Snub for Healing The Wounds charity

Healing The Wounds, the Welsh charity dedicated to helping victims of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has received another snub from the Help for Heroes charity.
Help for Heroes has turned down a grant request from the Bridgend-based charity.
“We probably shouldn’t be too surprised,” said the founder and executive director of Healing The Wounds, Kevin Richards (pictured above).
“We have had plenty of discussions with Help for Heroes before about the way funds are allocated to Wales and our hopes were fairly slim when we submitted the grant application.
“There is a major identity problem within Wales over what the two charities do and I have known some people to get us confused with Help for Heroes.
“We are a very different type of charity.
“Help for Heroes operates on a UK-wide level and only pays lip service to Wales. It also works closely with the Ministry of Defence, which means it is often filling in gaps in MoD requirements.
“Help for Heroes, as a charity, also draws the line at only treating and helping people who have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
“It is also an uncomfortable and unpalatable fact that Help for Heroes raises a lot of money in Wales, but doesn’t actually reinvest that money back into Wales.
“For example, one of its latest projects takes one of our ideas for a rehabilitation centre for servicemen and servicewomen and places it in Tedworth House in England!
“It may surprise a few people to learn that when we first launched our charity and our idea for a PTSD centre for Golden Grove Mansion House in The Tywi Valley, Help for Heroes turned us down for £2million in funding.
“Their project in Tedworth House is broadly similar, but costing £17million. The difference is, of course, that people from Wales have to travel for treatment and have to fall in with the fairly narrow limits to qualify for treatment with Help for Heroes.”
Mr Richards said he was keen to stress to the Welsh public that money raised by Healing The Wounds went directly into helping to treat PTSD victims within Wales.
He added: “We don’t discriminate at all. If people are referred to us for PTSD treatment, then we see that they get it here in Wales. We won’t ask them to tick a box that they have served in Iraq or Afghanistan.
“We happily treat veterans from other conflicts, such as The Falklands, or people who suffer from PTSD after service in Northern Ireland. We also cater for people from the civilian services who suffer from PTSD. For example, it could be a fireman from Neath who has witnessed some horrific scenes at a house fire.
“All these people are heroes in our eyes and deserve the very best of care in their own community.
“The Help for Heroes charity has built up a huge charitable fund-raising effort in recent years and we have tried very hard to start a dialogue with them to make sure that the money that is raised in Wales stays in Wales.
“Sadly, they seem to think they are the big boys in the park and that we shouldn’t really get a look-in.
“We sent them an application for grant funding for a new treatment centre for PTSD victims in Wales.
“Their reply was as follows –
‘Primarily, capital projects are determined by the Defence Recovery Steering Group, which is a committee comprising members from the MoD and service charities.
‘Large capital projects are discussed and prioritised as to most urgent need . . . as a money-in, money-out charity, we have no reserves to call upon, so we are constrained by fundraising.
‘We have been working closely with the committee and have a schedule of capital request which we hope to be able to fulfil with additional funds raised by our supporters over the coming 24 months.
‘From the above, you will see that we are, unfortunately, not currently in a position to assist with any grant funding in the near future, but you are welcome to resubmit in say 18 months time. We do wish you well with your appeal.’”
Mr Richards went on: “It was a fairly predictable response, but it doesn’t go any way whatsoever to helping the position regarding PTSD sufferers within Wales. They state that they prioritise to most urgent need. We have treated Welsh soldiers that have attempted suicide, and we think that is classed as urgent need!
“The people of Wales, who are so very generous in supporting military charities, can rest assured that we will continue to battle hard to make sure Welsh servicemen and servicewomen and other people from the civilian services get the treatment they deserve. And in the location they deserve – home in Wales.”
“We are the only charity working to make sure that veterans and members of the civilian services get treatment for PTSD where they need it, close to their homes in Wales.
“The work we do is hugely valuable and important for the brave men and women who serve our country. To see the transformation in PTSD victims after they have attended one of our treatment courses is to appreciate what the term ‘life-changing’ really means."

The charity’s HQ is Office 26, Enterprise Centre, Bryn Road, Tondu, Bridgend, CF32 9BS, telephone 01656 728281.
The Healing The Wounds charity was set up in December 2009 to help provide PTSD treatment for members of the armed forces and veterans. It aims to set up a Welsh base for the treatment of PTSD. It is already arranging treatment courses and building a team of counsellors who can treat PTSD.
Donations can be made –
By post:
To make your donation by post, please send a cheque payable to Healing The Wounds, together with your name address and post code to enable us to claim gift aid, to Healing The Wounds, 26, Enterprise Centre, Bryn Road, Tondu, Bridgend, CF32 9BS..
Give in person at Barclays Bank. Call into any branch of Barclays and pay your donation into this account:
Healing The Wounds Sort code: 20-84-41 Account number: 90516929
The charity’s website is at http://www.healingthewounds.co.uk/
Contact number for charity officers - 01656 728281