Sayōnara Nicole... Good Luck & Thank You!

This month we said goodbye to Nicole Dodds who has left the employ of Forward Assist and taken up a post with Salute Her UK. Over the last two years Nicole has carried out outstanding interventions as the AFCFT funded, Forward Assist; Family First Project Lead. By connecting military families with the multiple support services available to them in the communities in which they live, we have seen a plethora of positive outcomes. Similarly, her fabulous support to members of the Veteran LGBTQ+ Community, in her voluntary role as the LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator has enabled numerous LGBTQ+ veteran families to access existing community based services and take part in the recent Governments LGBTQ+ Veterans Review. Nicole will be travelling to London in June 2023 with a group of veterans who identify as being members of the LGBTQ+ community for the launch of the LGBTQ+ Review Report findings at the Imperial War Memorial Museum. We wish her well with her future career and thank her for service to both the LGBTQ+ community and veteran families.

Salute Cafe: 'Coffee - Connection - Community'

Salute Cafe, has over the last few years, acted as a spring board for veterans and their families and we are delighted to report that everyone who has ever volunteered in Salute Cafe are now in either P/T, full time work or enrolled in full time education and/or volunteering for other charities. This year the power of volunteers will take our community fundraising and community work to the next level. We have lots of plans for 2023 and every penny spent in Salute Cafe goes towards delivering our life transforming projects.

New Funding to Develop A Trauma Informed Service For Male Survivors of Bullying, Harassment & In-Service Sexual Assault.

Thanks to enhanced funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund, Forward Assist are delighted to create Intersectional Pathways for Marginalised male Veterans MST (Males). This additional funding forms an enhanced element to an overall project supporting Women Veterans in partnership with Salute Her UK. With this funding we will develop specialist support and collaborative pathways for males survivors within the Armed Forces community who are survivors of bullying, harassment and sexual assault.

New contract awarded to Forward Assist to fund innovation that enhances veterans’ healthcare

Forward Assist were delighted to receive funding from the Office for Veterans Affairs, Veterans’ Health Innovation Fund. The Forward Assist project will look at and develop a clear understanding of the multiple and complex issues faced by military veterans with lived experience of in-service sexual violence, suicidal ideation and identify gaps in service provision.

https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/defence/office-for-veterans-affairs-funds-northumberland-charitys-research-into-military-sexual-assault-survivors-experience-4101358

Minister of State (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) The Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP Visits Forward Assist HQ

We were delighted to host a visit from Johnny Mercer MP at the Forward Assist Veterans Health & Wellbeing Hub. During the visit, Minister Mercer met with Team Salute Her UK and had an in depth discussion on our mutual research papers into the long-term impact of sexual assault on both women and men during military service. We thanked the Minister for funding our next research project looking into the correlation between Military Sexual Trauma and suicidal ideation which starts later this month.

No Man's Land 2 : The Lived Experience of UK Women Veterans

Following the groundbreaking research report No Man’s Land (2019) which explored the lived experience of women veterans living with the long term affect of sexual assault whilst serving in the UK military. Since then, a Parliamentary Inquiry has identified significant failings supporting female sexual assault victim/survivors from all three branches of the service.

This report includes testimonies from serving women and veterans. You can both reports here: https://www.forward-assist.com/salute-her-research

If you are a women veteran or currently serving and need help then please contact: https://www.saluteheruk.co.uk/

Forward Assist CEO Wins 'Silver' Lifetime Achievement Award At Social Work er of The Year Awards.

Tony Wright Founder and CEO of Forward Assist wins a Silver Lifetime Achievement Award at the Social Worker of the Year Awards in London on 4th November 2022. The Social Worker of the Year Awards is the only major national awards event for social work in England, attracting hundreds of entries every year and reaching millions of people with positive stories of outstanding social work, creative and compassionate practitioners and outstanding practice.

“ I was delighted to receive the Silver Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of the last 38 years working in a variety of social work settings. More recently our research, support services and interventions for marginalised military veterans and the creation of Salute Her UK as a dedicated registered charity for women veterans in need of gender specific trauma informed support has taken up a lot of my time and energy and I look forward to learning from and developing services for male veterans in the next few years.” Tony Wright CEO

Royal Marine Combat Veterans Enjoy Therapeutic Retreat In France !

On 2 April 1982, Argentine forces landed on the Falkland Islands and assumed military control, invading South Georgia Island the following day. The UK launched Operation Corporate – tasked with regaining the British territory in the South Atlantic.Every year, 14 June marks Liberation Day – commemorating the end of the occupation of the islands by Argentina.It marks the day UK Armed Forces advanced on the capital, Stanley, and Argentine troops fled.Liberation Day remembers the more-than-250 British troops who lost their lives during the 10-week conflict. This year we invited a group of Royal Marine Commando combat veterans to our residential retreat in France so they could enjoy a little respite during the 40th year commemorations . Everyone had an amazing break and we thank Richard Skerritt, Barbour UK and Bolt Burdon & Kemp Solicitors for their help in making this opportunity a reality.

“The week was certainly memorable and like others have said ' I haven't stopped laughing '.On a serious point I hope we are able to all meet up again, the time spent with ' oppos' is very important for me. In France it was both an emotional and therapeutic few days.I sincerely send my best wishes to all individuals involved in Forward Assist and really appreciate the essential work they/you carry out.Finally I would like to thank you personally for accommodating all of us.”

Rachel Hopkins MP, Shadow Minister for Veterans and Defence People Visits Forward Assist & Salute Her UK.

We were delighted to host a visit from Rachel Hopkins MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Veterans and Defence People.

Visiting Forward Assist allowed Rachel to see first-hand the variety of support and guidance they provide to veterans, as well as specialist support for those who suffered in-service sexual assault. Founder and Chief Executive, Tony Wright, gave Rachel a tour of their HQ and introduced Rachel to their Women Veterans Lead and Veterans Family First Worker. In June, Forward Assist reported that they have seen an increase in referrals from ex-military personnel since the beginning of the war in Ukraine with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Rachel was joined on both visits by Sharon Hodgson MP, MP for Washington and Sunderland West and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Keir Starmer MP, and Councillor Andy Newman, North Tyneside Councillor and Labour Friends of the Forces, joined the visit to Forward Assist.

Women Veterans Therapeutic Retreat In France

September is veteran retreat month. Every year we give a selected group of military veterans the opportunity to to enjoy a little respite in the beautiful French countryside. Thanks to the generosity of Richard Skerritt & funding from Bolt Burdon & Kemp Solicitors we were able to facilitate our very first women only residential retreat.

‘’The accommodation was out of this world. I never expected in my whole life that I would be staying in such a beautiful place. From start to finish everything was perfect. Thank you too all who organised this fantastic trip. I will never forget it’’

" My mental health has not been great. I have had ongoing issues with accepting my trauma and learning to live with my memories. The trip came at just the right time’’.

‘’The whole trip was phenomenal. I could not thank Forward Assist & Salute Her enough. The trip showed me that there is more to life, & for the first time I felt like I was living’’.

Lets Talk About Sexual Trauma.

Team Forward Assist and Salute Her UK were honoured to be invited to the Maritime Charities Group (MCG) conference on 6th Sept 2022 at Trinity House, Tower Hill, London. Tony Wright CEO Forward Assist and Paula Edwards CEO Salute Her UK CEO shared the findings of our research papers looking at the life long impact of sexual assault on intersectional groups within in a variety military settings.

Sharing Best Practice in Australia July 2022

Team Forward Assist & Sister Charity Salute Her UK were honoured to be invited on a study visit to Australia as part of the and Open Door Visiting Lecturer Series in July 2022. WE were asked to share our findings from our ethnographic research papers: No Man’s Land, Exit Wounds & El Hombre Invisible.

The multi-city - multi University lecture tour culminated in Brisbane with over 200 individuals accessing the in person and virtual presentations. This follows on from our International presentation on Military Sexual and other forms of abuse delivered in partnership with Professors Ben Wadham and James Connor in March 2022 which had 469 people watching live via the video link.

Proud to be moving this difficult conversation forward. A huge thank you to Robert Lippiart and his team for organising and hosting such a wonderful learning experience.

In The Big City With Team Salute Her UK

Team Salute Her UK were invited to London by Mary Glindon MP & Sarah Atherton MP to meet with politicians from both sides of the House to talk about the unique needs of women veterans and their families.

Its Summer .... Time For A Team Visit To Alnwick Gardens

We were delighted to be invited to visit Alnwick Gardens by our Patron Her Grace, The Duchess of Northumberland. We discussed how best to work together in 2023 especially in relation to facilitating opportunities for military families to access the variety of opportunities in the beautiful rural setting of Alnwick Gardens. Watch this space folks.

War in Ukraine is Triggering Veterans Warns Social Work-Led Veterans Charity CEO

A social work-led charity supporting veterans has seen an increase in referrals from ex-military personnel retraumatised by the war in Ukraine.

Forward Assist says symptoms include increased anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and “media induced hopelessness”, intrusive thoughts and suicidal ideation.

Chief executive Tony Wright warned scenes of bombings, civilian casualties and military conflict broadcast daily in the news were triggering to some veterans, particularly those who had seen armed combat.

“The last two months has brought a tidal wave of new referrals from men and women who have served in past conflicts seeking health and support,

Published by Professional Social Work Magazine, 18 May, 2022

Read more Here: https://t.co/G4QcV3UL7d

MACE Magazine Article: Protecting Our Armed Forces by Dolly Theis.

In 2021, Forward Assist, a military veterans charity,  published its report, “El Hombre Invisible”. It is one of the most painful reports I have ever read. I can barely get through a few pages without feeling my body tighten and experiencing a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. 

“El Hombre Invisible” includes harrowing stories from 30 male military veterans, revealing sexual abuse, harassment and rape whilst serving in the British Armed Forces. I was already well aware of the similarly horrific experiences of women veterans. I helped promote Forward Assist’s joint 2019 report “No Man’s Land” with Salute Her – a female veterans charity – to politicians in the UK (we received a very lukewarm response). “No Man’s Land” also detailed the sexual offences and silencing experienced by women. Learning about the sexual offences stories from so many men woke me from my lazy assumption that rape is predominantly a women’s issue.

Read More Here: https://macemagazine.com/dolitics-protecting-our-armed-forces/

Trauma of Veteran LGBTQ+ Community As Sexual Abuse in Military Revealed

Support and research must be made a priority in tackling the “hidden and under-reported” issue of sexual abuse of LGBTQ+ service personnel in the Armed Forces, a ground breaking new report has concluded. 

The Exit Wounds report has identified the scale of LGBTQ+ survivors in the Armed Forces and the trauma that they faced during their time in service, and continue to face in living their lives outside of the military as a result of Military Sexual Assault (MSA).

Through research with survivors, veterans’ support charity Forward Assist has shone new light on the psychological trauma from experiences at the hands of colleagues in the military – an institution where, prior to 2000, serving members of the LGBT community could be expelled on the basis of their sexuality. Read more here:  https://www.nrtimes.co.uk/trauma-of-lgbtq-sexual-abuse-in-military-revealed-npstory/

Sarah Atherton MP's Speech at Launch of Salute Her UK

Forward Assist & Salute Her UK Patrons, Sarah Atherton MP and Emma Lewell-Buck MP made opening speeches at the launch of Salute Her UK at the House of Commons on 24th May 2022. Both talked about the privilege it was to be part of a groundbreaking charity designed specifically for women service personnel and veterans. Sarah made reference to work of Forward Assist and the exceptional work of Paula Edwards the Salute Her UK mental health therapist in raising awareness of the needs of women veterans and supporting those with lived experience of sexual assault. She also acknowledged how pivotal our ’No Man’s Land’ research report was in relation to the subsequent Defence Committee Report, Protecting Those That Protect Us: Women in The Armed Forces From Recruitment To Civilian Life.

You can watch and listen to her speech here: https://youtu.be/lbzXAMSNeWk

Family First Team Organise Action Packed Educational Day Trip To Roman Wall

This summer the Family First Team has organised a fantastic trip to the Roman Wall in Northumberland. The day will include an educational guided tour of Vindolanda https://www.vindolanda.com/ followed by a family BBQ and a supervised walk along the Whin Sill to Sycamore Gap. For the adventurous we have also organised a rock climb up Crag Lough under the supervision of Chris Pretty https://www.chrisprettymountaineering.co.uk/

If you would like to attend contact : nicole@forward-assist.com

Launch of Salute Her UK in The House of Commons 24th May 2022.

We were delighted that Sarah Atherton MP and Emma Lewell-Buck both Patrons of Forward Assist were able to take time out of their busy schedules to launch Salute Her UK. Now a registered charity in England & Wales See: https://www.saluteheruk.co.uk/

Forward Assist CEO Tony Wright

“Given the unprecedented demand for a women only service over the past two years we were delighted to be able create the UK’s first and currently only tri service charity dedicated to supporting women veterans, past and present. With funding from the Churchill Fellowship and Sage Foundation we are proud to be opening up a new landscape for women veterans and female service personnel.“