What is Op Revive?
Many veterans from both the Military and 999 services suffer from a wide range of issues with suicide being an increasing worry, from a range Medical Conditions such as Tinnitus to loss of limbs with many having PTSD from their service or that has developed due isolation and misunderstandings about the effects of their injuries or isolation. This also has an impact on families and children of veterans who see the fallout of service or the frustration in making ends meet due in part to employability issues or being unable to transfer their service skills to map over to civilian requirements.
Squaddie Box (CIC) Suicide Prevention Outreach
This five day residential outreach and engagement pilot is aimed at reducing the risk amongst vulnerable veterans within the West Sussex and nationally. Many of these veterans are experiencing homelessness, with overlapping risk factors including isolation, trauma exposure, unemployment, financial distress, and disengagement from traditional services and is delivered in partnership with the Blacklands Outdoor Farm Centre, utilising their onsite activities designed to reduce isolation, rebuild routines, enable trust and belonging whilst strengthening social connections with relevant signposting to organisations qualified to aid them effectively. The project is fully committed to the diverse nature of veterans who also face additional barriers
Results of the Suicide Prevention & Respite week
On the Wednesday we also held the Squaddie Box (CIC) Conference with some famous names in attendance
Op Revive II
Op Revive II is an innovative project to improve the lives of Veterans and those surrounding them, such as spouses, children and those described as carers/Supporters. We have teamed up with training providers, and companies looking to employ veterans or provide training to enhance their self-esteem, which will be built up through supported skills and achievement. Those participating will gain a better understanding of healthy and sustainable living whilst developing community connections strengthening cohesion between family, friends and veterans support. With a wide range of activities planned that will help with work and developing effective home life choices such as cooking on budget, finance, and employer supported pathways into work with long term benefits for them and society. The project is rooted in the lived experience leadership of centre staff who will provide guidance and routes to for employment, health management and socialisation. We already have a couple companies who wish to sponsor our veterans to gain relevant training in composites which is a future technology and the other providing essential Health & Safety training from First Aid, Food Hygiene and Health & Safety Level 2
Sponsor a Veteran in Education
Business needs to upskill as do the entire population to meet the future needs of society, therefore helping individuals through attaining Degrees or Industry related qualifications that matter whilst completing tasks for their sponsors helps them with living costs and their sponsor through increased capability during seasonal breaks from University or College. It’s also a way to enhance the business, obtain tax relief (Check with HMRC), gain an employee whilst supporting the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) through proactive collaboration.
Understanding Homelessness
Spending a week living the life of a homeless person. At first it seems easy especially knowing it’s only the week, but within hours reality sets in and finding a safe place to sleep becomes a priority with the first couple of nights not so bad but then the weather changes and its Britain so it can be hot then drop to very low temperatures especially during the night, second on the agenda is food & water and not everyone is survival trained even within the military, so I’m lucky the rabbit wasn’t so lucky it got cooked the old fashioned way now I’ve concentrated on building a shelter as rain is forecast and I’m charging my phone using the last power pack available to me and by tomorrow night I’ll have no torch and no phone so the world just got really lonely- contacting mates is impossible until I walk around 30 miles with everything I now own, fitted into a backpack, Just to get to a major town or city, why because there’s more chance of getting food, charging the phone and getting to A&E for medication and maybe a shower but we haven’t even considered health, so let’s take that into consideration, Crohn’s Disease, Hiatus Hernia, PTSD, Type II Diabetes, Numb Fingers with low dexterity, High Cholesterol, Back Injury, false teeth, B12 deficiency which requires an injection every 3 months but without a permanent address it’s going to be difficult. shaving has gone out the window, I used the last bit of toothpaste on the 3rd day and now i’m showing signs of dehydration with the heat being so intense, so I stop off at a random house to ask for a refill of my water bottle, luckily although a tad smelly I didn’t look as bad as those thrown into homelessness for months
Sometimes being a veteran has certain advantages primarily it’s resilience and innovation in the face of adversity, along with adaptability, most just need an opportunity to change their situation. By providing a Squaddie Box these veterans can obtain a wide range of services essential to life and enables them to seek work, Hospital & GP Appointments and wide range of other services, that most of us take for granted. Homelessness isn’t really a choice it’s thrust upon you in often the worst moments of your life, then it’s a real struggle to get back to what we all would consider a normal life. As time marches on some will acquire mental health issues, others serious ailments and sadly some will fall into Alcohol or Drug Abuse as a means of escapism from the horrors of the life as a Homeless person. We need to catch them before they get so low and give them hope of returning to a better life. One without constant fear and where we can help them move forward.
Business News
Do you know anyone needing to retrain in the Manufacture of Composites as one of our sponsors currently runs training programs especially for those wishing to enter this new upcoming industry which currently has a skills shortage
We have Another that works London and other venues in the England that require Stwards for events with paid training
Please consider donating what you can
We now have a secure dedicated membership system that will allow one time donations or yearly Membership and subscriptions for Business/ corporate (Strategic Partners please contact Us) who wish to enable Squaddie Box (CIC) to develop it’s services to veterans and Emergency Services.