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Norwich charity links with NHS to help veterans  

The Matthew Project has formed a new partnership with the NHS to support armed forces veterans who are experiencing mental health problems.

The Veterans Integrated Service launched on July 26 and is a partnership between Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), Walking with the Wounded and Outside the Wire.

The Matthew Project launched Outside the Wire in 2013 to provide specialist one-to-one support to veterans, current serving personnel, and family members affected by substance misuse and PTSD across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.

The new service will provide mental health support, specific stabilisation programmes, substance misuse support and welfare services across Norfolk and Suffolk for armed forces veterans.

Andy Sexton, CEO of The Matthew Project said: “This partnership brings together the best possible support for veterans with PTSD and substance misuse issues.

“Specialist mental health provision, specialist substance misuse support, along with social support will enable a holistic response to the very real needs of ex-serving personnel. Aside from the expertise, the other key ingredient is that this support will be provided by veterans for veterans.

“We are really excited to be part of this forward-thinking partnership and grateful to Clive Lewis MP and Lord Dannatt for their support to enable it to happen.”

General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL, President of Veterans Norfolk, said: "NSFT is to be congratulated for having responded so promptly to concerns raised about the level of support for Veterans in Norfolk and Suffolk. Within less than a year they have worked collaboratively with the MOD, NHS and Third Sector to develop the new Veterans Integrated Service.”

NSFT provides mental health and learning disability care for people across Norfolk and Suffolk.Walking With The Wounded is a military charity for ex-military in the UK, and supports a pathway for disadvantaged veterans to re-integrate back into society and sustain their independence. 
 
Pictured above is Dave Fincham, who has made a journey to recovery with the help of Outside the Wire. Image: The Matthew Project
 
 

Eldred Willey, 30/07/2021

Eldred Willey
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