Providing support to limbless and injured veterans for life
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or loss of sight in the honourable service of our country.
Our Mission
To assist limbless veterans to lead independent and fulfilling lives
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is an Armed Forces charity dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limbloss or the use of a limb, an eye or sight. We support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK.
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Empowering Veterans Through Art: Blesma's Sculpture and Storytelling Workshop
You don’t always have to speak to tell your story. The latest well-received addition to the Blesma storytelling and wellbeing programme saw Members create sculptures with meaning. The two-day course, which followed an introductory online session with acclaimed sculptor and course leader Simon Watson, kicked off with a discussion about art to encourage the group’s freedom of expression. Participants then immersed themselves in constructing and personalising their plaster artwork. Some Members chose to cast their full face (with help from other Members!) while others decided on a partial face mould or other body part. Guided by Vanessa Liladhar and Frankie Mapes from The Drive Project, which devised and ran the course as part of its expansion to the increasingly popular Blesma Storytelling and Wellbeing Programme, the Members were able to take time to explore and express their feelings through art while being absorbed in the technical tasks of mould-making. The process involved building up a mould with strips of plaster, which was then allowed to dry overnight. Members came back the next day to insert their keepsakes into pieces of clay that were set into the mould before plaster was finally poured in and left to set to create a finished 3-D piece that could then be painted. The course helped me massively. I felt free to show and share my emotions. “It was handled really well, and we just lost ourselves in the modelling,” adds Mick, from Elgin, Scotland, who chose a police whistle, a trinket from his daughter, a tiny silver box containing a sixpence piece and a cherub given to him by his mother and sister as a good luck charm for his tour of duty in Afghanistan, and a Queen chess piece to represent his wife Lorna to inlay into his full-face mould. Art becomes a medium for storytelling as Members craft sculptures reflecting their identities and experiences “I was thinking of doing something about mental health in black and white, but that plays to the internal monologue that can bring you down. I didn’t want it to be a negative piece, so I thought I would do something that would make me smile and have something that is close to my heart, which is why I brought along these objects,” adds Mick. “The result was a full-face mask with indents of the pieces I brought, which make it really special and personal.” Mick got much more from the sessions than he was initially expecting. “The course helped me massively. It was two days of relaxing, being mindful and being among people with similar attitudes and experiences, hearing their stories and having a laugh and a lot of banter. I felt free to show and share my emotions, and Frankie and Vanessa were always there to help and support us. It really surprised me how open we were with each other. “I was a bit concerned about going on the course, but I loved it and we are now keeping in touch online and have developed a little community. I’ve already found it motivates me to do more stuff rather than just sitting watching the TV.” The two-day sculpture course gave the Members who took part the chance to craft a piece of art with a personal meaning The Members enhanced their creative skills, made something they were proud of and boosted their confidence and sense of self EXPANDING THE IDEA OF STORYTELLING “We wanted to expand what we mean by ‘storytelling’ and explore different ways in which people can tell a story,” says project lead Vanessa. “Telling a story through a piece of art opens up the opportunity for Members who might not have wanted to share anything verbally. “It’s true that there was a fair amount of trepidation at first, and you could feel the nerves in the room to start with, but everyone soon relaxed and supported each other, particularly when making the face masks as you needed someone to help create the mould. “Everyone was quite tired by the end of the second day, but the positive feedback we got was immediate because Members had a finished piece of artwork, whereas on other storytelling programmes it can take a while to feel the impact. Members benefitted from the experience by learning or enhancing their creative skills, making something that they were proud of and boosting their sense of confidence and sense of self. It has also brought them together with other Members whom they might not have met.” Operations Director Tony Bloomfield agrees:“It’s wonderful to hear from Members about the positive time they are having through our Storytelling and Wellbeing Programme. The positive difference the experience is making to their lives is a true reflection of the programme’s strength.” The workshop offers a therapeutic space for creativity, reflection, and shared understanding PERSONAL STORIES Liz CooperLiz became a Widow Member after her husband Shaun, who served in the Army Air Corps, passed away last year. She made a sculpture of her hands because of her wedding ring. “Doing a face would have been too claustrophobic for me.” Painted black and gold to look bronze, the sculpture now sits on her mantelpiece. She said: “It was very personal for each of us and was about much more than a piece of artwork.” Harry EdieFormer Royal Artillery, injured due to a muscle-wasting condition: “It was just a friendly environment with lovely people, and it was great to learn new skills.” “Getting your face covered in Vaseline and plaster… took us out of our comfort zone, but we were all in it together.” “Blesma inspires me to try things I wouldn’t normally do – that makes a huge difference.” Harry served in the Royal Artillery before an ankle injury and a muscle-wasting condition cut short his Army career. He has been a Blesma Member for 18 months Liz became a Widow Member after her husband Shaun, who served in the Army Air Corps, passed away last year Join Us in Making a Difference Your support enables us to continue offering these life-enhancing programs. Together, we can empower our injured veterans and their families to explore new forms of expression and healing. Donate Today and Be a Part of Their Journey.
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Blesma Members take part in Therapeutic Water Rescues with Newfoundlands
A number of Blesma Members were recently pulled safely from a chilly lake in Leicestershire. This is anything but a shaggy dog story. Walker, a four-year-old Newfoundland, is intensely focused on his latest vital mission. Unfazed by the cold water and commotion, and oblivious to any risk, his only concern is to bring the people to safety. The giant dog has already plunged into the chilly lake repeatedly to demonstrate his impressive life-saving skills that, combined with his gentle personality traits, provide a reassuring presence to those in ‘danger’. Thankfully for the Blesma Members who are being pulled from the water back to the banks by Walker and the other dogs, this is just a simulation exercise; an interesting day out with rescue dogs, whose swimming abilities have been an asset to fishermen and sailors for centuries. The Newfoundlands swimming abilities have been an asset to fishermen and sailors for centuries. Sometimes, the best therapy comes with a wagging tail and a big splash! “It has been an incredible experience and the dogs were simply marvellous,” says Sarah Criddle, Blesma Outreach Officer Midlands, who organised the event in Leicestershire. “A friend of mine who is a paramedic had been to a similar event and said how good it was. I’m always looking for different and interesting things for our Members to try, and this sounded like it would be perfect! “I got in touch with Pete Lewin, who runs the events, to find out a bit more. He had never worked with a group like Blesma before, but we discussed what we’d like to do and what the requirements would be, and Pete worked out how the day would run,” says Sarah, who served in the military for 13 years and worked in employment support before joining Blesma. I was intrigued to try it because I’d not heard of anything like it. I wasn’t sure what to expect – it’s not every day you get rescued by a giant dog! Former Marine Chay Coulbert “On the day, the Members and their carers were all able to get into the water and wait for the dogs to jump in and swim out to them. They were all ‘rescued’ by grabbing onto the dogs’ harnesses and letting the dogs pull them back to the bank. Afterwards, everyone also had the chance to just sit and relax with these super- friendly dogs out of the water. It was a chance to get back to nature, and the wellbeing factor was a really powerful part of the day.” Newfies connect with people Seven Blesma Members, along with their carers and family members, made their way to Stanton Lakes in Leicestershire where they were kitted out with wetsuits and briefed by Pete Lewin, a Newfoundland breeder and trainer, who was supported on the day by a number of volunteers from the paramedics and several police forces. Seven Blesma Members, along with their carers and family members Pete, who is himself a paramedic, has been organising emotional support swims, water rescue demonstrations and educational visits with his dogs for more than 10 years with the aim of boosting mental health and wellbeing while demonstrating the dogs’ life-saving abilities. Newfoundlands can grow to 28 inches tall and can weigh up to 80kg, and their webbed paws and thick, water-resistant coat make them surprisingly agile in the water and relatively immune to cold temperatures. “Newfies are renowned for their abilities in the water. They are not authorised to be used for rescue in the UK, but they are used by emergency services in other countries where they have even been known to leap from helicopters to help people in distress in the water!” says Pete. “But they are much more than simply great rescue dogs; all Newfies seem to have incredible personalities that connect with people, and being in their company often has an amazing restorative and uplifting impact. “On a previous event that we ran with a different group, one particular lady had incredibly low mood and was really struggling with her mental health, but when the dog swam out to her she said it was like the Newfie was looking into her soul. The experience gave her an amazing boost and she is still here today, perhaps in part because of the dogs! “These are big dogs, but their characters are 10 times bigger. They just have an incredible ability to calm and uplift people. We’ve had other experiences of people who have been on the brink, really struggling to find any positive feelings about themselves, who have been completely changed by spending time with the dogs. The dogs put their head in your lap and just seem to know when you’re in a bad way.” Richard Gilbert experience Blesma Member and Trustee Richard Gilbert, a former PTI in the RAF who has also served in the Metropolitan Police, loves adrenaline-fuelled sports “I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, the whole day was therapeutic and calming” “I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, the whole day was therapeutic and calming,” says Richard. “It was surreal because you just lie in the water while the dogs drag you back to the bank. They seem to manage it with little effort and no noise. It doesn’t seem like a chore for them, so it makes it all very calming. The whole thing just put me in a reflective mood. “Pete, who trains the dogs and runs the event, is fantastic. He had never done an event for amputees before so this was a little bit ofa learning curve for him as well as for us. But being a paramedic, he has an understanding of the challenges. Jumping into a cold, mossy lake was a complete change from other Blesma activities, but everyone got a lot from it.” Richard, who is a member of a veterans’ motorbike rehab team, is two years into life as a Blesma Trustee and is part of the drive to ensure the Association is in the best health to fulfil its objectives for Members. “There are challenges from the financial climate, but we are all working hard to address them,” he says. “Blesma continues to put its Members first, supporting them through life, and part of that is being able to put on incredible activities such as swimming with Newfoundland dogs. “It was a great experience and I’m sure it is something that could be repeated so that other Members are able to benefit.” An amazing experience One Member who got a lot out of the day was Alan Farr, whose right leg was amputated above the knee two years ago. “Getting into the wetsuits was a bit of a struggle, but there was great banter and everyone just got on with it,” says Alan, who lives in Derbyshire and served for 19 years in the 1st Battalion Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire. “I got out in the water, and to have a dog come out to me and give me a ride back was like nothing I’d experienced. It was superb! These dogs are absolutely fantastic. I had actually drifted out quite a way and then called the dog, and he just splashed into the water and swam out to me no trouble. I grabbed hold of his harness and off he went. Amazing! These are big dogs but their characters are bigger The dogs put their head in your lap and just seem to know when you’re in a bad way “I was able to go out into the water three times and thoroughly enjoyed each time. Later, it was good to just sit on the bank and be with the dogs – they were so chilled. You felt secure with them and it was very relaxing; they’re gentle giants!” Former Royal Marine Chay Coulbert, 35, who was injured on his second tour of Afghanistan, found extra comfort from the event as he was dealing with the loss of his Irish Wolfhound, Frank. “Frank passed away six months ago, so it was good to be in the water playing with these dogs. They are enormous but really friendly, and I really enjoyed the experience,” says Chay, a single leg amputee from Staffordshire who served two tours in Afghanistan before being injured. “You could just relax as they dragged you through the water. As an ex-Marine, it was good to be in the water, but this was a totally new experience and something I would do again. I was intrigued to try it because I’d not heard of anything like it. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was really good and I would have liked to have done more – it’s not every day you get to jump in a lake and get rescued by a giant dog! These Blesma group experiences are always great as standalone activities, but then there’s also the added element of being with other people who have gone through similar situations – many of them more difficult than mine. That definitely helps to put things into perspective.” It gave everyone involved some time to just forget about everything that was going on in their lives. It was like nothing any of us had experienced. Big dogs making a massive impact After an exhausting day in the lake, Pete is busy drying off the dogs (not an inconsiderable challenge!) and putting them safely back in his van for a well-earned rest. “The Blesma team were incredible,” he says. “It was a pretty cold day, but everyone just got involved and there was great banter between us all. There were no complaints, and it was just inspiring to be around all the Members and their families. There were no complaints, and it was just inspiring to be around all the Members and their families. “People ask me if I should be taking people with disabilities out in the water, but why shouldn’t I? Why should they not be allowed to do this? When I first started thinking about running these events, we went to a lake with some friends and their son, who has multiple sclerosis. When he got into the water with the dogs his first words were: ‘I’m free!’ Hopefully, we are making a small difference. It is very simple stuff; swimming with the dogs is such a small thing, but it has a massive impact. “It is the most humbling thing to see people turn up at the start of the day unsure of what to expect and then coming away hours later having said that it was more than they could have imagined. I loved having the Blesma Members here and would definitely welcome them back.” Sarah is now looking to organise a repeat event with Pete’s Newfies some time in the new year. “It was a fantastic day, something completely different and I’m sure other Members would love to give it a try,” she says. “It gave everyone involved some time to just forget about everything that was going on in their lives and marvel at what these beautiful dogs can do. It was like nothing any of us had experienced before.” The Activities Team has published its calendar of events for 2025. Discover what’s on offer and find out how to apply for your free place here
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