Support for Emergency Service Veterans.

The long-term effects of Covid-19 have been talked about, discussed and debated throughout the media sporadically over the last year.  But as the cost of living crisis, the wars in Europe and the Middle East increasingly dominate the news and media, the very real behaviourial issues of how society has changed since 2020 have to some degree been lost or trivialised.  And yet it affects almost every aspect of our society.

Nowhere has this effect been more profound than in the expectations of, and manner in which, the Emergency Services are being required to respond to crisis.  Crime, self harm, suicides, increasing addictions to alcohol, drugs, combined with the reduction in volunteering help and social service cut backs, has put the Emergency Services completely in the front line of response.  

So it is not surprising that we are finding more Emergency Service personnel seeking our assistance - whether it is for mental, emotional, or financial support.  The decisions they are faced with on a day to day basis are frequent, and incredibly tough and there are few places they feel comfortable being seen, or being 'heard' outside of uniform. 

We provide the quiet space with coffee and cake where being able to chat and take some 'down time' provides an opportunity to recharge and reset, helping to reduce stress and anxiety. 

Equally being able to talk confidentially to someone who understands about the challenges of being on that 'front line' enables the type of 'offloading' of trauma that keeps one literally, sane. 

We would love to be able to offer more of these 'time out' walks, outdoor challenges, and coffee and chat... and to do that we need extra funding.

Please help us support these quiet saviours who are there when we need them most and then who then quite literally seem to disappear unrecogised and often hugely underappreciated until they are needed again elsewhere, and then again, and again .....