New project launched to help veterans adjust to civilian life

Inside Right is a new pilot programme, delivered by five professional football clubs, that harnesses the power of our national game to assist our young service men and women as they return to everyday life in the UK. The Mental Health Foundation is a key stakeholder in this initiative in partnership with Combat Stress, The Royal British Legion and a number of other charities.

The project uses football as a tool to help veterans adjust to civilian life after returning from active service. The veterans are predominantly aged between 20-50 years and will most likely have served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Bosnia or Kosovo.

Recent research discovered that young ex-servicemen are three times more likely to kill themselves than their civilian counterparts. The suicide risk was highest among young men leaving the armed forces within the first two years of discharge. The MoD-funded study also found that veterans had a low rate of contact with mental health professionals in the year before death, 14% for those aged under 20 and 20% for those under 24 years.

Inside Right’s six main objectives are:

• To increase the physical activity and social opportunities for younger veterans who are either vulnerable, isolated, suffering from mental health issues, long term unemployed and on low income.
• To offer veterans the ability to access mental health support within an informal setting.
• To reduce the isolation affecting a number of veterans through a programme of social activity focused around the football club, including attendance at matches, social events, meeting players etc.
• To provide clear baseline information around the mental health of veterans and to show through clear evaluation the impact that physical activity can have on mental health issues.
• To offer veterans access to coaching qualifications and different volunteering opportunities.
• To raise awareness of the array of veterans support services available and help access these services

The unique selling point of Inside Right is the hook of football to young men and women. The opportunity to work with professional clubs and as part of a team often proves to be a draw to those individuals who might not engage with other services but in particular mental health services.

At the launch in March this year, John Terry said: “I am really pleased that football is playing its part in helping our servicemen and women return to civilian life. They have risked their lives serving our country and we are rightly proud of them. I am fully behind the Inside Right programme and it is perhaps football’s way of recognising all of our military personnel for the sacrifices that they make on our behalf.”

Support the Mental Health Foundation with a donation from your pay.