An Army veteran and his wife from Gelligaer have been chosen to star in a photoshoot for Help for Heroes, modelling a range of clothes designed to raise funds for the military charity.

The opportunity has come as the organisation announced a major restructure in order to protect its life-changing recovery services from the devastating financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Help for Heroes says that in recent months the military charity, which relies on public donations for 97% of income, has suffered hugely from a loss of income with all planned face-to-face fundraising events and activities since April either cancelled or postponed. The charity, which provides recovery support to the wounded, injured and sick Armed Forces community, anticipates a 30% reduction in regular income over the coming years with the ongoing economic recession, with an increase in the number of veterans seeking its support.

The financial hit, coupled with a significant surge in demand for its recovery services during the height of the pandemic, meant the charity felt it had no choice but to review its service delivery and put 142 staff roles at risk, with up to 90 redundancies planned subject to consultation.

The charity is keen to point out that no recovery services are being cut, but more are being adapted towards more community and online-based support, with a view to reopening the Treforest-based Community Recovery Office in due course.

Jon and Debbie Congreve spoke candidly about why they are proud to have been asked to help raise awareness and funds for Help for Heroes.

The couple have shared the highs and lows of Jon’s military career, which spanned 22 years. Having lived on base in Germany and Cyprus, with considerable active service, Jon, 58, left the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers as a Staff Sergeant, and Debbie had worked in a number of civilian roles supporting the military as they travelled the world, making friends and memories. “It’s not an easy life, being in the military, but we’ve had priceless experiences and we loved it.” says Debbie.

Jon’s service affected his physical and mental health, however. He has cervical disc disease, osteoarthritis, and bilateral tendinitis which affects his hips and back, as well as being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Jon reached out for support from Help for Heroes last year and was selected to take part in the Invictus Games, scheduled for 2021. Being part of a team again was nerve-wracking, but gave Jon renewed purpose.

He says, “Most military people are proud and don’t like asking for help. It was quite scary to be honest, and I questioned myself – have I failed myself, have I failed my wife, but I’ve realised, that’s just life. Sometimes you need a helping hand, sometimes you don’t, and there’s no disgrace in taking a helping hand from anybody.”

Having already supported the charity last year, taking part in events to highlight the 40,000 Strong awareness campaign in Caerphilly, Jon and Debbie, 55, were proud to take part in a socially distanced photoshoot in their garden on a sunny day in August. The clothes they’re seen modelling feature in a catalogue which is being sent to homes across the UK through September and are available online from Help for Heroes Trading Ltd which is wholly owned by the charity and gifts all its profits to Help for Heroes.

Having been supported by the charity, Debbie volunteers her time to Help for Heroes, and has supported Community Recovery hubs. Currently on hold due to the Covid pandemic, Debbie’s looking forward to when they can start back again, so she can give back, once more: “It’s my way of saying thank you for helping us when we didn’t know which way to turn. For Jon, he was out several years before he realised there was something he needed help with, and without Help for Heroes, I literally dread to think where we would be.”

Debbie knows that taking the first step to get support can be challenging for anyone, but is aware that those with an Armed Forces background may struggle more than most to accept that they need help. She says, “Asking for help is the hardest thing you can do. People see it as some form of weakness, especially coming from the military, but you don’t know until you try.” Her advice to anyone who thinks they may be struggling is to, “just have that one little step, that little bit of courage to find out about the support that’s on offer. There’s a whole world out there and everything will open up. You don’t need to sit alone and worry and stress, because the help is there. Everyone needs someone and there’s no-one better than Help for Heroes.”

For Jon, being able to work with a dedicated point of contact at the charity has been invaluable, “My Case Manager gave me links, to help myself to help us. So, we could help ourselves – house improvements, support for myself and for Deborah.  It’s been a bit of an eye-opener that there are people there to help you, guide you and give you encouragement and the self-confidence so you can support yourself. It’s been a tremendous help,” he says.

Being able to chat things through with someone who understand the needs of ex-forces personnel has made a huge difference to Jon, who adds, “Sometimes it’s just someone to talk to, bounce ideas off, know you’re going in the right direction. It’s so encouraging.  Hopefully after the Invictus Games I can go back into sport, as a coach, mentor, even if I just encourage somebody to go out for a walk, job done! That’s my aim in the end, to contribute back and encourage other people.”

At a time when many charities are facing financial struggles, Jon and Debbie were proud to be able to represent their community and are encouraging others to wear their clothing with pride to demonstrate that the public appreciates the role the armed force continues to play in protecting the nation. “The public should continue to support Help for Heroes because there is still a need for the support, the guidance and help is still needed, by buying these items you are supporting those who’ve served our country now and in the future,” Jon says.

Melanie Waters, CEO of Help for Heroes, said the decision to restructure was extremely tough but the charity had a responsibility to ensure that the lifelong support promised to the men and women who suffered life-changing injuries or illnesses as a result of their service could continue against the backdrop of the pandemic.

She said: “In 2007, we made a promise on behalf of the nation to provide lifetime support to wounded veterans, and their families, and we are striving to keep that promise.

“The crisis has had a devastating impact on the whole UK charity sector, with lasting consequences, and it has hit us hard. These tough decisions have been made to protect the future of the charity and have been taken with our beneficiaries in mind.

“We remain absolutely committed to our wounded and their families and will continue fighting for, and changing the lives of, those we support for as long as they need it.”

Help for Heroes was quick to adapt its support in March, despite having to furlough nearly 40% of its staff for up to seven months, and has continued to deliver virtual and remote support through its fellowship, welfare, clinical, grants and psychological wellbeing services ever since.

With significant uncertainty around the economy and ever changing COVID restrictions, the charity will continue to focus on face to face community and digital services and will not be operating out of three of its Recovery Centres for the foreseeable future. Help for Heroes will be returning to face to face delivery of centre-based services in a COVID secure environment from our Tedworth House recovery centre in Wiltshire.

The charity is working closely with MoD to ensure that all centres continue to provide core recovery activities for wounded, injured or sick Service Personnel during lockdown and beyond.

Demand for support rose significantly during lockdown with a 33% increase in new people coming forward for support with their mental health in May and June 2020 compared to the same period last year, as well as nearly 30% more new referrals into the Charity’s physical health focused service.

Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer, Lisa Rawlings is a Royal Air Force veteran herself and says Jon and Debbie are fantastic ambassadors for the area. “Caerphilly County Brough Council honoured Jon at an all-Council meeting earlier in the year because of his wonderful role representing the community internationally at the Invictus Games. It’s great to see Jon and Debbie highlighting the work of a fantastic charity who we know play a huge role in supported wounded and ill members of the armed forces family across the country.”

To donate and give much needed support click 

To purchase Help for Heroes items go to: Help for Heroes Trading

To find out about accessing support from Help for Heroes click  or email wales.supporthub@helpforheores.org.uk