Page 54 - QARANC Vol 14 No 9 2014

52 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Millbank Branch
Chairman: -Lindi Kibbey Lt Col (Retd) Secretary: - Allison Johnson
The start of our year as always is Corps Day and what a day that was. We had DANS Col David Bates, Col Commandant Sue Bush and Association Treasurer Sally Cranwell Child as our guests. Members from 16 Med Regt all in uniform attended looking splendid. L/Cpl Graham True from 256 Field Hospital was our Standard Bearer escorted by Di Robertson Bell and Deirdre Barr.
Our service held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea was conducted by their new Minister The Rev Stephan Brookes (previously a Naval Padre) made us so welcome, spoke to many of the members before and after the Service and took part in our Photo session.
QA visit to Tedworth House, Help For Heroes Recovery Centre, Wiltshire – 19 March 2014
What a beautiful spot this place is in the house is a fine country house that became army property at the beginning of the 1900’s. Several of our group had lived there as young nurses in the 1970’s and had a special interest as the visit rekindled their own memories of times past. Help for Heroes started in 2008.
Tedworth House has recently been updated, modernised and had new building added to the existing house, which opened as a recovery centre in 2011. The house is leased for 100 years at the cost of £1 a year
Giles Woodhouse the Recovery Centre Manager gave a very interesting overview of the people who come for help and to improve their lifestyles.
The centre is open to anyone of any rank from any of the three services that have been wounded, injured or sick. 40 per cent of individuals have been wounded on operations and 60 per cent are there suffering from other
causes (accrued injuries or issues). The average age of those attending is 18-24 years. The aims of the centre are to inspire, enable and support. There are no nursing or medical staff on the premises. This is a recovery centre and not a rehabilitation centre. So those attending are independent, mobile and can self-medicate. If someone blind is visiting a dog is allowed, as it is an accompanying carer. The charity Canine Partners aims to train dogs to help the disabled with every day tasks opening and closing doors picking up dropped items and
many more activities.
There are 54 rooms, 4 family rooms
and the centre provides help for both residents and day visitors.
Help maybe sought or found necessary in areas such as welfare, training and other educational needs. Some may need help with basic skills of literacy and numeracy, routine and re-engagement. At the centre other agencies can be accessed e.g. British Legion, Haig housing. Mind, body, spirit family and medical areas are all considered. Different activities are offered and different skills acquired. Therapies such as reflexology and massage is available and there is a gym and on the day we visited some of the Paralympics were training.
Individuals may self refer or be referred by a GP. There is a website for information.
Individuals receiving help become members of the Band of Brothers. This
offers support for our wounded. The Band of Sisters is the membership group for supporting the families. There are facilities for respite and relaxation weekends, activity groups for children and contacting the centre, and communicating via Email and Facebook. There are events and opportunities as well as cinema and theatre tickets available to offer the families and individuals. These are kindly donated.
The commitment of the staff we met at Tedworth house was very apparent. Their awareness of the difficulties the young and wounded soldiers (and their families) face now, and the future difficulties that the injured will have as they age.
Help for Heroes aim to offer and help individuals and their families long- term, for life. Corporates, individuals, sponsoring from the British Legion all contribute much needed funding. There are opportunities to volunteer. In addition to Tedworth house there are 3 other centres in the UK. Plymouth, Chavasse VC House Colchester and Phoenix House in Catterick and I believe one may be opening in Edinburgh.
Mark Elliott Head of External Operations for Help for Heroes was our after Dinner speaker altogether a very memorable visit. The 20 members and friends send a big thank you to Diana McCrea for organising this visit. Catherine Bentley
Millbank Branch.
AGM
The AGM was held at Braganza Street and with so many present 55 for lunch it was a little crowded but the atmosphere at lunch was buzzing.
At the end of our AGM Col Bates presented Josephine Jones our retiring Chairman
with an Association award for all her
years of service to the Association
and our Branch this is only the second time this Award has been presented and Josephine was truly overwhelmed. She leaves us to take on an equally busy role as Chairman of the Army Museum
and we send her on her way with our love and very best wishes from all our members in the Millbank Branch.