Remembering September 11th - Paul's Story

“Most of my family were military, but I had no interest in it growing up,” says Blesma Support Officer Paul Findlay. “Then 9/11 happened and I changed. I felt a sense of duty, that there was more to life than being selfish.”

Paul joined the Royal Signals as a Radio Operator the following year, when he was just 17 years old. He completed three tours of Iraq before being caught in an IED blast
in Afghanistan in 2009, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg 10 months later.

“Just 19 days after the operation I was walking with the help of bars, and within six months I was living a normal life. It’s a decision I have never regretted,” says Paul.
A work placement with Barclays helping veterans find employment led to a permanent job offer, which he did for almost five years.

“I eventually realised that my passion was helping people, so when a role as a Blesma Support Officer became available in 2015, I jumped at it. The job has its challenges, but unlike a lot of jobs there is a strong emotional attachment. The difference I can make can genuinely change people’s lives, which gives me more job satisfaction than I’ve ever had.

“The support Blesma offers is so varied – from employment and hardship grants to medical support, advice, and advocacy. The ways in which Blesma can help, I feel, are
almost limitless and that’s an amazing thing.

“Independence means different things to different people. For some, it’s getting back into employment, for others it’s being able to get up and down their stairs, or trying
a new activity. As long as I can demonstrate how a particular opportunity will increase a Member’s independence, chances are it will get the green light.”

Take Paul’s passion for golf, for example, which he is now spreading to Members.

“To be able to play a sport that I’m passionate about without feeling my disability is holding me back has been a game changer for me,” he says. “That is something other
Members have found too, so we decided to create a Blesma golf society. Some of our one-armed golfers, in particular, are phenomenal. To see them play a sport you’d think you’d need two hands for proves that anything is possible!”