30 British Armed Forces veterans with brain and spinal injuries will receive a funded place at a specialist rehabilitation centre in 2022 thanks to Veterans’ Foundation funding.
A £21,700 grant to BASIC (Brain and Spinal Injury Charity) allows the charity to provide veterans in need with the complex rehabilitation needed following neurological damage.
Based at their Salford centre, the ex-service personnel will receive both physical and cognitive rehab through CAREN (Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment), a life-size video game that teaches the basic skills to recover quicker from brain and spinal injuries.
Veterans whose PTSD symptoms prevent them from reintegrating into their community will also be able to access EMDR trauma therapy, providing mental relief from the invisible scars of service.
“All grants and support are important to BASIC, but we’re particularly proud of our work with the nation’s veterans,” said BASIC CEO, David Keane.
“We have seen time and time again the unique struggles that veterans with brain and spinal injuries face, and how hard they are willing to work to get back to a better way of living.
We’re here to support them on that journey and couldn’t do any of it without the help of the Veterans’ Foundation and Veterans’ Lottery players.”
Those affected by brain and spinal injuries may have lost the ability to walk or stand, move their arms or balance, and alongside invisible issues such as memory problems, personality changes and problems with pain, it all contributes to the loss of key relationships, social and work activities - the very things that make life worth living.
However, BASIC’s work provides a wide range of targeted rehabilitation that helps those affected by these conditions live in the best way possible.
One previous client said; “You have all been a revelation to me and my treatment, I’ve not received any help since the Army with my physical and neuro recovery!”
“You are making a huge difference to me and in turn my family, I can’t thank you all enough.”
While there are many success stories, the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly made things a lot harder in recent times - David explained why the Veterans’ Foundation’s funding is so important in helping them to provide BASIC support in 2022:
“It’s been a difficult couple of years for many veterans and charities including BASIC.
The support we are currently receiving helps us stay strong to support veterans taking the next step on their recovery journey,” he explained.
“Many thanks to the Veterans’ Foundation and Veterans’ Lottery players for their help in providing bursaries to help make sure every veteran can access the support and rehabilitation they need.”
This grant is one of 50 awarded by the Veterans’ Foundation in the last round of grants, totalling a huge £1.1 million – the first time the Foundation have given a seven-figure sum in a quarter.
It means that the Veterans’ Foundation have now given over £9.1 million in grants to more than 290 UK-based military charities since inception in 2016.
All of the grants are made possible by generous donors and the players of the Veterans’ Lottery, who not only support our veterans in need, but also are in with a chance to win £35,000 every month.
To play the Veterans’ Lottery and contribute to helping many other brilliant causes just like this, click here.
To find out more about BASIC and their life-changing programmes, please visit https://www.basiccharity.org.uk.
