Durham Cricket Foundation has partnered with veterans’ charity Sporting Force to deliver a year-long mental health and support programme for ex-military personnel and their families.
The programme, funded by The Veterans’ Foundation, will support the Armed Forces community in the North East gain confidence through cricket, helping them become more active, physically and mentally fitter as well as reduce social isolation.
The project will help to improve the health and wellbeing of up to 200 veterans and family members through a number of activities, including sports sessions, social events and support drop-in sessions.
Veterans who are finding it difficult to participate in community-based activity will be offered additional support by an occupational therapist to enable them to engage in some sessions.
The project got underway with its first session taking place at Emirates Riverside, the home of Durham Cricket earlier this month.
The programme will continue for at least the next 12 months with regular activity sessions led by delivery partner Sporting Force, that have been helping veterans since 2014, and the Durham Cricket Foundation team.
The programme has been made possible with funding from The Veterans’ Foundation – one of the country’s fastest-growing military charities which supports smaller charities to deliver life-changing projects through a grant award scheme.
Durham Cricket Foundation Manager Liam Simpson said: “We’re really excited to get going with this programme and start work with veterans and their families now that we are able to.
“This new project gives us a fantastic opportunity to work with the Armed Forces community on a regular basis and to, hopefully, make an impact to their lives and those of their families.
“We are grateful to work alongside Sporting Force that have years of experience of working with veterans and will add a lot of value to the programme with their expertise and resources.
“I would like to thank The Veterans’ Foundation for making this year-long project possible and for supporting our plans and ambitions to make a difference to the veteran community in our region.”
Sporting Force CEO Tommy Lowther said: “I am delighted to be working with Durham Cricket Foundation, we have worked closely with the charity for a number of years now and the support they are offering to the veteran community is fantastic.
“We are very excited about this programme and how we can help better the lives of the veterans and their families over the coming 12 months”
For those who wish to get involved with the programme or are interested in seeing what activities are available to them, please visit Sporting Force’s Facebook page here, visit the website at www.sportingforce.org or alternatively email the course leads: david.henry@sportingforce.org or craig@sportingforce.org