Edition 48

RMA – The Royal Marines Charity is proud to be a part of the UK’s national Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) (15th – 22nd May 2023) that has ‘Anxiety’ as its theme. Now in its 23rd year, MHAW is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation.

Many might be surprised to know that the Royal Marines now have more personnel deployed overseas than at the height of the Afghanistan campaign. Dangerous missions can have a devastating impact on mental health and well-being, the long periods of absence often take a similar toll on loved ones back home.

In this edition, as well as the ‘usual’ news, we highlight the mental health support, resources available to the Corps Family, and reiterate the importance of reaching out for support. 

The key message from our Lifting The Lid campaign is to not let ‘Pride’ prevent asking for help. Remember, it takes a stronger person to know when they require support and to ask for it when needed. Do not suffer in silence, ‘lift the lid’… speak to someone and utilise the support available.

“The RMA has been fantastic to me, making me feel there is a future and being part of a family. The impact on my day-to -day living and mental health has been immense, it has made me look forward rather than looking in a deep hole. ”

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How can I be a better listener?

It can feel daunting opening up a conversation with someone you feel is struggling.

Samaritans, use the acronym ‘SHUSH’ to remind us how to be better listeners. Click below for tips on how to offer the best possible support.

Hoofing Hints!

Just as we look after our physical health, it is as important to look after our mental health.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we want to engage with our unique and special community on mental health matters. We wish to encourage healthy behaviours and mental fitness and make it even more acceptable to reach out for support when needed. ➡️ Follow the link below, to download our Hoofing Hints.

🧠 FREE online suicide awareness training from Help For Heroes and Zero Suicide Alliance.

This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to have a potentially life-saving conversation with a family member, friend, colleague or even a stranger in the street. Scenarios, real life stories and resources will help guide you through what to do, should the situation arise.

It’s a strength, not a weakness

Lifting the Lid seeks to encourage asking for help across our Corps Family at times of need. The courage and determination of our spirit and self-discipline and humility of our values should help us be the first to understand when we might need help……this is our Mindset.

One donation, twice the impact

One donation, twice the impact

A reminder that this week, Kind²Mind will match your donation and help make your kindness go twice as far during this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

The campaign has been organised by Big Give, the UK’s biggest online match funding platform. Big Give has raised over £236M for thousands of charities since 2007. All public donations made through the link below via BigGive.org during the campaign week (15th-22nd May) will be matched up to £10,000.

Visit BigGive.org between midday 15th – midday 22nd May to double your Impact and support our work.  Thank you for your generosity.

“I can’t emphasise enough the turnaround in my mental health and general wellbeing since having my sessions. It took a lot to make the call for help as I was still under the impression that what I was dealing with wasn’t worth troubling anyone with. Every point of contact showed genuine concern and empathy which made me feel at ease with pursuing the process. Thank you so much.”

Commando Connect

Transition Support Officer North (and Scotland, Northern Ireland), Paul ‘Baz’ Barrett (standing front left foreground), together with Nick Holloway, Relationship Manager (Scotland) – (middle back), have hosted another popular Commando Connect get together in the Officers’ Mess at 45 Cdo in Arbroath. More than 40 former serving Marines enjoyed catching up with some of old comrades they hadn`t seen for a while.  

A presentation from ‘Andy’s Man Club’ – a UK men’s suicide-prevention charity whose motto is ‘It’s OK to Talk’ and that also supports individuals who are suffering from depression and PTSD – was an especially appreciated addition to the morning’s agenda.

Baz also attended a meeting with BLESMA in Glasgow. There, he met up with other charity representatives including those from Erskine Housing, Defence Medical Welfare Service and the Royal British Legion, reinforcing the commitment and benefits to RMA – The Royal Marines Charity of mutual partnerships and having an established footprint in Scotland.

Photo by Wallace Ferrier

The more, the merrier …

There are numerous studies which indicate that volunteering is great for your mental health, including one published by Cleveland Clinic in London that affirms  “it has been shown to decrease stress levels, depression, anxiety and boost your overall health and satisfaction with life.

When you help other people, it activates the reward centre in your brain and releases serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. That’s why many people often feel better after volunteering.

Some other benefits include meeting new people, getting in some physical activity and developing a deeper sense of purpose and meaning.”

RMA – The Royal Marines Charity is truly privileged to have an exceptional family of dedicated volunteers, supporters and fundraisers who generously give of their time and go the extra mile  to help support of the life-long and life-changing support the Charity offers to the Corps Family.

Each week, we try to applaud and share as many of these amazing achievements as time and space allows however know that we are only ever just scratching the surface of the hundreds of selfless and crucial contributions.

Mud, mud, glorious mud!

A huge thank you to this ‘fab four’  – George Spires, Daniel McMeekin, Greg Ashby and Lachlann MacFayden, who recently completed the gruelling 15km Tough Mudder event in London.

“We chose this event as we felt it was a reflection of the physical challenges that Marines go through every day to complete their arduous training course.”

The group was brought together by the common goal of wanting to join the Corps. George, Dan and Greg have previously been in Royal Marines Young Officer training but for various reasons were unable to complete. They are now focused on re-joining later in 2023 and, in the interim, set themselves this fundraising challenge as part of their personal training regime.

They raised a whopping £1,262.84 (including gift aid). A fantastic effort – and we wish them every success with their career ambitions within the Corps Family.

School steps out

We’ve been thrilled that St Peter’s Prep School in Exeter has chosen to support RMA – The Royal Marines Charity as their Charity of the Year.

They started off their fundraising last weekend with a wonderfully successful sponsored walk around Woodbury Common, the RMs well-used yomping ground near CTC Lympstone!

Over 100 children (and parents and dogs!) took part and raised an incredible £1,960 (with gift aid).  A huge thank you to our volunteers, too, who joined our Fundraising Team to cheer everyone on and serve drinks and snacks on a very blustery day!

This event was the first of a series of challenges that St Peter’s is organising to raise vital funds for our Charity and that will include a Summer Fete, wing walk and taking part in the formidable Commando Training Challenge in July.

Campaign launch

Employment & Education Manager, Zoe Darnbrough (middle left), attended the official launch of TheVeteran.UK, an independent multimedia initiative to promote and affirm the skills and qualities of military veterans in careers.  Zoe is extremely proud to be a member of the Campaign’s Advisory Board.

TheVeteran.UK Online platform, currently under construction, plans to ‘champion a vibrant, forward-looking, interactive community of working-age veterans fully wired into UK society at every level’.

Strength in unity 

At the annual Graspan Parade in London this past weekend, the Corps Family commemorated and celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the RMLI and RMA merging, the 75th Anniversary of the Royal Marines Reserves and the 20th Anniversary of Operation Telic.

Another splendid example of the Corps Family coming together as former serving, serving regular and reservists, cadets, families and supporters stood side by side.

Marines scupper drug-runners  

Employment & Education Manager, Zoe Darnbrough (middle left), attended the official launch of TheVeteran.UK, an independent multimedia initiative to promote and affirm the skills and qualities of military veterans in careers.  Zoe is extremely proud to be a member of the Campaign’s Advisory Board.

TheVeteran.UK Online platform, currently under construction, plans to ‘champion a vibrant, forward-looking, interactive community of working-age veterans fully wired into UK society at every level’.