Page 4 - CAMPAIGN Spring 2021

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CAMPAIGN Spring 2021
Western European History at Swansea University, and myself, participated in the programme. Watch this space for our involvement in further interviews and blogs, particularly within the health sector, as the BNTVA and the story of the participation of British personnel in the British and American nuclear tests, is getting noticed by medical colleges, military charities and the NHS.
Jason and Pete from Squeaky
Pedal will tell you more about the background work they have undertaken in this edition, as well as the work they are planning with nuclear test veterans over the next few months, and Michelle Harding, our secretary is progressing the BNTVA Living Histories Project. Michelle has already started interviewing veterans and descendants on the impact of the nuclear tests in their lives, and follows an unstructured informal approach in her interviewing style. The BNTVA has become a member of the Oral History Society, linked with Goldsmiths College, University of London, to work closely with experts and refine interview techniques for this massive project; we are creating relationships with a number of academics to deepen this relationship for the benefit of our nuclear community. No story is too big or small, and we would love to hear from you on 0208 144 3080 or m.harding@bntva.com if you would like to be included in this ongoing project.
We have taken the opportunity, as part of our new strategy, to link up with a number of relevant organisations for the benefit of our British nuclear community. These include the Royal College of Physicians’ Inequalities in Health Alliance, to relay the voice of our veterans and families in health issues, National Voices, a coalition of health and social care charities in England who work together to strengthen the voice of patients, carers, service users and their families, the Imperial War Museum Subject Specialist Network, focusing on telling stories of the Cold War and 20th Century conflict, the Genetics Alliance UK, a group of over 200 patient organisations representing rare illnesses, and ‘Contact Armed Forces’. The BNTVA has also registered with the Fundraising Regulator, to demonstrate best practice within the charity sector.
As new members of Contact
Armed Forces, a collaboration of organisations working to improve mental health in the armed forces community, John Lax, Michelle and myself attended the online Military Mental Health & Case Management conference on 16 March. The conference was of immense benefit to the BNTVA, and has opened up a wealth of relationships with veterans’ charities, research academics, and leaders of veterans’ health provision. As a direct result of this conference, a number of meetings with veterans’ health providers, government departments and research academics are currently taking place concerning the radioactive exposure of our
nuclear test veterans in the 1950s and 60s, and the legacy of this exposure. We will report back to the membership in the next Campaign magazine.
We are also working on re-launching the BNTVA shop under our merchandiser, Veronica Taunt, and Helen Lax.
We still have a few tablets to give away to British nuclear test veterans, so just get in touch with us if you require a tablet to assist you with communication. Again, if you need to talk, would benefit from discussing any issues for signposting or advocacy, or request the BNTVA coffin drape, just give us a call on 0208 144 3030. We’d like to thank the families who have kindly donated towards the BNTVA at the time of their loved one’s passing; we do appreciate your generosity on behalf of the British nuclear community.
Ceri McDade
UniDip (Theol.) PGCert (M.H.Psych) PGDip. (Soc.Res.)
BNTVA Chair