Gosport Armed Forces veterans supported by FirstLight Trust to enjoy weekly activities and avoid social isolation

CYCLING and gardening are helping veterans to open up and avoid feeling isolated as a Gosport charity gets back to weekly activities.
Belinda Dickins
By Belinda Dickins
Published 16th Sep 2020, 15:55 BST
Gosport charity FirstLight Trust has set up and adapted services to support local veterans as lockdown has eased. Pictured: Paul McCann, Paul Goodenough and Tim PughGosport charity FirstLight Trust has set up and adapted services to support local veterans as lockdown has eased. Pictured: Paul McCann, Paul Goodenough and Tim Pugh
Gosport charity FirstLight Trust has set up and adapted services to support local veterans as lockdown has eased. Pictured: Paul McCann, Paul Goodenough and Tim Pugh

Armed Forces and emergency services veterans are being supported by FirstLight Trust to improve their mental health and join in with activities in a safe place where they can have a laugh with like-minded people.

Since restrictions have eased, the charity has run allotment activities, group cycling sessions and virtual cooking classes to help service users strike up friendships and get through difficult times.

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Paul McCann was diagnosed with PTSD after leaving the Armed Forces and finds that the allotment is a great space to relax and to share experiences and advice.

Gosport charity FirstLight Trust has set up and adapted services to support local veterans as lockdown has eased. Pictured: John Wilcocks and Paul McCannGosport charity FirstLight Trust has set up and adapted services to support local veterans as lockdown has eased. Pictured: John Wilcocks and Paul McCann
Gosport charity FirstLight Trust has set up and adapted services to support local veterans as lockdown has eased. Pictured: John Wilcocks and Paul McCann
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The 47-year-old said: ‘I really enjoy being part of a team and having the allotment as a safe place for myself and fellow veterans. I really enjoy growing my own produce and the open space as I was raised in the city.

‘I generally count these activities as my happy place, where I can be myself and have people around me who actually understand.’

John Wilcocks has been supported since he lost his daughter Gayner in May and has been a key member of the weekly cycle sessions which travel around the Gosport area.

Gosport charity FirstLight Trust has set up and adapted services to support local veterans as lockdown has eased. Pictured: l-r Paul Goodenough, Martin Arnold, Riah Bunce, Paul McCann and John WilcocksGosport charity FirstLight Trust has set up and adapted services to support local veterans as lockdown has eased. Pictured: l-r Paul Goodenough, Martin Arnold, Riah Bunce, Paul McCann and John Wilcocks
Gosport charity FirstLight Trust has set up and adapted services to support local veterans as lockdown has eased. Pictured: l-r Paul Goodenough, Martin Arnold, Riah Bunce, Paul McCann and John Wilcocks
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John, 69, said: ‘The cycle sessions are great. Cycling keeps me fit in these difficult times with my fitness and outgoing attitude, it gives me a great feeling of wellbeing and great comradery.

‘The staff at FirstLight Trust are great that I can go to with strict confidence with any issue or problems that I have.’

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Riah Bunce, activity coordinator, has worked for the charity for more than three years and loves seeing the effect meaningful activities have on the veterans.

She said: ‘I realised how important it is for people to integrate to fight isolation and loneliness. Getting out and about and being physically active has a great impact on their mental health.’

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Charity chief executive Dorinda Wolfe Murray was pleased to see the weekly activities start back up.

She said: ‘We know connection and the activities we do are absolutely vital. It’s a chance for people to see others, we’re by nature social beings.

‘To put something in place which enables someone to start to turn their life around is the single most rewarding thing.’

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