Forward Assist

Forward Assist were awarded £25,000 for their project The Safe Zone, an initiative run in partnership with Salute Her UK. This has provided resource for a trauma-informed ‘safe haven’, empowering LGBT Veterans with the skills needed to have a positive quality of life.

Many of the Veterans who are part of this community and are accessing Forward Assist struggle to access services that do not understand the complexities of their trauma and related mental, physical and psychological difficulties.

Since the project began there have been several positive outcomes including promotion of social justice and addressing the inequalities faced by LGBT Veterans. Furthermore, they have worked towards breaking the cycle of discrimination against this population and empowered them to become positive role models for others. This in turn has helped the Veterans involved to grow their self-esteem and develop their resilience, allowing them to pursue their life goals. Veterans involved are encouraged to reflect on their inner experience and patterns of thinking. They learn to develop an awareness of risk as well as coping strategies for dealing with self-harming impulses and discover how to anticipate stressful or triggering events.

One Veteran said: “I don’t feel so alone now, I understand why I have isolated myself so much. I am putting all the skills I have learned into practice and my life is better because of it.”

The Veterans who have accessed the Safe Zone course have been given effective strategies for emotion regulation, crisis management and mindfulness practices. The course equips them with the tools needed to navigate life’s challenges successfully. Its evidence-based approach and long-term effectiveness make the course an essential therapeutic intervention that can significantly improve individuals’ lives and empower them to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.

A Veteran who has accessed the project explains: “I was a young recruit in the Army, I always wanted to travel the world and take part in sport, a career as a personal training instructor really appealed to me. I wish that I had never joined the military. My life was destroyed after two years when I was kicked out for being gay. I have never felt like I belonged anywhere, nor do I trust others easily. Taking part in the project is helping me to build my confidence and slowly learn that not everyone is out to get me, some people are kind and want to help me.”

To measure impact the charity has developed a unique Psycho – Trauma Screen (GPS) which screens for a range of trauma-related psychological problems, as well as for risk and protective factors. The tool is used before, during, and after the intervention allowing the organisation to track positive outcomes and a reduction in symptoms as well as tweak the program if needed.

So far, the organisation has worked with 60 Veterans across the three Services – over half of the Veterans were discharged due to their sexuality, with many having hidden their sexuality still to this day.