Warrior Programme residential course
The Warrior Programme held its first residential course for 24 traumatised Ex-Service personnel in the depths of the blustery but beautiful Devon countryside last week. The Charity was launched two years ago at a Gala event held at Hazlegrove School, Sparkford and since then it has helped more than 275 people with the goal of helping a further 2000 over the next five years. Its aim is to reconnect the disconnected; to help individuals let go of past debilitating memories and self-limiting beliefs and to start creating a new future.
Founder of the charity Eva Hamilton MBE from Butleigh near Somerton, has worked with the disadvantaged for more than 20 years and set up HRH The Prince of Wales' Seeing is Believing programme and then Business Action on Homelessness. Hamilton says: "You can provide work and somewhere to live and this succeeds in the short term. If, however, the individual hasn't addressed the causes as well as the symptoms of the problem, the results aren't sustainable. The Warrior Programme is dealing with the causes of people's problems and this, I believe, is the long-term key to success."
Isfahan Henderson offered the use of her holiday cottage complex, Bealy Court, Chulmleigh, which provided an idyllic setting for the four-day residential course. She says: "My partner is in the military and he has given me a greater awareness of people who have served in war zones who may not be coping as well as they appear to be. I had a look at the Warrior Programme's website and immediately wanted to help."
Large numbers of service personnel have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's easy to see an amputated limb but much more difficult to spot emotional and mental scarring. The Warrior Programme charity was initially set up to help the homeless but is finding more and more Ex-Service personnel needing its help.
Warrior is a four-day Health and Wellbeing Programme, complementing the services of other charities. It enables individuals to reduce stress, restore confidence, build a new future and move from dependency to independent living. Participants are shown how to address their negative thinking to rebuild confidence and take personal responsibility for their lives.
The South West houses many servicemen and the participants have diverse backgrounds and needs. Most have a military background (and include The Royal Marines, The Royal Armoured Corps, the Rifles, REME, the SAS and Parachute Regiment) and many have seen active service. They suffer from a variety of problems including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and alcohol abuse.
Pat worked in field surgical teams in areas of conflict for many years and had been suffering from PTSD, alcohol abuse and appalling flashbacks. He says: "The Programme provided an excellent mix of ways of looking at a problem. I've been trying to get rid of certain emotions for 28 years! At last I have a more positive outlook and, even at the age of 61, I want to take a course in Neuro Linguistic Programming so that I can help others using what I've learned here."
Adrian, a talented guitarist who writes his own songs, suffered from debilitating anxiety after he left the Rifles. "I feel so much better now," he says, having completed the Programme. "Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I still have lots of work to do but feel I now have the tools to succeed."
Chairman of the Warrior Programme, Lieutenant General Anthony Palmer, commented: "Every time I visit one of our Warrior programmes I am amazed by the results that are achieved in just four days - and our follow-up audit shows that these are maintained over time. In Devon, thanks to the generosity of Isfahan at Bealy Court, we had the opportunity to conduct a residential programme for the first time and the early results look very encouraging. Two of the Warriors demonstrated to me how effective the Programme is: a Falklands veteran who told me that his 'demons' had at last been laid to rest after 30 years and a young girl whose confidence and self-esteem bubbled up over the four days and who is now looking at her life in a positive and constructive way for the first time in many years."
Founder of the charity Eva Hamilton MBE from Butleigh near Somerton, has worked with the disadvantaged for more than 20 years and set up HRH The Prince of Wales' Seeing is Believing programme and then Business Action on Homelessness. Hamilton says: "You can provide work and somewhere to live and this succeeds in the short term. If, however, the individual hasn't addressed the causes as well as the symptoms of the problem, the results aren't sustainable. The Warrior Programme is dealing with the causes of people's problems and this, I believe, is the long-term key to success."
Isfahan Henderson offered the use of her holiday cottage complex, Bealy Court, Chulmleigh, which provided an idyllic setting for the four-day residential course. She says: "My partner is in the military and he has given me a greater awareness of people who have served in war zones who may not be coping as well as they appear to be. I had a look at the Warrior Programme's website and immediately wanted to help."
Large numbers of service personnel have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's easy to see an amputated limb but much more difficult to spot emotional and mental scarring. The Warrior Programme charity was initially set up to help the homeless but is finding more and more Ex-Service personnel needing its help.
Warrior is a four-day Health and Wellbeing Programme, complementing the services of other charities. It enables individuals to reduce stress, restore confidence, build a new future and move from dependency to independent living. Participants are shown how to address their negative thinking to rebuild confidence and take personal responsibility for their lives.
The South West houses many servicemen and the participants have diverse backgrounds and needs. Most have a military background (and include The Royal Marines, The Royal Armoured Corps, the Rifles, REME, the SAS and Parachute Regiment) and many have seen active service. They suffer from a variety of problems including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and alcohol abuse.
Pat worked in field surgical teams in areas of conflict for many years and had been suffering from PTSD, alcohol abuse and appalling flashbacks. He says: "The Programme provided an excellent mix of ways of looking at a problem. I've been trying to get rid of certain emotions for 28 years! At last I have a more positive outlook and, even at the age of 61, I want to take a course in Neuro Linguistic Programming so that I can help others using what I've learned here."
Adrian, a talented guitarist who writes his own songs, suffered from debilitating anxiety after he left the Rifles. "I feel so much better now," he says, having completed the Programme. "Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I still have lots of work to do but feel I now have the tools to succeed."
Chairman of the Warrior Programme, Lieutenant General Anthony Palmer, commented: "Every time I visit one of our Warrior programmes I am amazed by the results that are achieved in just four days - and our follow-up audit shows that these are maintained over time. In Devon, thanks to the generosity of Isfahan at Bealy Court, we had the opportunity to conduct a residential programme for the first time and the early results look very encouraging. Two of the Warriors demonstrated to me how effective the Programme is: a Falklands veteran who told me that his 'demons' had at last been laid to rest after 30 years and a young girl whose confidence and self-esteem bubbled up over the four days and who is now looking at her life in a positive and constructive way for the first time in many years."
