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Charity Number: 1195443

To help our charity promoting mental health awareness for UK Armed Forces, please visit our donation page.


 

Mental health awareness for UK Armed Forces

Welcome to Head Up. We are a new UK Armed Forces charity set up by veterans, intending to promote mental health awareness for UK Armed Forces, and help Forces personnel build a positive mindset and improve their mental resilience. We are on a mission to raise enough money to develop a holistic and positive 7-day retreat in 2024. This retreat will be there for all those who have served, and are still serving, in any service of the UK military including Reservists, who wish to improve their mindset and outlook.

A mental health charity for the military community

We are a not-for-profit Charitable Incorporated Organisation, which is the highest charity status available. Our aim is to raise funds to establish The Retreat, which will be a safe haven for serving Military personnel and Veterans to enable them to deal with mental health difficulties. The Retreat will be a non-militarised, luxury, eco-friendly location with comfortable accommodation, and many other restorative facilities. This is on top of the work we currently provide; one-to-one help, wellness days, mini retreats and wellness presentations

THE RETREAT

 

 

 

 

About us and Our Mission

Head Ups vision is to stem the increasing number of suicides within the military community by empowering people to turn things around before their issues have the chance to become life-threatening. We'll do this by creating a unique, holistic countryside retreat that removes the existing barriers to getting the right help. Seven-day residential courses will provide personalised mental-health support for serving and retired members of the Army, RAF, Navy, and Royal Marines. We will catch those at risk of falling through the cracks in current provision. By design, the retreat will have a non-militarised atmosphere no triggering Forces paraphernalia, photographs, uniforms, or hierarchies. A calm, natural and luxurious environment will help guests feel welcome and valued and give them space to work on their mindset and learn new skills for challenging negative thought and behaviours. Although guests can be recommended to us by military organisations and charities, the NHS and businesses who employ veterans, they can also self-refer.

This is a real point of difference from most other services. And guests won't have to pay a penny to access Head Ups services. We don't want money worries putting off anyone who would benefit from our services.

Our mission is to raise mental health awareness for UK Armed Forces, and empower members of the military community who are at breaking point to recover their mental health and enjoy a more positive, and happier future.

DOWNLOAD OUR BROCHURE


 

 

 

 Mental Health Support For UK Military Personnel in UK Paul Minter

Paul Minter


Paul is the founder of Head Up and a trustee. He served for 18 years with the Household Cavalry Regiment. This included five frontline tours of Afghanistan and Iraq. He was awarded a Mention in Dispatches (MiD) for bravery 2011. After losing several comrades to suicide, Paul founded Head Up to enable veterans and service personnel to access mental health support.

 

 

 

Mental Health Support For UK Military Personnel in UK George Dagnall

George Dagnall


George is a trustee of Head Up, and served for 10 years in the Rifles Regiment. After two frontline tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, George was medically discharged with a complex hip injury. Alongside his work at Head Up, George works as a crisis and security consultant, and is a Lloyd's Military Network committee member.

Mental Health Support For UK Military Personnel in UK Simon Moloney CGC

Simon Moloney CGC


Simon is a trustee of Head Up, and served for 10 years with the Household Cavalry Regiment. This included two frontline tours of Afghanistan, in one of which he was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for actions taken in Afghanistan in 2013. Alongside his work for Head Up, Simon is an Ambassador for Fighting Minds, supporting veterans into finding work.

 

Mental Health Support For UK Military Personnel in UK Adam Carrier

Adam Carrier


Adam served for 11 years with the Household Cavalry Regiment, encompassing two frontline tours of Afghanistan. In 2018 he left the army to pursue a career in the civilian sector and is now a crisis and security consultant, as well as being a Head Up Trustee, helping to promote mental health awareness for the UK Armed Forces.

photo of Justin Davis

Justin Davis


Justin is a trustee of Head Up, and served 5 years with the Rifles Regiment. 1 Frontline tour of Afghanistan, where he received a battlefield injury resulting in double above-knee amputations. Medically discharged from the army in 2014. He is an adaptive athlete with interests in a variety of sports including,  mountaineering and hand cycling and is now working in furniture design and manufacture.


 

 

 

 

Mental Health Support For UK Military Personnel in UK Head Up Retreat vision graphic

FIND OUT MORE

The challenges

  • Military personnel are generally reluctant to acknowledge anything is wrong for fear of being labelled weak or non-deployable. It takes veterans 13 years on average to ask for professional help, and 84% of those reporting psychological issues never seek treatment.
  • Much of the psychological care currently available, while excellent, is offered in a military setting. For people in acute mental distress, such surroundings can trigger further harm and be incompatible with any meaningful recovery.
  • While veterans get high priority over civilians, NHS mental-health services are struggling to cope with increasing demand across the board. For complex conditions such as PTSD, it can take up to two years to access the right therapy, and this may end up being too little, too late. For many, going private is simply too expensive to be a realistic option.

What The Retreat will offer:

  • A seven-day, hands-on, relaxed and friendly environment
  • No official medical requirements needed: individuals will load themselves on the course and attend free of charge
  • It will be a non-militarised environment. Allowing each guest to fully relax away from any triggers they may experience from the military
  • Basic lifestyle methods taught that each individual can use in their day-to-day lives. No therapy, medications or counselling
  • 18-month aftercare package in place

 

 

Flags

We have Head Up flags up for grabs to anyone that can take a picture in an interesting place. Email us to apply for a flag.

  • Mental Health Awareness for UK Armed Forces | Head Up gallery image 1
  • Mental Health Awareness for UK Armed Forces | Head Up gallery image 2
  • Mental Health Awareness for UK Armed Forces | Head Up gallery image 3
  • Mental Health Awareness for UK Armed Forces | Head Up gallery image 4
  • Mental Health Awareness for UK Armed Forces | Head Up gallery image 5
  • Mental Health Awareness for UK Armed Forces | Head Up gallery image 6
  • Mental Health Awareness for UK Armed Forces | Head Up gallery image 7

APPLY FOR A FLAG

 

Donate with JustGiving.Pay with Mastercard, Visa, American express, PayPal, Apple Pay or Direct Debit.

Charity Number: 1195443

To help our charity promoting mental health awareness for UK Armed Forces, please visit our donation page.


 

Mental Health Support For UK Military Personnel in UK and Hertfordshire

 Mental Health Support For UK Military Personnel in UK and Hertfordshire

 Mental Health Support For UK Military Personnel in UK and Hertfordshire