Bath-based charity Save Our Soldier has been awarded the Bronze Award by the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).
Each year the ERS recognises employers that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the values of the Armed forces Covenant.
Established in 2013, Save Our Soldiers provides help and intervention to combatants dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Injury.
The Charity is one of 25 organizations in the South West, and only one of two from the Human Health and Social Work Activities industry to receive this award.
CEO and Founder of the Organization, Lee Hayward, said: “It’s a real honour to have national recognition for our commitment. A great deal of hard work has gone into supporting the lives of those suffering the effects of Post Traumatic Stress.”
PTSI among veterans is a growing problem in the UK. Statistics from the Ministry of Defence indicated that 396 combatants (of those who come forward) were diagnosed with PTSD in 2013, reflecting a 19 per cent increase from the previous year.
Hayward was motivated to launch Save Our Soldiers after hearing the frequent reports of suicides among that were occurring among combatants.
He said: “It was unacceptable to do nothing when something could be done.”
At first clients would visit the NHS office but many were unable to travel the distance so Hayward would travel to them.
Now, nearly four years later, the organisation has expanded its reach with 14 additional coaches that serve England Wales and Scotland- from Inverness to Plymouth.
Several families have benefitted from the services offered by the charity, which operates solely on donations from sponsors and donations from the public.
