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This month we welcome another new face to our ranks. Jodi Johnson joins us from Operation Courage as our new Head of Welfare and Women’s Lead. After serving in the RAF Jodi was, until recently, a Support Time and Recovery Worker with the NHS’s Op Courage Veterans Project. She’ll take over the running of our women’s project, Artemis, as well as supervising and monitoring the therapeutic and wellbeing qualities of all our activities.
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Thanks to Jodi, Project Artemis now has its own Facebook page – a membership-only page for women veterans to talk, share experiences and learn about the activities and events we’re putting on for our female cohort. More than 200 women veterans joined in the first week it was open. If you’d like to join them, find it at Veterans Outdoors-Artemis-Female Veteran Group.
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AFGHANISTAN FUNDING SUCCESS
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Veterans Outdoors is one of a number of veterans organisations to have been awarded funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Afghanistan Veterans Fund. The fund supports projects that improve wellbeing and resilience and promote good mental health, responding to increased needs in veterans who served in Afghanistan and other recent conflicts - as well as the wider veterans community. Our application noted that many veterans will have been impacted by recent events in Afghanistan – not just those who may have served there. All veterans, not just those who’ve served in recent conflicts, are welcome to attend our forthcoming programme of events and activities.
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We’ve still got a few places left on our equine therapy course with the amazing Warrior Equine team on June 12th-15th. This remarkable three-day course has already transformed the lives of hundreds of veterans by teaching survival skills for everyday life and you don’t have to know anything about (or even be a fan of) horses to benefit. The course will take place at stables near Ivybridge in South Devon.
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SOIL TO SUPPER - there's still thyme to sign up.
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Our second, 10-week, Soil-to-Supper Horticultural Therapy Course is coming to a close, with plans already in the pipeline for a third course later in the year. The iconic walled garden at Dartington has once again proved to be a peaceful and fruitful location for our beneficiaries who’ve been growing all sorts of herbs, mange tout, radishes and other salad crops. We’re taking applications now for the September course, If you’re interested, or you know anyone who might be, please contact Bernard at [email protected]
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A BIG thanks this month to......
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We are, as ever, grateful to the funders who keep us going and enable us to provide the ever-broadening, dynamic range of activities that we have to offer. This month we’ve received funds from the Astor Foundation, Carew Pole, The Gibbons Trust and Western Power Distribution as well as funding from The Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund's Afghanistan Fund. A huge thank you to all those organisations on behalf of all our staff and beneficiaries.
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Support us - become a Pioneering Fundraiser
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Are you adventurous? Do you enjoy running, cycling, or another activity and would like to take on a challenge and raise money to support veterans’ wellbeing? We are inviting supporters to become our Pioneer Fundraisers. Whether you prefer to participate in an organised outdoor challenge such as Plymouth’s 2022 Ocean City Running Festival, prefer to create your own hike or walk or organise a fundraising event – the possibilities are endless.
We’ll be launching our online fundraising page soon but, in the meantime, if you want to have a chat about your idea get in touch with [email protected]
Or, if fundraising isn't for you, why not support us by making a donation. Any amount will help make a difference to a veterans life. Thank you!
“I can’t put into words how much you have helped me. It’s a privilege
to be a beneficiary of such a wonderful, caring, charity.”
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
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Should you require any out of hours support you may like to use one of the following agencies listed below.
The Samaritans 116123 (24hr helpline)
Combat Stress 0800 138 1619
Hopeline 0800 0684141
Devon First Response 0808 1968708 (24 hr Urgent Mental Health Helpline)
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If you're a veteran, or you're about to transition from the forces, and you feel you could benefit from a bit of outdoor wellbeing with a friendly, supportive team working in some of the South West's most beautiful locations, why not get in touch? Or if you know a veteran you think would benefit, please send them our way. Or come and be a mentor for us - everyone's welcome!
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Finally, a huge thank you to all our funders who make what we do possible. We are grateful to.....
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The 29th May 1969 Charitable Foundation, The Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund, The Army Benevolent Fund Soldiers' Charity, The Robert Clutterbuck Trust, The Country Landowners Association, The De Laszlo Foundation, Devon Community Foundation, Devon County Council, D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, The Elmgrant Trust, Finnis Scott Trust, The Fore Trust Fund, The Garfield Weston Foundation, Roger and Jean Jefcoate, The Clare Milne Charitable Trust, Mole Valley Farmers National Lottery Awards for All, Newton Abbot Town Council, The RAF Benevolent Fund, The Schreier Foundation, St James' Place, The Swire Trust, Torbay Community Foundation, The Veterans Foundation.
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STAFF CONTACTS
Si Richardson - Operations Manager
Monday - Thursday 8 - 4
[email protected]
Bernard Coleman - Admin/Events Assistant
Monday - Wednesday 9 - 4
[email protected]
Jodi Johnson - Women's Lead / Head of Welfare
Mondays to Fridays 9 - 5
[email protected]
Catherine Poate - Welfare Officer
Mondays & Fridays
[email protected]
Contact telephone number - 07760 729080 |
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