Page 72 - RAPTC Number 102 2018/19

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BATTLE BACK CENTRE (BBC) – LILLESHALL
Sgt (SI) EA Jallow RAPTC
Itook over the post at the BBC Lilleshall in Jan 19 from Sgt (SI) V Francis RAPTC who did a tremendous job before me. In contrast to the RRU clinical setting, the ERI role at the BBC is mainly
advisory by delivering high end courses to the WIS population, it is a truly exceptional position within the rehab world. As way of introduction to the post, the OC (Maj Ian Thomas) loaded me onto a Multi-Activity Course (MAC) as a student which was very rewarding. Being amongst the students with various types of psychosocial and physical conditions was fascinating, I witnessed their transformation in character and demeanour over the course.
The BBC at the National Sports Centre, Lilleshall is funded by The Royal British Legion and run by a small team of Army personnel. Established in 2011, the Centre provides adaptive sport and AT activities for wounded, injured and sick (WIS) personnel from across the Armed Forces, including reservists, and veterans. The BBC provides a residential capacity for up to 24 WIS and seeks to create a dynamic and enjoyable learning environment, promoting success at the personal, interpersonal and organisational levels. The Centre’s primary course is the one-week MAC, which is mandatory for WIS from the Army and the RAF, and strongly recommended by the RN. The MAC’s activities include indoor climbing and caving, water sports, wheelchair basketball, archery, clay pigeon shooting, cycling, indoor bowls and seated volleyball. There are 24 MACs per year. The Centre also runs 4 weeks of Veterans Courses and 8 weeks of single skills courses in climbing, mountain biking, road cycling, golf, fishing, paddle sports and archery.
PD is a key component in recovery and the BBC’s activities are designed to help accelerate physical, psychological and social recovery. Regular participation in adaptive sport, AT and other activities can help the individual to focus on the things they can
achieve, rather than what they cannot. This therefore improves resilience, develops confidence, improves motivation and the ability to deal with stress and develop positive relationships to enhance recovery. The Centre achieves this through the provision of high quality, people-centred, adaptive sport and AT activities integrated with personal development coaching.
The personal development coaching is based on the Self Determination Theory (SDT), which is concerned with the motivation that drives individuals to make choices without external influence and interference. It identifies 3 innate needs (Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness) and emphasises that if these are not met then positive motivation is thwarted. The WIS attending the MAC are a mix of those being medically discharged and those whose futures have not yet been decided. SDT is applicable to both groups because they need to take ownership of their recovery and motivate themselves to make the most of their potential. WIS attend MACs at different stages in their recovery pathways, timing of attendance can be driven by medical conditions or when it best fits into their Individual Recovery Plan. However, experience shows that WIS should attend as early as practicable because it can affect how they conduct themselves during the rest of their recovery and contributes to positive recovery outcomes.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of their medical conditions, some WIS must leave the Armed Forces. But, there are many WIS who spend a long time in recovery and lose the motivation to give themselves the best possible chance of passing their medical board. Anecdotal evidence from Personnel Recovery Officers and unit welfare staff shows that early attendance on the MAC has a positive influence on a WIS’s recovery by changing their mindset early on. As the Army struggles to maintain manning targets the MAC is an intervention that is likely to assist in reducing the number