Latest news with #HelpforHeroes
Glasgow Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow veteran's life changed thanks to Help for Heroes
Darren Forsythe, a former Royal Navy submariner from Glasgow, says that his life has been transformed thanks to support from veterans' charity Help for Heroes. Darren, 48, signed up for the Royal Navy at the age of 23 and spent four years on a nuclear submarine as a marine engineer mechanic. Read more: Former Rangers star attends screening of 'remarkable' football documentary Though he forged friendships that would last a lifetime, Darren also developed a mental health condition that ultimately led to a medical discharge from the service. He said: "My condition means that I can get very low and have some dark thoughts. "It's really affected my relationships and my ability to work." But after connecting with Help for Heroes, Darren says the impact has been life-changing. He said: "Getting support from Help for Heroes has changed my life – the change is like the difference between night and day." Through the charity, Darren was introduced to the Community Sports Series, a programme designed to help veterans rediscover motivation and community through adaptive sports. Darren Forsythe (Image: Supplied) It was here that Darren found a passion for wheelchair rugby and archery, even giving rock climbing a go – despite living with rheumatoid arthritis. The next Community Sports Series event will take place at the National Disability Sports Training Centre in Inverclyde on May 31. This two-day gathering invites veterans and their families to try a variety of adaptive sports and connect with others who have served. Recent figures have revealed that there are currently 6,868 veterans living in Glasgow City. Read more: Success of Battlefield's new cycle route to Glasgow city centre revealed Darren hopes to encourage more of them to seek support. He said: "I know there are other men and women who have served in the armed forces in the local area who have their own challenges. "Some are struggling with physical injuries, some have mental health problems, or are finding it difficult to adapt to civilian life. "I want to urge them to reach out and get help." "When I first contacted Help for Heroes, someone got in touch pretty much straight away, and it's been amazing. "Whenever I've felt like I can't do anything, their approach has been 'don't worry, we'll find a way round it'. "And it's helped to give me more motivation. 'I was never really a sporty person, but through wheelchair rugby and archery, I've discovered a competitive streak and a really positive outlet, and I'm now a member of an archery club. 'My wife says that when I come back from one of their Sports Series weekends that I'm bouncing. "My illness has had a real impact on her as well. "What Help for Heroes have done for me is priceless, and is helping me to cope with a condition that I'm going to be living with for the rest of my life." Anyone looking for support from the veterans charity is encouraged to visit the Help for Heroes website or call 0300 303 9888.
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Lanarkshire Army veteran appeals for locals to help provide support for ex-servicemen
Veterans' charity Help for Heroes is trying to bring more people on board as volunteers as it expands its reach in local communities. An Army veteran, from South Lanarkshire, is appealing for local people to volunteer to provide vital support for the men and women who have served their country. Veterans' charity Help for Heroes is trying to bring more people on board as volunteers as it expands its reach in local communities. David Dent, age 58, lives in Carluke and served for in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps during the 1990s and was a specialist in intensive care and military trauma, carrying out emergency care on the battlefield. He received a blast injury received in Bosnia in 1994, which resulted in a medical discharge in 2000. As a result, he experiences chronic pain and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and uses a wheelchair daily. With support from Help for Heroes, he overcame his disability to become the first seated athlete to set a world record under the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association – a distance of 23ft and 6 inches in the shot put. In addition to being a para-athlete, he is now an advocate for disabled veterans, a university lecturer, a company director, and a consultant for the Scottish Government. David said: 'Help for Heroes was there for me when I most needed it. It's really been a lifeline for me and thousands of other veterans, but it needs to recruit more volunteers so it can support more men and women who have served. 'As well as providing clinical, mental health and welfare support services through a team of dedicated advisors, the Charity works with groups to support veterans and their families to connect with each other and their communities through sports and social activities. 'These activities can be an important part of recovery and the Charity wants to expand this activity in Lanarkshire but to do this it's going to need volunteers.' Help for Heroes is currently supporting 37 veterans across Lanarkshire. The charity aims to work with volunteers, national and local organisations to offer activities for veterans and their families such as wheelchair basketball, archery, rowing, as well as activities such as photography and creative writing. It is also hoping to hold regular drop-in cafe social sessions. On average, five people are medically discharged from the UK military every day. Some veterans must find new ways to live with a physical disability. Others face complex mental trauma. Many feel cut off from society, friends, even family. David added: 'I know personally what a valuable job Help for Heroes does. There are approximately 11,600 veterans living in Lanarkshire and if we can recruit people who are able to give a couple of hours a week, the Charity can do more for local people. 'We also need people who are happy to help us with fundraising events. Last year our volunteer fundraisers helped us out with bucket collections at supermarkets and other locations. 'If you'd like to find out more about how you can volunteer, or have a passion for a sport, creative or social activity that you think you could share with veterans, then please get in touch.'
The National
15-05-2025
- Health
- The National
'Being a soldier was my whole life. Suddenly it was gone'
'Then I badly damaged my feet and legs. After rehab, I returned to active duty. But very quickly I had trouble with my left knee and was sent for surgery. 'The operation made matters worse. What should have been a treatable problem turned into a lifetime of pain. And left me having to use a wheelchair. 'It all came to a head in May 1998. I was told 'we can't fix your legs; they're not going to get any better. I was discharged. 'Being a soldier was my whole life. Suddenly it was gone as I was no longer of use. That was when I began to feel isolated. 'During training, it was drilled into you that being injured was a bad thing. That was back in the '90s, thankfully things are different now. But after having those words repeated, when it happened to me, it was hard to mentally cope. 'I remember watching the news coverage of Afghanistan and Iraq. It made me feel like a failure. I wasn't out there doing the job I'd signed up to do. It was incredibly difficult to deal with. 'People told me that I didn't fit in or belong. So, I spent a lot of time alone. By Christmas 2014 I started to think about ending my life. 'Then a colleague in my civilian job put me in touch with Help for Heroes. Scared I'd be turned away it took me a few months to reach out. But I did get in touch. Thank goodness I did. The charity welcomed me with open arms and offered me support for life." 'I've always loved cycling. Help for Heroes used this passion to kick-start my career in the mountain bike industry. The charity contributed towards funding for courses to help me become a mountain biking coach, tutor and mechanic. 'The charity's Sports Recovery team have also helped me regain my confidence and self-belief. Without them, I'd never have competed in 2016, both at the Invictus Games and representing the GB adaptive sports team at the World Championships in California. 'Help for Heroes have a done a lot of things for me, they gave me the tools to kick-start my career, but I think probably the most important one is they've guided me towards trying to find a sense of purpose and self-worth in who I am and what I do' Together, we must fight for the peace our Armed Forces community deserves and end the Veterans War. Visit
Pembrokeshire Herald
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pembrokeshire Herald
VE Day charity quiz to raise funds for Help for Heroes
A COMMUNITY quiz night is being held this Friday (May 9) at The Begelly Arms to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with all proceeds going to the armed forces charity Help for Heroes. The event, which begins at 7:30pm, will include a traditional pub quiz, raffle, and a selection of wartime-themed food. Entry costs £5 per person, and teams of up to six can take part. The entry fee covers participation in the quiz, raffle entry, and food. The evening is being hosted by local quiz regular 'Dangerous Dave,' with rounds covering general knowledge, music, film, and history. There will also be a prize for the best-dressed attendee, with 1940s fancy dress encouraged but not compulsory. Organisers have thanked Gavla Rib & Oyster and Adam from The Hunter's Moon for donating raffle prizes. A spokesperson for The Begelly Arms said: 'It's a chance to come together as a community, have some fun, and raise money for a brilliant cause. We'd love to see the place full.' Help for Heroes supports veterans and their families who are living with the long-term impact of service. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the charity. To reserve a table, call The Begelly Arms on 01834 812601.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New pilot program at VHS serving veterans
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – The Vanderburgh Humane Society's (VHS) newest outreach program, 'Help for Heroes,' will serve veterans with pets to hopefully keep them and their pets together. Officials say the idea for this program came from a longtime VHS volunteer named Lauren, who currently also runs the Cardio for Canines program (CFC). Through CFC, Lauren came into contact with a veteran last October who needed help making an appointment to get his dog fixed and vaccinated. The struggles he was facing with understanding the scheduling software, where to be at what time, and so on got Lauren's attention. Illinois Oil and Gas convention hopes to bring new interest to industry VHS Director of Advancement Amanda Coburn says, 'Lauren told us that this person 'loves his rescue dog more than anything… she is all he has, essentially.' Apparently the VA had recommended the VHS and their services to this man, but, he was still so confused. It's been weighing heavy on me ever since I've come into contact with him, and now I realize how little he knows about all of the low-cost services that are offered.' The VHS says the first opportunity for local veterans to utilize Help for Heroes will be on March 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at VHS, which is located at 400 Millner Industrial Drive in Evansville. Assistance will take place in the main VHS lobby. A METS bus stop is located two blocks away at Garvin Park/North Main Street. The building is ADA-accessible with a parking lot and accessible restroom access. Officials hope Evansville golf course rebrand brings new life Officials say available services include: Dog and cat distemper vaccines Flea and tick prevention Spay and neuter assistance Microchip with national registration Pet food Case management and technical assistance with appointment scheduling, forms and more VHS says this is what veterans should bring: Military photo ID Email address if they have one, and how to log into it Mobile device if they have one Pets must be either leashed, harnessed or in a carrier before entering the building for everyone's safety. Volunteers can assist with this upon arrival if needed. Officials say moving forward, program details can be found here or by emailing heroes@ To make a gift toward programs like Help for Heroes in 2025 and beyond, the public can visit this website. Or they can also email giving@ to inquire about gifts of stock or IRA distributions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
