Tedworth House receives financial lifeline from Ministry of Defence
It means recovery support services can continue for Armed Forces Veterans
Help For Heroes will continue to provide recovery support for Armed Forces Veterans at Tidworth House.
Core recovery activities for serving personnel only will be operated and fully funded by the MOD at the facility for the next 12 months.
The charity will continue offering all of its recovery support services to Veterans and loved ones either out in their own communities or digitally.
This includes Sports, Activities & Fellowship, Grants, Welfare & Case Management, Hidden Wounds, Clinical (physical) Support and the only veterans-specific Recovery College in the UK.
COVID HIT THE CHARITY HARD
The news comes after the charity underwent a major restructure in September, putting 142 staff jobs at risk and electing to not operate its Recovery Centres at Catterick, Colchester and Plymouth.
Since April 2020 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.
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."
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.