Peter: “Change Step has been instrumental in changing my life”

by Change Step | May 5, 2023

Peter: “Change Step has been instrumental in changing my life”

CHANGE STEP helped Peter to turn his life around by providing specialist veteran-to-veteran peer mentor support.

Before turning to Change Step, Peter from Merthyr Tydfil was in an extremely dark place and had nowhere to turn. Now he feels “on top of the world”, and believes that “there is hope!”

“Change Step has been instrumental in changing my life, at a time I was faced with the very real prospect of being evicted from my flat,” he said.

“They provided me with the support I needed, and worked alongside other agencies to deliver expertise and skills to assist me.

“This support included helping me with my referral to TEDS, the Veterans Charity for food parcels, Merthyr Valley’s Home Tenancy Support and the Royal British Legion to help with debt management.

“I am no longer in arrears with the rent, I am in receipt of my benefits and I am receiving counselling to help with my recovery.

“Change Step is a fantastic organisation with professional and dedicated mentors who provide support and are willing to go the extra mile. Damon has been an awesome mentor.”

After a hard 12 months, Peter is now in a positive place — and his plans for the future include watching the Bluebirds at Cardiff City Stadium.

Change Step have helped more than 1,500 veterans and their families in Wales by providing dedicated services for those in crisis, older veterans, and those with mental health and substance misuse needs.

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On parade at Armed Forces Day

by Change Step | May 5, 2023

On parade at Armed Forces Day

VOLUNTEERS FROM Change Step helped to deliver a fantastic Armed Forces Day in Llandudno.

More than 100,000 people are thought to have descended on the sun-drenched resort for the national celebration — amongst them HRH The Princess Royal, Prime Minister Theresa May and First Minister Carwyn Jones.

Change Step supported the event by staffing registration desks for parading veterans, offering support and a quiet space for those who needed some rest following the parade, and distributing free copies of our support guide for older veterans in Wales.

Staff from CAIS Social Enterprises made 1,000 sandwiches to feed parading veterans visiting from throughout the UK, and offered high quality food and drink to many members of the public at Troop Cafe. And we helped a number of people supported by Change Step to take part in both the day itself and attend the event’s official flag-raising ceremony, including a number of beneficiaries of our Aged Veterans project.

Signifcant exposure

Staff and members of the Change Step’s advisory board were also able to mix with a number of key decision-makers from the veterans support sector during the week’s events.

Change Step would like to thank all volunteers — both from within CAIS and from our partners — who supported our efforts at Armed Forces Day, and during the preceding week. This national event generated significant exposure for our work with a number of important stakeholders, for many of our partners, and for the region.

Change Step was pleased to be involved in the planning stages for several months, alongside officials from the MOD and hosts Conwy County Borough Council. We were supported in our work by our friends from Blind Veterans UK and other veterans groups.

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Veterans take up fundraising abseil challenge

by Change Step | May 5, 2023

Daring veterans get set to go over the edge for Change Step

A DARING DUO OF MILITARY VETERANS – with a combined age of 161 – are getting set to abseil Llandudno’s Great Orme for specialist support project Change Step.

Fearless Keith Jones, 82, and Lawrence Clayton, 79, will lower themselves over the edge to raise funds for the peer mentoring service for former members of the UK Armed Forces later this month.

Both have benefitted from Change Step’s Aged Veterans project, which offers dedicated help for ex-service personnel aged 65 or over and their families across Conwy and Denbighshire.

‘Like a new recruit’

Former Commando Keith, from Llandudno, said he loved attending the programme of regular events and weekly meetings at the resort’s Troop Café.

Since joining the project the widower has been able to attend a Royal Marines reunion in Lympstone – and said hearing the band play on his former parade ground made him feel like he was a 17-year-old new recruit once more.

“I used to love abseiling and all the physical activities when I was in the Marines, so when I was told about this abseil, ‘I said I’ll do it!’

“I’ve been on pins over whether the doctor would sign a note for me – but I’ve been passed fit, and he’s told me if I go back with my form then he’ll sponsor me! Once a Marine, always a Marine – we never give in.”

Keith Jones

Lawrence, from Llanrhaeadr, completed two years of national service with the 34 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery – including spells in Malaya and Hong Kong.

“I’ve always wanted to do something like this – and I’ll have a go at anything.

“I never knew anything like Change Step existed, but it’s good to be able to talk to people who have had similar experiences.”

Lawrence Clayton

Supported by the Royal British Legion’s Aged Veterans Fund and delivered in partnership with Age Connects North Wales Central and mental health charity Hafal, Change Step Aged Veterans supports older military veterans through events and activities, one-to-one support, telephone and community befriending, digital inclusion training and much more.

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Change Step is working with qualified instructors at Great Orme Vertical and staff at the Rest and Be Thankful café to deliver the fundraising event, which is suitable for both experienced abseilers and complete beginners, on Sunday October 28.

Vital and effective

Keen supporters with a head for heights have until Thursday October 25 to register for the event. Participants are asked to pay a £20 registration fee and raise a minimum of £50.

All the money raised will be used to support the vital and effective peer mentoring service delivered by Change Step.

Since being launched in 2014, Change Step has supported more than 1,700 veterans and their families. In total, veterans supported by the project have given more than 10,000 years services to the UK Armed Forces.

To register to take part in the abseil, please click here, call Sam on 01492 523 821 or email samantha.jones@cais.org.uk.

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To donate £2 to our charitable work, text STEP46 £2 to 70070 – or to donate £10, text STEP46 £10!

Great Orme abseilers raise funds to support Change Step

by Change Step | May 5, 2023

Fundraising abseil ropes in support for Change Step

DAREDEVIL ABSEILERS who dangled from a rope on Llandudno’s Great Orme have raised more than £1,600 for veterans mentoring project Change Step.

More than a dozen intrepid adventurers – including 82-year-old Keith Jones and 79-year-old Lawrence Clayton – each took on the descent of a 65-foot rockface above the waves of the Irish Sea.

Brave participants harnessed up under the guidance of event partners at Great Orme Vertical and said they were thrilled to take on the challenge.

It’s thought the total raised could climb towards £3,000, with pledges still being collected from donors.

‘Just smashing’

Former Royal Marines Commando Keith, from Llandudno, has benefitted from Change Step’s Aged Veterans project, which offers dedicated support for ex-service personnel aged 65 or over and their families across Conwy and Denbighshire.

He said he found he hadn’t forgotten his training when he stepped over the edge.

It was just smashing, great – it just came back to me naturally again. The only thing that was different was the equipment.

Back when I was in the Marines, it was just a piece of rope you had – so it was a lot safer with the all the modern equipment they have these days!

Keith Jones

Change Step worked with qualified instructors at Great Orme Vertical and staff at the Rest and Be Thankful café to deliver the fundraising event, which was suitable for both experienced abseilers and complete beginners.

Gusto

Project director Geraint Jones said he was delighted by the gusto with which everyone took on the challenge.

I’d like to thank everyone who helped to make this wonderful event possible, our brave abseilers, and everyone who made a donation in support of them. There was a really great atmosphere on the day, and I couldn’t have been more impressed with the camaraderie and great spirit of all our participants.

We are yet to calculate a final total, but have already reached an impressive £1,600 — and counting. All the money raised will go to support the vital and effective peer mentoring service delivered by Change Step throughout Wales.

Geraint Jones - Director

Since its launch in 2014, Change Step has supported more than 1,700 veterans and their families. In total, veterans supported by the project have given more than 10,000 years’ service to the UK Armed Forces.

Backed by the Royal British Legion’s Aged Veterans Fund and delivered in partnership with Age Connects North Wales Central and mental health charity Hafal, Change Step Aged Veterans supports older military veterans through events and activities, one-to-one support, telephone and community befriending, digital inclusion training and much more.

Donations can will be accepted until November 12 and can be made by clicking here.

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BT fundraisers smash targets and boost wellbeing

by Change Step | May 5, 2023

BT fundraisers smash targets and boost wellbeing

Staff from BT raised almost £700 to support vital veteran-to-veteran mentoring in Wales during April.

Fundraisers from at Stadium House in Cardiff smashed their initial £500 target with a programme of staff wellbeing and sponsored events – including a team walk around Cardiff Bay, a hot dog sale and a Sunday Lunch raffle.

Team member Lawrence Phillips capped off the month’s events with a 19km run around the streets of the capital.

Organiser Sian Haynes-Fortune said the group had had an amazing month – and loved every minute of their fundraising campaign.

It was wonderful to work with the team at Change Step. Some of the stories they shared really resonated with our colleagues.

We are so inspired by the work done with Armed Forces veterans across Wales by these peer mentors.

Sian Haynes - Fortune BT

BT’s final total of £670 will be further boosted by Gift Aid reclaimed from HM Revenue and Customs.

Backing

Change Step has offered one-to-one mentoring support to more than 1,900 veterans and their families throughout Wales since we launched in 2014.

Change Step director Geraint Jones said he was pleased that to have had the backing of so many staff working in the heart of the capital. All members of the fundraising team were presented with certificates to celebrate their achievements.

It’s great to hear that undertaking this month of fundraising on behalf of Change Step has helped members of the team at BT in Cardiff enhance their health and wellbeing at work – and reach and exceed their own personal goals.

Their support is a tremendous boost to us and to the effective veteran-to-veteran mentoring we deliver throughout Wales. We would like to pass on our thanks to the team, and to everyone who supported us during April.

Geraint Jones - Director

Social benefits

Veterans supported by us have delivered more than 10,000 years of service to the UK Armed Forces – some 80% of our participants say Change Step has helped them improve their mental health, 79% say Change Step has helped them to reduce isolation by enhancing social engagement and 74% say working with Change Step helped them improve their relationships.

Every pound spent on Change Step results in £7 in social benefits – including better wellbeing, reduced loneliness and more settled home life for veterans, and savings to health services.