As we commenced 2025 The Ely Centre were delighted to receive the news that our recent application for Operation Blue Sky to the Armed Forces Covenant Trust – Embedding Prevention in Veterans Suicide has been successful.
Speaking on the project Mr Lee McDowell Ely Director stated “Operation Blue Sky is an Adventure Based Therapy Programme aimed at improving the health/wellbeing and individual resilience of Veterans who suffer from psychological injury as a result of their lived combat experiences”. OBS is an innovative co-designed approach to mental health support and psychoeducation incorporating learning from the One Is to Many study and adapting learning obtained from wilderness and adventure based therapy programmes which have been applied successfully to veteran cohorts within the US we believe this project can support and improve Veterans Mental Health, help seeking and reduce stigma for our Veterans.
Mr Roy Crawford Ely Centre Chairperson stated “ The Ely Centre has a long reputation of support and developing Veterans programmes. Ely Developed the innovative Brooke House Project and subsequent Tackling Serious Stress programmes, we delivered covid support grants for veterans and our most recent Onside walking football programme and Veterans Modelling NI. Ely continues to develop innovative and needs based programmes aimed to support on the ground needs that Veterans are sharing with us.
The Ely Centre thank The Armed Forces Community Trust for their support and we look forward to working with them again in the year ahead.
In the coming weeks The Ely Centre are hoping to meeting with the newly appointed Veterans Commissioner to discuss this and our ongoing veterans projects and we will be advertising for a Veterans Support Officer to lead the development and delivery of this exciting project to improve the lives of Veterans.
Who are The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust ?
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust supports the Armed Forces Covenant by delivering funding programmes that create real change for Armed Forces communities in the UK.
The Trust is a charity and a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Defence.
It has four broad funding themes which determine the programmes it runs:
– Non-core healthcare services for veterans.
– Removing barriers to family life.
– Extra support, both in and after service, for those that need help.
– Measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the Armed Forces community to participate as citizens.
For more information on the Trust, including how it awards grants, current open grant programmes, information about its governance, and more, please visit: https://covenantfund.org.uk/