British Limbless Ex-service Men's Association (BLESMA)
Help Limbless & Injured Veterans Combat Isolation
Limbless veterans are no strangers to isolation, now made worse by COVID19. You can help them combat feelings of loneliness by ensuring they can: receive new mobility aids or equipment; make their homes/gardens accessible; and can take part in adapted fun and engaging hobbies, sports and activities.
It ran from 12:00 PM, 30 November 2021 to 12:00 PM, 7 December 2021
Registered Charity in England and Wales (1084189)
Match funded Campaign target
£23,600
Amount raised
£21,552
Donations
91
Championed by The Medlock Charitable Trust
Location
United Kingdom
Campaign overview
Aims
Where's the money going?
Impact & reporting
Situation
More than 50% of our 3,000 limbless veterans and their widows are 65 or older. Many veterans, both young and old, have struggled to manage their mental and physical health due to the pandemic and delays to NHS services. Additionally, 48 new Blesma Members who joined the Association at the height of the COVID19 crisis are now navigating limb loss for the first time. Today, veterans and their families require additional help to thrive at home and take part in community-based activities.
Solution
Your donation will help limbless veterans and their widows receive at-home, online or community-based support from our Support Officers. This includes: providing essential equipment (wheelchairs, ramps, adapted-sporting equipment) or home/garden improvements to help 60 veterans/widows feel happier at home and get out and about. You will also help up to 400 participants take part in at least 66 activities - from model making and arts and crafts, to adapted sports or outdoor family/group outings.
“I was given a wheelchair after both amputations, I couldn’t even wheel myself to the shops. A couple of weeks after joining the Association Blesma funded an electric one. It feels as though my life just gets better every minute!” “Thanks so much Blesma, you have opened up a new world for me"
— Roger, Blesma funded an electric wheelchair allowing him to go out solo first time in 2 years
Dave is now enjoying the virtual events for Scottish Members, and meeting fellow Members is keeping his spirits up. “I couldn’t handle life before I joined Blesma,” said Dave. “The Association gives me something to look forward to. The way they treat Members is invaluable."
— Dave, an injured veteran who was made homeless earlier this year, on receiving Blesma support.
“Because of PTSD my hands shake when I get nervous. When I am concentrating it gets a lot better, and model making gives me a focus – it calms me down when I’m stressed out" Conrad said. “The shed has been brilliant – it is even kitted out with electricity for my tools! I'm so grateful for it."
— Conrad, limbless veteran, Blesma funded a purpose-built garden shed where he can pursue model-making
"Blesma has been an absolute godsend. Conrad enjoys model making – it helps with his PTSD – but his stuff ended up spreading all over the house. Blesma bought Conrad a shed so he had a space to make models. It has made a huge difference to our life. While he’s doing that, his mind is not elsewhere."
— Donna, Conrad's wife, explains how the shed has made a huge difference to their family life.