Dear all
I hope this message finds you safe and well
The coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us, but our armed forces beneficiaries have been particularly hard hit.
Our armed forces service, Outside the Wire, works with veterans and family members across the East of England, many of whom are already suffering from the effects of PTSD and drug/alcohol misuse. These issues have been exacerbated by coronavirus and the associated lockdown, which has increased isolation and reduced social contact. Lack of structure and relationship issues have added to these problems, and resulted in worsening mental health and increased alcohol use. This is a very vulnerable group, and suicide and health problems are also particularly high risks.
At the same time, there has been a reduction in support available – for example, Combat Stress has significantly cut down its support in our region, and many other local services, Outside the Wire included, are struggling to keep up with demand. At a time when our support is more vital than ever, Outside the Wire is facing funding difficulties, brought on by Covid-19, and may need to wind down some services.
We are currently working with over 100 veterans and family members across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, primarily through remote support (video calls, phone calls, and messaging), but also carrying out face-to-face welfare checks for particularly vulnerable individuals. We are also delivering care packages across the region. With your help, we can continue providing vital one-to-one support during this crucial time, helping our armed forces beneficiaries when they need it most.
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'If you had not been there for me at my time of need, I believe, hand on heart, that my son would be growing up without a Dad. I owe my life to Outside The Wire.'
A service user
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'(Outside the Wire) truly understands the Armed Forces world from the inside - the staff are ex-forces who can relate to difficulties living in civilian world and have knowledge of the difficulties ex-service personnel can experience with regards to PTSD, mental health, and substance misuse'
The Essex Community Rehabilitation Company
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Click on the red button below to find more information about our service and our funding shortfall. Hopefully this contains all of the information you need, however if you do have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us using the details below.
Please take the time to have a look. Any funding you or your contacts can offer could make a real difference to the lives of the suffering heroes we support.
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We are sincerely grateful for your time in reading this and truly hope you will consider our appeal. To confirm, any financial support you provide will change the outcome for veterans struggling at this difficult time in our history.
Yours sincerely,
Andy
Andy Sexton
Chief Executive Officer, The Matthew Project
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