A Shropshire charity has been awarded two grants by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to help support members of the armed forces, veterans and their family members.
Climbing Out helps people across the UK, working with people aged 18 years and over who have been through a life-changing injury, illness, or trauma to rebuild their confidence, self-esteem, and motivation. Their programmes combine outdoor activities from kayaking to abseiling, with mental resilience and personal development coaching, to help their participants accept what has happened in the past and start to find a new way forward.
The Positive Pathways grant has been awarded for Climbing Out’s mental resilience project. This will fund two programmes specifically for veterans, plus walk and talk days to help Veterans get active, reduce social isolation, and integrate into the community.
The Force for Change grant has been awarded for their Armed Forces Support project. This will give serving personnel, veterans and their adult family members access to places on the 5-day outdoor programmes, walk and talk days and online workshops.
Kelda Wood, who founded the charity, said she has been bowled over by the support from The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. She said, “These grants are going to help us support so many people from the armed forces. Whatever life-changing challenges they are facing, from dealing with PTSD to an injury that has changed the way they live, we are here to help them find a new way forwards. We would love to hear from Veterans, serving personnel and their families who would like to find out more about what we do.”
The charity is currently recruiting for an outdoor programme specifically for veterans, which will run from July 12 to 16 in North Wales. They also have places available for veterans and members of the Armed Forces community on other programmes taking place between August and November.
The charity held its first programme of 2021 earlier this month with participants being challenged to abseil off cliffs, climb mountains and canoe up the River Severn. Kelda said, “The participants grew in confidence, stretched their boundaries, and started believing in themselves to enable them move forwards in life. It was a brilliant start to our 2021 programmes!”
Kirsty who attended the programme said, “Climbing Out has given us time to heal and learn how to live, not just survive. My confidence has grown and I’ve learned strategies to cope. Previously life was bleak and now it’s shining bright!”
Aimme, another participant, adds, “I feel genuinely hopeful for the future for the first time since my traumatic experience. Being pushed out of my comfort zone alongside people that are struggling like me has made me feel like I’m actually living rather than surviving.”
For more information on how to apply for one of Climbing Out’s programmes visit climbingout.org.uk
CAPTION: Enjoying the Climbing Out experience.
