An army of support
Sunderland’s Veterans in Crisis offers a warm welcome – and festive treats – to people who’ve given so much… thanks to funding raised through The Health Lottery
No one knows better than Ger Fowler how important the work of Veterans in Crisis (VICs) – the organisation he founded in 2018 with his own money and a £10 pay-as-you-go mobile phone – is for the people it supports.
Ger joined the Army at 16 and was diagnosed with PTSD after being caught up in a terrorist attack in Northern Ireland. But after leaving the forces, he realised how much he missed the camaraderie, which led him to found VICs – a support network for veterans in Sunderland.
VICs is now a hub that offers comradeship along with active pursuits like surfing and rock climbing, as well as talking therapy and benefits advice.
And with the help of funds from People’s Health Trust, with money raised through The Health Lottery, Ger employs a trainer, Sam, to lead daily military-style workouts, which do wonders for the veterans’ mental health. “Sam’s invaluable to us,” says Ger.
“This money has helped so much, because when I started out I had no office and now we’re in a four-storey building.
BENEFITS
“I started this because I could see so many veterans not getting any help. One of the first people I supported was a retired man who’d been put in a hostel; he thought he’d be there until he died. Within a week, I’d got him into sheltered accommodation and made sure he was getting the right benefits.”
Everyone who volunteers or works at VICs is a veteran, so when a new person walks through the door they get support from someone who knows what they’re going through.
And with Christmas coming up, there’s plenty more support in store. “On Christmas morning we deliver 100 three-course meals with presents to veterans and their families in our removal van,” says Ger. “Each one is delivered with a chat on the doorstep.”