REW07
September 09, 2022
The second of our Rural Experience Weeks funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust under their Veterans Pathways People Programme started at Bicton on Sunday 4th September when we welcomed veterans from the Army, RAF and RAF Regiment, and Josie the assistance dog.
VPPP continues the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s aim to fund programmes which improve the mental health and wellbeing of veterans and Walking With the Wounded, The Poppy Factory, We Are With You, the Forces Employment Charity, Veterans Welfare Service and Supporting Wounded Veterans had referred these veterans to us for a week of outdoor activity at Bicton College in Devon.
Read on to find out what we did!
We were delighted to welcome Tony Goodridge from Unique Projects Devon back on Monday to run another hands-on Landscaping session which involved the use of military skills including teamwork and accuracy, and produced some pretty impressive brickwork and paving by the end of the day.
Tuesday saw our veterans split into 2 groups with Matt and Kirsty from Hi Line leading one group in the Park to learn about rope access and climbing, while Lee Kimber, himself a Rural Week alumni and now a qualified Chainsaw Instructor, led the other group in the College Workshop to learn about chainsaw maintenance and techniques with a swap at lunchtime.
In the evening Rob and Chrissy at Budleigh Riding School hosted a visit to meet the horses – a lovely end to the day.
We dodged the showers on Wednesday to again split into groups – this time for Forest School with Lee and Nick and back to the Workshop to meet our friends Ian and Dan from Parmenter Forge who had brought their mobile forges from Hampshire for a Blacksmithing masterclass making super useful bottle openers.
A visit to the College farm to meet the cows rounded off another great day, spent outdoors.
Matt and Kirsty returned on Thursday for a day of Emergency 1st Aid + F which stands for Forestry.
In addition to brushing up their 1st Aid skills learned in the military, the + F is specifically for those working outdoors and includes extremes of hot and cold, catastrophic bleeds and crush injuries, and Lyme disease.
The week ended on Friday morning with a motivation and next steps presentation by Tim and Pete our Rural Employment Manager and Welfare Support Manager.
Before Tim and Pete handed out the 1st Aid + F certificates, a 2 minute silence marked the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a sombre end to the week.
Huge thanks to everyone who made the week possible – to AFCFT for funding it; our hosts at Bicton for looking after us so well and to all those who gave their time to speak, host, and facilitate.
Last Word:
We ask all the veterans who join us for a Rural Experience Week to complete a questionnaire at the begining and end of the week.
One of the questions asks: How could this week be improved?
“I’m really grateful for the efforts of all at HighGround; the staff and the guest speakers you arranged. Of note, I am also grateful for the companionship/interaction with the other veterans.”
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