Meet the all-new Outreach Officers

Blesma has recently employed an Outreach Officer for each BSO Area (nine in total) as well as a National Outreach Coordinator. The Outreach Officers will be helping their Blesma Support Officers in supporting Members and enhancing the Association’s profile within local communities. Essentially, they will be increasing Blesma’s footprint and outreach on the ground across the UK for the benefit of the membership.

about 

What will they be doing? A wide variety of things, including:

• Supporting Members and connecting them to each other and to the Association by organising and attending local fellowship events for Members and their families, encouraging engagement with community groups and providing access to technology and training to use social media and the internet
• Carrying out visits to Members in their homes, in hospital and in residential care
• Supporting the BSO in delivering practical and emotional support to those who care for Members
• Promoting the Blesma ‘offer’ to potential Members through local engagement and use of networks
• Reinforcing links with the non-military population, building on existing networks and establishing new partnerships, developing further Member support networks both formal and informal
• Representing Blesma at events, enhancing the community profile and supporting fundraising
• Recruiting and supporting volunteers in their area

How will they be involved with the membership?

You can expect your local Outreach Officer to be out on the ground a lot of the time, engaging with Members and local communities alike, representing the Association at meetings and events, and running their own events to get Members out and about, and mixing with each other.

How do I contact the team?

To speak to your local Outreach Officer please contact the Blesma Support Officer in your area.

Meet the team

Adele Miller, Outreach Officer for North East

“I worked for RAFA before Blesma for four years and really enjoyed it, the role changed to more of an office based one and I wanted to get out more and meet the veterans, so hence the job application to Blesma. I also taught fitness classes, body pump and body combat mainly, for some 20 something years but recently gave them up due to injury. I am looking forward to getting out there and meeting the Blesma members and hearing their thoughts and ideas of how my role can help their individual needs and hopefully create chances for them to engage with each other.”

Darren Fuller, Outreach Officer for Eastern

 “I enlisted into the Parachute Regiment in 1994 and served for 20 years. It was during my time in Afghanistan in 2008 that I was injured and lost my lower right arm.  Afterwards I spent a couple of years as a Community Fundraiser for the Royal British Legion, but rather than just raising the money to support veterans I wanted more direct contact with helping others.”

Fiona Morrison, Outreach Officer for Northern Ireland

“In 2012, I qualified as a civilian Army Welfare Worker (AWW) and obtained a Certificate in Social and Occupational Welfare. I was employed within the Army Welfare Service Personal Support Team in Northern Ireland providing confidential welfare support to military personnel and their families and providing advice and guidance to both internal and outside agencies.  The support was wide ranging from work related issues, isolation, relationship difficulties, bereavement and loss, transition from Service, Wounded Injured Sick soldiers and safeguarding. I am very much looking forward to providing overall wellbeing support to Blesma Members and being supported by the BSO North to achieve this.”

Jason Suller, Outreach Officer for West

“I served for 27 years in the Royal Welsh Regiment and five years with the Royal Artillery Reserves on a FTRS Contract. In that time, I served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Before joining Blesma I worked as a Regimental Welfare Officer for a Reserve unit. Whilst serving, numerous members of my regiment lost limbs in Afghanistan and watching what Blesma achieved in making their lives better is something I wanted to be a part of. I am looking forward to putting together events that bring the Members together, help them to push themselves and achieve things they thought were not possible.”

Vanessa Lucas, Outreach Officer for Midlands

“I’ll be covering the whole of the Midlands area supporting Sam by promoting Blesma, engaging with Members and holding events to bring them together and reduce isolation, encourage their independence and promote positive wellbeing. I’m really looking forward to getting out there, putting on events and meeting with my area Members. I know it’s a big job ahead of me, but if I can make just a small different to someone’s life then that would mean the world to me. I loved that the role is new so I can really make it my own and the fact that I get to try and help others on a daily basis is just fantastic.”

Kirsten Morrissey, Outreach Officer for North West

“I didn’t serve myself but I have worked within the military community for the past 5 years. I have thrown myself out of an aircraft at 13k feet strapped to a RAF Falcon and I have been told that I have a military sense of humour! I have grandparents who served in the RAF and Army who I wish I could sit and listen to all day. Prior to this role I worked for a military charity as a Deputy Welfare Manager supporting members of the RAF Family. Previous to that I worked as a Community Development Officer for over 12 years within local communities supporting and engaging with vulnerable residents.  I’m really looking forward to engaging with Members, the Blesma Membership is so varied that no day will be the same. I think of myself as a people person so getting out and meeting people, helping them or reducing their social isolation will give me a real sense of job satisfaction.”

Martin Gwillim, National Outreach Coordinator

“My role is to coordinate the Blesma Outreach Service, ensuring the team are centrally administered with the necessary resources for their roles. My role also includes connecting our Outreach Officers with our existing Volunteer network, and identifying, recruiting and inducting new Volunteers.

Prior to joining Blesma I knew I always wanted to work in the charity sector. I served in The Adjutant General’s Corps (SPS) with my last job being the as the Welfare Officer and Admin Warrant Officer in MOD Main Building at Whitehall.”