News

Programme Report – Veterans At Ease Mental Wellbeing Project

Wed 22nd January 2025

The Foundation is delighted to publish its programme report for the first block of its Veterans At Ease programme.

A 3-year grant for £50,788 was awarded from The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust under the Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme, for this new initiative which launched in August 2024.

With Veterans At Ease finishing in late November, we sought feedback from the attendees and have now summarised this in a programme report which you can download and read by clicking HERE.

Feedback and outcomes were overwhelmingly positive. All 14 participants reporting that Veterans At Ease had helped them improve their mental wellbeing with 12 now being mental health first aid qualified.

Programme participant Steven also credited the programme. He said:

“I was a bit apprehensive before I started coming because I had been in group sessions before and I’ve ended up walking out because I couldn’t really deal with it. With the other groups I felt that it was all about them and it was too much for me but here everyone was quite settled.

“Being able to talk about the topics that were coming up in the weeks ahead was good and having that contact through the week from Jane just to check up on you was a real help.”

The first 14-week course ran on Thursday afternoons. Participants were supported with travel costs to and from the Ibrox Community Complex. The programme aims to support veterans with their mental wellbeing, whether they be from the Army, Royal Navy or RAF. Participants have the chance to expand their social circle, build confidence and resilience and enhance their support network.

Sessions are delivered by the Foundation’s in-house Trauma Counsellor, Jane McLean, alongside one of our experienced community coaches.

Veterans also have the chance to increase self-esteem by developing coping mechanisms throughout the sessions. There is a focus on team building and forming camaraderie among the group whilst building trust between all parties.

The course is designed in a way that gives the group ownership over the topics they discuss in order that it can be tailored towards individual needs, empowering them to share challenges and experiences in a safe environment. All participants had the opportunity to progress through first aid and mental health first aid qualifications as well as engaging in weekly physical activity sessions in this first course.

To register your interest in the next course please email: rangerscharity@rangers.co.uk

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