Merry Christmas to all serving personnel and veterans everywhere
About Veterans Association UK
Additional Information from our Chairman
In 2012 the VAUK opened a national centre based in Burnley where we had a caseworkers office, training centre, boardroom, my office and reception area. From this centre we ran multiple two day courses for our SRC’s, teaching mental health and housing law. This was very often attended by NHS counsellor's and psychotherapists. Many of whom said it was very informative and they learned a lot from it due to the fact that we use Bio Pyscho Social methods of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapies). This is a rewind one to one CBT method where the Psychotherapist goes straight to the trauma usually under hypnosis and works backwards as opposed to the person centered methods used by the NHS and many others. This proved to be highly successful and in a survey conducted by the VAUK in 2013/2014 we spoke to 100 veterans who had been through our CBT therapies at least 12 months earlier to see how they were and 82 of the 100 were coping extremely well, giving us an 82% success rate. We used the Human Givens Team, specialist PTSD counsellor's and therapists and the MVS (Military Veterans Services) IAPTs (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) team. Our mental health clinical lead at that time was a Doctor of Neuro Psychology called Dr Theresa Andre, she was a Canadian doctor who worked with Canadian and American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our medical clinical lead was Surgeon Rear Admiral Ralph Curr RN. So we had expertise from specialists in their fields. Theresa Andre on occasions came to the VA centre in Burnley and sat in the courses with me to ensure the information I was giving to my students was correct and she also spoke to the students. Her involvement was invaluable.
I served nine years in total, 4 years regulars with 1RHA, 5 years regular reserves with South Nottinghamshire Hussars. I have a business background in areas such as hospitality, security, catering and middle management with a national company. I also spent 4 years on the Asset Management Group of a local housing association giving me knowledge of housing law etc.
This experience I used in setting up the Veterans Association UK in 2011. I built the VAUK up to a level where we had 49 SRC’s (Senior Regional Coordinators) from Cornwall in the south of England to Inverness in Scotland. These people all had their own teams of volunteers ranging from 2 or 3 to about 6 to 8.
Since setting up the VAUK I qualified as a Specialist Counsellor Level 3 (non-clinical) as you have to be Level 4 to qualify for BACP (The British Association of Counsellor's and Psychotherapists) clinical registration but I am officially diagnosed with Complex Multiple Trauma PTSD and have a very good insight into the disability/illness. I also qualified as an Adult Learning Teacher PTLL’s (Preparatory Teaching Lifelong Learning) and qualified as a Vocational Training Assessor. I also qualified as an Alcohol and Substance Misuse Counsellor and am an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) Specialist. Many of the SRC’s over the years trained as Counsellor's and became ASIST trained. From 2014 to 2018 where we became involved with ASIST we intervened on 39 attempted suicides nationwide, we were successful on 38 occasions, sadly we lost 1 Veteran who we were unable to help in time.
Within the business centre I qualified in Business Administration, general book-keeping and accounts and held a Licensees certificate for 10 years.
In 2012 the VAUK opened a national centre based in Burnley where we had a caseworkers office, training centre, boardroom, my office and reception area. From this centre we ran multiple two day courses for our SRC’s, teaching mental health and housing law. This was very often attended by NHS counsellor's and psychotherapists. Many of whom said it was very informative and they learned a lot from it due to the fact that we use Bio Pyscho Social methods of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapies). This is a rewind one to one CBT method where the Psychotherapist goes straight to the trauma usually under hypnosis and works backwards as opposed to the person centered methods used by the NHS and many others. This proved to be highly successful and in a survey conducted by the VAUK in 2013/2014 we spoke to 100 veterans who had been through our CBT therapies at least 12 months earlier to see how they were and 82 of the 100 were coping extremely well, giving us an 82% success rate. We used the Human Givens Team, specialist PTSD counsellor's and therapists and the MVS (Military Veterans Services) IAPTs (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) team. Our mental health clinical lead at that time was a Doctor of Neuro Psychology called Dr Theresa Andre, she was a Canadian doctor who worked with Canadian and American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our medical clinical lead was Surgeon Rear Admiral Ralph Curr RN. So we had expertise from specialists in their fields. Theresa Andre on occasions came to the VA centre in Burnley and sat in the courses with me to ensure the information I was giving to my students was correct and she also spoke to the students. Her involvement was invaluable.
During the period 2011 to 2019 the VAUK rehoused 169 veterans and their families. We obtained specialist mental health treatment for nearly 1800 veterans and their families. We obtained stairlifts and wet rooms for 12 seriously disabled or elderly veterans. We also helped 100’s of veterans with War Pensions, PIP (Personal Independence Payment) and other benefits. So as an organisation the VAUK took a very holistic overview.
In June 2019 I retired due to ill health but continued helping Veterans who contacted my by phone for help. At the end of February this year I was asked by a number of veterans could I restart the VAUK to which I decided I would. So at this moment of time we are in a rebuilding scenario.
Helping and getting involved
How We're Helping
How We're Helping
How We're Helping
We are a community-based organization focused on helping veterans, serving Military and their families, to access housing, treatment for mental or other health issues and to get homeless veterans off the streets and into a home of their own. Helping disabled or elderly veterans to make their lives easier and much more.
Get Involved
How We're Helping
How We're Helping
Are you passionate about what we're doing? Let us know! We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision a reality. We're excited to have you join the team!
Thank You
How We're Helping
Thank You
Whether you help through monetary donations, volunteering your time, or spreading our mission through word-of-mouth, thank you. We couldn't accomplish our goals without the help of supporters like you.