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When Help for Heroes brings its fourth National Community Sports Series event to Nottingham next month, a local RAF veteran will be reflecting on how far he has come since an injury ended the career he'd dreamed of.
The national Community Sports Series event will see around 70 veterans and their families, from all over the UK, come together at the David Ross Sports Village, University of Nottingham, 1-2 August, to take part in a number of taster sessions for adaptive sports, including Wheelchair Rugby, Wheelchair Basketball, Sitting Volleyball, archery and rowing.
Ben Wilson, from Gedling and age 50, struggled for some time to be comfortable with the term veteran. Thanks to the support he's received from the Charity, he's come to terms with his service-related injury and a diagnosis two years ago of a brain tumour, and has been able to develop his love of sport, which has opened new doors for him.
Ben said, "I've lost count of the number of Sports Series events I've taken part in. I've been lucky enough to get to the last 80 people for selection to next year’s Invictus Games in Birmingham, teach archery at the University of Nottingham, be a member of the GB para pentathlon team, gain my archery coaching qualification with ArcheryGB, and play for the Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair Rugby League team.
"All this has come from taking that first step, getting out of my comfort zone, and going along to one of the Sports Series events."
Ben was diagnosed with an eyesight problem when he was young and just starting his RAF training, which ended his hopes of becoming a pilot. However, at the age of 37, he returned to the Initial Officer Training Course, to train as an aerospace battle manager. In 2013, three weeks into the course, he suffered a freak accident during training, which led to three pro-lapsed discs in his spine. He tried to carry on as normal, not realising the seriousness of the injury, but suffered permanent nerve damage. He fought for nearly three years to stay in the RAF through rehab and retraining.
I didn't feel I could call myself a veteran – but in reality there are thousands of people like me."
RAF Veteran
Ben said, "I felt that I'd let everyone down, because I hadn't been able to serve. I'd given up so much in my professional and personal life to re-join the RAF and had nothing to show for it. My mental health was in a really bad state.
"I didn't feel I could call myself a veteran – but in reality there are thousands of people like me, who suffer severe injuries in the early stages of their careers. People who have given 100 per cent because they want to serve their country, but get injured through no fault of their own."
Through the Charity, Ben has had access to a case worker, support from the mental health and community teams, as well attending the Community Sports Series events.
Ben added, "Taking part in the Sports Series and discovering a love for archery, both types of Wheelchair Rugby and basketball, sport and teamwork, has helped to keep me motivated, while I've been dealing with emotional and physical issues after leaving service. I certainly don't think of myself as a hero, but being able to access support through the Charity, when I've been at my darkest points, has kept me alive. I'm keen to let others out there, who may have only been able to serve for a short period of time, know that there is support available for them."
The Community Sports Series programme gives veterans and their families the chance to try a range of different sports in a safe and welcoming environment. Veterans can feel isolated after leaving service; however, 98 per cent of people who have attended Sports Series events report feeling more confident about making new connections with new people. 77 per cent of attendees reported feeling motivated to join a local sports club or group, after being introduced through a taster session.
Ben said, "Whatever level you are at, sport can have a really positive impact. It can help you to find a community and experience what it's like to be in a team environment again."