Serving in the Royal Marines is one of the toughest jobs in the Armed Forces and theatres of conflict such as Iraq and Afghanistan continue take their toll on many of those still serving.
As a senior NCO with almost 25 years’ service already under his belt, Peter is just one.
He has complex mental health needs but is successfully battling through with the support of experienced military medical teams.
His health issues have had a devastating impact on his family life and the constant change in his personal situation has proved an added burden. He has had to cope with the added emotional turmoil of going from being a full-time father and husband, to being divorced and not gaining custody of his daughters for several years, to – at great financial cost – finally being granted very treasured shared parental care of his two young girls.
He was well down the road in his pathway to recovery but, as a single father, at a loss to know just how to rekindle the close relationship he had previously enjoyed with his daughters and at the same time not jeopardise his re-found resilience.
He needed extra help and was put in touch with RMA – The Royal Marines Charity who assessed what could be done to best help him long-term.
Peter was well able to cope with the rough and tumble of family life in an outdoor environment and he was keen to share adventures with his two girls. It was therefore agreed that a grant towards some basic camping equipment would fit the bill – with limited financial resources, it would enable him to take his children on holiday, not only for their happiness together but also for his own mental health and wellbeing.
Thanks to the help from you guys, the children have had an amazing first camping experience”
Peter said: “Thanks to the help from you guys, the children have had an amazing first camping experience. The camping equipment the grant helped us buy will go a long a long way to bridging the gap to our little family for more future adventures to come.
We spent four nights in the tent on a really lovely safe, friendly camp site where the girls explored and made new friends, their confidence grew and grew as they explored and found their way around and they developed their own independence. By day three they no longer wanted me ruining their street cred!
It all went far too quickly but we are already looking forward to the next opportunity to get away again. It was a resounding success for us.
