Future of Help For Heroes threatened by pandemic

Help For Heroes is undergoing a major restructure, with 142 staff now at risk, and the announcement that it is electing to not operate its Recovery Centres at Catterick, Colchester and Plymouth.

It is returning to Centre-based 'Covid secure services' only at Tedworth House in Wiltshire.

Since April this year the military charity, which relies on public donations for 97% of its income, has suffered huge losses with fundraising events and activities either cancelled or postponed. The charity, which provides recovery support to the wounded, injured and sick Armed Forces community, anticipates a 30% reduction in regular income over the coming years with the ongoing economic recession.

This financial hit, coupled with a significant surge in demand for its recovery services during the height of the pandemic, meant the charity felt it had no choice but to review its service delivery.

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

With significant uncertainty around the economy and ever changing Covid restrictions, the charity will continue to focus on face to face community and digital services.

The charity believes moving towards a more community and digital-focused approach to delivering support will mean the charity can most effectively reach the wounded veterans and families that need support, regardless of their location, in a more cost-effective way.

Melanie Waters, CEO, said the decision was extremely tough:

"In 2007, we made a promise on behalf of the nation to provide lifetime support to wounded veterans, and their families, and we are striving to keep that promise."

"The crisis has had a devastating impact on the whole UK charity sector, with lasting consequences, and it has hit us hard. We expect these changes to have a positive impact on our ability to protect our services and support for the long term, which is incredibly important. We are not stopping any recovery services but will be providing the same first-class recovery services in a more cost-effective way. The continued Covid restrictions mean that wounded veterans have a greater need for support to be available closer to home, in their communities and online."

"We remain absolutely committed to our wounded and their families and will continue fighting for, and changing the lives of, those we support for as long as they need it."

Help for Heroes was quick to adapt its support in March, despite having to furlough nearly 40% of its staff for up to seven months, and has continued to deliver virtual and remote support through its fellowship, welfare, clinical, grants and psychological wellbeing services ever since.

The charity is working closely with MOD to ensure that all centres continue to provide core recovery activities for wounded, injured or sick Service Personnel during lockdown and beyond.

Veteran and Help for Heroes Ambassador Rob Shenton added:

"Help for Heroes Recovery Centres are based in military communities, but the veteran community is spread much wider than those centres. These changes will mean the charity can have a deeper reach to where veterans need the most help. Help for Heroes are my fourth emergency service in some respects. They started providing support when most thought it was not needed and the systems couldn't cope. The truth was it was so desperately needed and still is to this day and beyond. These changes will help the charity continue to provide that support to veterans like me in the future."

Demand for support rose significantly during lockdown with a 33% increase in new people coming forward for support with their mental health in May and June 2020 compared to the same period last year, as well as nearly 30% more new referrals into the Charity's physical health focused service.