Forgotten Veterans UK Radio

2019 - A Year in the World of FVUK written by Peter Macey.

As Chair of the Trustees for Forgotten Veterans UK (FVUK) and, on behalf of Gary Weaving and the Trustees, l wanted to give you a brief overview of what FVUK have achieved during 2019.

I am proud to say FVUK are totally unique in the way we operate and the way we conduct ourselves, in supporting Veterans throughout the UK, on a daily basis. Many important things have been achieved since our official inauguration as a recognised Charity in November, 2017. However the Charity made huge strides forward between then and now, particularly in 2019.

In November, 2018, FVUK formally opened the Basha Project at Fort Cumberland, Southsea. Established as a Retreat for Veterans, one of the first of its kind in the UK, it is also the headquarters for the Charity although FVUK covers the whole if the UK. Fort Cumberland now acts as the focal point for all telephone queries and requests for assistance. These requests when appropriate are referred to our Buddy Scheme, the team that makes direct contact with those in need and is still the cornerstone of the Charity. Buddies are based throughout the UK providing a wealth of qualifications and experience including nursing, mental health care, housing, benefits and welfare to name but a few.

Monthly camps are held at the Fort for any Veteran who wishes to attend. There have been visits to the Fort by many important organisations and dignitaries, this year. This has included senior members of NHS England, local MPs and Councillors, General, Lord Dannatt and Phil Campion.

During 2019 there has been a number of what can only be described as emergency calls to Fort, to provide care and a safe haven for Veterans. On each occasion Gary and the Team at the Fort have provided an immediate response to provide support. This really is Selfless Commitment by the Team.

Whilst this was all going on at the Fort, the Buddy Team have continued to support Veterans in need and their families at times of crisis, often through no fault of their own, all over the UK. To give you an idea, the Buddy Team and Fort have dealt with over 300 requests for support this year.

During 2019, FVUK established a phone bank to support Veterans who have no phone, to help get them back in touch with family and friends. Through the support of our members and followers we have now built up a large supply of working mobile phones, which we supply free, along with a SIM and credit to those Veterans in need. This year we have provided or sent out around a dozen phones.

In June, 2019, FVUK released its second book, They Gave Today - A Book of Heroes. Based around World War II, the book was published to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. Another classic from the Charity that works in a totally different way to others, this book has been sold all over the world, including orders from Australia, Canada, and Norway, Italy and Germany as well as every corner of the UK. All the proceeds from the sale of our books, along with our Calendars and all merchandise go directly to supporting Veterans, as do all donations received. Not many charities can claim the same as FVUK do.

In November 2019, Gary and some volunteers slept rough on the streets of Portsmouth for five days to raise awareness of homeless Veterans, which was a huge success in terms of publicity for both the issue itself and for FVUK as a charity.

The main difference between FVUK and some of the larger charities is that we are a first-to-aid service, our support is instant. There is no waiting around for a meeting to carry out an assessment. We deal with the issue there and then which is often within hours of receiving a referral. And it can be critical particularly if there are any potential self harming concerns. This year a number of such cases have been successfully dealt with, by both the Buddy Team and the Fort Team, when immediate critical support was vital.

FVUK have continued to establish good contacts in Parliament, local Councils and with other charities and support networks in order to bring about Governmental-led changes to the way Veterans are treated in general and by promoting changes to the way health services approach the subjects of mental health and PTSD in the Veteran community. Alongside this, one of our Volunteers is now a member of a cross-party team that will attend the Scottish Parliament at Hollyrood. The team will be raising issues around Veteran support in Scotland, and the UK. This is real progress leading into 2020.

For all of the things that have been achieved this year, on behalf of the Trustees and Gary, I do want to say a big thank you. Firstly to all our Volunteers, including the Buddy Team, the Fort Team, our Fundraisers and anyone that has supported us in any way. l also want to say a very big thank you to all our Managers in the various areas who keep the business running, all of whom are Volunteers. And l want to say thank you to all our followers, members and, a big thank you firstly to all our Volunteers, including the Buddy Team, the Fort Team, our Fundraisers and anyone that has supported us in any way. I also want to say a very big thank you to all our Managers in the various areas who keep the business running, all of whom are Volunteers. And I want to say thank you to all our followers, members and supporters for your donations, your support and your belief in the Charity which is Forgotten Veterans UK. For anyone that has shown us support this year by raising money for our cause, giving up their time or just being a listening ear when someone wanted to talk, you have all been fantastic, thank you. As we enter 2020, as well as continuing all the areas that we already do, we also have some amazing plans for the coming year. We will be registering FVUK with OSCR, the Scottish Charity Commission. Whilst we already support Veterans across Scotland, this registration will give the Charity full access to all fundraising opportunities across Great Britain. With a focus on fundraising, our first adopted Charity Shop, also in Scotland, is about to come on board, in support of FVUK. The Charity will be publishing three more of its amazing books during 2020, with the assistance of our members, the hard working Editorial Team and our Printers. To support our Buddy Scheme and our Fundraising operations all around the UK, we will be establishing our Volunteer network to support all areas of our work. So wherever you might be in the UK, you will never be too far from a FVUK Volunteer to support you or assist with local fundraising. A really exciting year ahead. FVUK are Changing the World for Veterans, through Selfless Commitment to Others.