Boots on the Ground – new support for veterans in Powys

Melvin Watts recently took on a new role as a Veterans' Mental Health Advocate (South Wales - including Powys) with Alabare - a charity supporting vulnerable, homeless and marginalised people – to roll out a project called Boots on the Ground across Wales. The new project will work to support veterans and their families.

We met Melvin to find out more about Boots on the Ground and why it is needed in Powys.

Tell us more about your new role and what drew you to the work

Boots on the Ground is a social enterprise supporting vulnerable veterans through outdoor activities. I work with veterans to identify activities / training and development that will help them become better equipped to find their place in the community. It also helps them build self-esteem and rediscover their limits.

As a veteran myself, I have had the privilege and honour to work alongside service personnel from all walks of life and backgrounds. I have seen the hardships they endure without complaint and seen the good humour they show through adversity. I wish to help those that may have fallen on difficult times, so that they may lead a more fulfilling life after the hardships they have endured for the country, and ensure they know that they are not forgotten by society.

What are the aims of the Boots on the Ground project

The project supports veterans on their journey towards improved mental health, wellbeing and community connection by creating new pathways driven through active engagement.

Many veterans have faced extreme challenges since leaving service. The scheme aims towards building self-esteem, resilience and skills by providing increased purpose in a friendly supportive atmosphere.

By working with organisations and groups in the local community we focus on a range of activity-based and personal development workshops, that can be tailored towards small veteran groups, across North & South Wales. Some of the activities that take place include wellbeing walks, social forestry, bushcraft, conservation, horticulture, litter picking hubs and Veterans’ Breakfast Clubs.

How do you define the term “veteran”?

A veteran is anyone who has served one day’s service with the Armed Forces, whether it be as a reservist or full time member.

Attending the "Big Sleep” at the Tower of London

 to raise money for homeless veterans

Tell us more about why veterans in Powys might need the kind of support you offer?

Veterans everywhere may at some stage suffer from mental health issues, alcohol / drug addiction, homelessness or feel lonely. They may be out of work and looking to retrain or having retired they may wish to feel less isolated and just enjoy activities with like-minded people. Intervention helps reduce the risk of harm to individuals and their families.

How can Powys veterans access the service?

They can refer themselves by emailing M.Watts@alabare.co.uk

What barriers might prevent veterans seeking support and how do you work to overcome those?

We take each case on its merits and will look at them on an individual basis.

Are there particular issues which arise in rural areas for veterans struggling with their mental health?

The biggest thing is isolation, and this can be overcome by a network of volunteers and staff who will where possible either transport individuals or visit in their own home.

What kind of activities does Boots on the Ground offer to support veterans in Powys?

Bushcraft, wood turning, canoeing, fishing, walking, cycling, swimming, horse riding…. The list is endless.

Veterans on a fishing trip

Which other organisations do you work closely with, either locally in Powys, or in the rest of the UK, to provide support to people?

So many! But to list some of them - Armed Forces Covenant, Woodys Lodge, Equus Ferrus, Royal British Legion, Military Preparation College for Training, In the Squad, Dyfed Powys Police, National Probation Service, HMP Parc Many Teras, Action Petz, and Transport For Wales.

What is the most challenging aspect of the job?

There are no challenges, just solutions that I haven’t found yet. (Funding can be difficult but there are so many fantastic agencies or private companies that are supportive and go out of their way to help).

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

Meeting veterans, hearing their stories and finding a path together.

When you are not working for Alabare, how do you enjoy spending your time?

Cycling, fishing, walking and spending time with my wife while we visit friends and family all over the UK. I am studying some language skills and read all types of books including classics and military history.

Melvin's dog after their walk up Pen y Fan

Many thanks to Melvin for telling us about the Boots on the Ground project. If you would like to find out more or request a referral form you can contact Melvin by emailing: M.Watts@alabare.co.uk

Further support for veterans is available in Powys (and across Wales). Find out more on the Veterans NHS website.

Veterans NHS Wales – on military mental health

Victoria Williams, Veterans' Lead, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (left)
and Vanessa Bailey, Veterans' Lead Therapist Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (right) 

This week’s guest post is from Victoria Williams, the Lead Veteran Therapist at Veterans' NHS Wales service (VNHSW) based in Swansea's health board - Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. The team also covers the Ystradgynlais area of South Powys.

Veterans are defined by Public Health Wales as “anyone who has served for at least one day in HM Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) or Merchant Navy Seafarers and Fishermen who served in a vessel at a time it was operated to facilitate military operation by HM Armed Forces”.

Veterans' NHS Wales service is there to help ex-service personnel living with service related mental health problems. I caught up with Victoria to find out more about provision of this invaluable service in Powys. 

Tell us more about your role as a Lead Veterans' Therapist and what drew you to the work

I’ve been working for Veterans’ NHS Wales since 2011 for the ABMU health board. Having worked in mental health for over 20 years I recognised that I wanted to work in a service that specialised in working with military veterans and this was an ideal opportunity.

What kind of support is available to veterans in Powys?

Powys enjoys the same level of service from Veterans’ NHS Wales as anywhere in Wales. You can download a map showing the 3 out-patient clinics, based in Welshpool, Neath and Bronllys.

Why might veterans require this service?

Veterans’ NHS Wales is a psychological therapy out-patient service offering therapy for veterans with service related mental health difficulties. This means that anyone who's finding it difficult to cope after they have left the military, if they think their issues might be ‘service related’, are able to self refer to us. We will then offer an initial assessment of their needs and from there a management plan will be put in place.

Mark Birkill, Veterans' Therapist in North Powys

How can Powys veterans access the service? Who can refer a veteran for the service?

VNHSW is the Welsh Government funded NHS mental health service offering therapy for issues related to military service. It’s important to note that ANYONE can refer into the service. We offer an open access policy meaning that people are able to self-refer via the website. We do find a lot of people think they have to go via the GP but this isn’t necessary.

Once referred an opt-in form is sent asking the veteran for extra details and proof of identity. When we have this information we aim to offer an assessment within 4 weeks. The assessment will look at all aspects of the current situation and look at how we can best support you.

The Powys Veterans' service is delivered by neighbouring health boards. How does this work?

VNHSW is a ‘hub and spoke model’. This means we are one service centrally based in Cardiff with our ‘spokes’ throughout the other 6 health boards in Wales. Powys is covered by 3 health boards but because we are ‘one service’ it therefore has no impact on the service a veteran will receive. If there are any doubts as to where your clinic is based then individuals can contact us (see details on the map or go to our website) and we can point the individual in the right direction. For example, if the veteran's GP surgery is based in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board, then the veteran would be seen in our out-patient clinic in Neath.

A Veterans' service is very specialist. What training do Veterans' Therapists undertake?

All veterans' therapists are trained psychotherapists with training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Both therapies are what we call ‘evidenced based therapies’ for treatment of a variety of mental health difficulties. In addition we receive additional specialist training in military mental health difficulties.

Oxana Jones, Veterans' Therapist in South Powys

Are there other agencies Powys veterans can contact for support with their mental health or other issues such as debt management or armed forces compensation?

Veterans’ NHS Wales has a network of agencies working throughout Wales offering support for many different issues. We currently have a peer mentor support worker who is able to help veterans link in with the most appropriate agency to help with their needs.

What has been the most challenging aspect of running the Veterans' NHS Wales service?

One of the most challenging but rewarding aspects of the role is the increasing number of referrals we’ve received since we started 10 years ago. Initially this led to an increase in the time veterans were waiting to be seen for therapy. However, with the support of Welsh Government, which has recently increased our funding, this has meant that we’ve been able to extend the input of psychiatrists and administrators can give to the service. We’ve also been very lucky to receive additional funding from the charity Help for Heroes over the next 3 years and this has led to an increase in the number of therapists in the service leading to shorter waiting times.

Tell us about some of the most rewarding work you have done with the Veterans' NHS Wales service so far

Being able to speak to someone who isn’t aware that there is help for the problems they are presenting with. Also helping someone to make sense of why they feel the way they do, and offering an evidenced based psychological therapy to reduce their symptoms and improve their general daily functioning, is pretty rewarding stuff.

When you are not working, how do you enjoy spending your time?

As a mother to two teenage boys and two dogs I tend to be very busy but you can often find me on the beach with my dogs or eating cake, I’m a big fan of cake.

Many thanks to Victoria for telling us about the Veterans' NHS Wales service in Powys. If you would like to contact her, please email: victoria.williams4@wales.nhs.uk