in order to protect veterans and staff members. This included all centre based activities including Salute Café and all bookings for the Salute Coffee Truck. Individual virtual support will be delivered on a weekly basis and appointments can be made with our qualified mental health therapist by emailing admin@forward-assist.com
Stay safe
Veterans champion Tony Wright has been given a grant from the Activate Fund to develop a gender specific charity and dedicated support service, for women veterans transitioning back to civilian life. The grant will allow him to champion the rights of women veterans by creating a dedicated women-only charity aiming to raise awareness of the long term impact caused by service-related trauma. He will also develop practical information and training materials and share these with other services and organisations. Finally, Tony is planning an international women veterans conference to showcase best practice from around the world.
"The Activate Fund will allow us to open up a new front in gender specific support and we look forward to recognising and celebrating the contribution of women service personnel, past and present" - Tony Wright
The Salute Café Veterans Cook2Give Team served over 200 Christmas Dinners this year for both veterans and members of the local community. Team ‘Salute Her’ coordinated the annual ‘Christmas Hamper’ food collections and deliveries. Veterans and their families benefitted from a huge donation of toys which were distributed far and wide including Veterans subject to Community Rehabilitation Orders. As always it was a joy to open Salute Café on Christmas Day and cook Christmas Dinner for over 60 individuals that would normally have spent Christmas day on their own. Each diner received a Christmas present and the Forward Assist mini-bus was put to good use transporting people to and from the venue. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers and supporters for making this life affirming event happen. Merry Christmas Everyone!
Team Forward Assist & Salute Her are delighted to receive funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to design bespoke interventions for veterans and their families in the North East of England. Forward Assist’s team of Social Work, Mental Health and Occupational Therapists will adopt a ‘Think Family’ approach to service delivery. The bespoke support model will incorporate the Charity’s ‘Citizenship Reloaded’ group work programme.
Forward Assist will be attending the Remembrance Service at The White Swan Centre on the 10th November 2019. We will be happy to collect any veterans with mobility problems or no transportation in our wheelchair accessible minibus.
If you would like to join us please contact us on 0191 2504877 or email admin@forward-assist.com
Forward Assist are delighted to receive two years funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust ‘Positive Pathways Programme to train women veterans in the art of British Parliamentary Debate. The project will also include a collaboration with Professor Steve Peters ‘Chimp Management’ Team who deliver training to help people understand his The Chimp Paradox Model.
Steve and his experienced team of doctors and psychologists specialise in helping others be the best they can be and achieve psychological well-being.
Part of the Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, the Positive Pathways programme funded projects aims to develop and run activities supporting the mental health and wellbeing of former service personnel
