Summer 2020 The magazine for limbless veterans BLESMA IN LOCKDOWN HOW THE ASSOCIATION HAS PULLED TOGETHER DURING ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE PERIODS IN ITS 100-YEAR HISTORY Self-care during MGR goes digital Commemorating self-isolation in a time of need 75 years of VE Day Helping Members stay In a global pandemic, Some 12,000 British troops mobile, motivated and inspiring the nation’s lost limbs in WWII. Henry mentally healthy during young people is more Harley was just 18 when he the lockdown p36 important than ever p50 became an amputee p26 Fillauer AllPro advert for BLESMA - A4 size - HR.pdf 1 16/08/2019 07:56:15 AllPro from LIVE LIKE A PRO This dynamic all-in-one foot allows users to switch between daily activities and high impact sports, without swapping their limb C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Use the AllPro with an ultra-realistic micro-coated vinyl foot shell, with Kevlar® reinforcement for enhanced durability Adapts to any terrain • Stable multiaxial function • High energy return Ortho Europe | Ability House, Nuffield Way, Abingdon, OX14 1RL 01235 552 895 | [email protected] | www.ortho-europe.com Fillauer AllPro advert for BLESMA - A4 size - HR.pdf 1 16/08/2019 07:56:15 AllPro from CONTENTS Inside the Summer 2020 issue News BLESMA IN LOCKDOWN 04 36 The Association has pulled together in one of the most challenging periods in its history IN THE SPOTLIGHT 16 What a time to take up the reins... meet Jon Bryant, Blesma’s new Chief Executive NORTHERN IRELAND IN FOCUS 22 Blesma is going from strength to strength in LIVE LIKE A PRO Northern Ireland. BSO Steve Burton explains This dynamic all-in-one foot allows users to switch between daily activities and high impact sports, without swapping their limb C M Y CM MY 16 CY CMY Museum, Laura Dodsworth Photography: Andy Bate, Imperial War Features K VE DAY 75 26 26 Coronavirus curtailed the commemorations. We speak to several Members who remember ON THE SET OF SCARS 32 Simon Brown on taking part in a powerful film that explores what it’s like to live with scars SELF-CARE IN SELF-ISOLATION 36 Keeping Members moving, motivated and mentally healthy during the pandemic 32 THE ASSOCIATION IN 2019 44 The most recent Annual Report makes for Useful Contacts impressive reading. Here are the key points EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES PR AND MEDIA LIGHTS, CAMERA, INSPIRATION 50 020 8548 3513 020 8548 7094 020 3954 3023 Making Generation R has had to find new ways [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] to deliver its message. Press play to be inspired Use the AllPro with an ultra-realistic micro-coated MEMBERSHIP SERVICES FUNDRAISING GENERAL ENQUIRIES ® 020 8548 3515 020 8548 3517 020 8590 1124 vinyl foot shell, with Kevlar reinforcement [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] A Day in the Life for enhanced durability PAUL FINDLAY 54 Please be aware that any written correspondence should be sent to the new Blesma office at: 115 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0QT “The Support Officers are itching to get out p and see Members. That’s why we do the job” Adapts to any terrain • Stable multiaxial function • High energy return Special thanks to: All our Members, Heather Betts, Jon Bryant, Brian Chenier, Lorna Dorrell, Elaine Hems, Jess Mackinnon, Jess March, Emily Mizon, Izzy Perks, Nick Tuck, Ian Waller Blesma Magazine is published on behalf of the British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association (Blesma) by ScratchCreate. British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association Charity Numbers: England and Wales 1084189, Scotland SC010315; Company Limited Guarantee No. 4102768. Contact ScratchCreate at [email protected] or [email protected] This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, without the prior permission of the publishers. All prices and addresses are correct at the time of going to press. Every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine to ensure the contents are fully accurate, but neither ScratchCreate nor Blesma can be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, any omissions or errors, or any consequence arising from it. The views expressed by contributors, customers and Members might not reflect the views of ScratchCreate or Blesma. Publication date: Summer 2020. © Blesma 2020. Ortho Europe | Ability House, Nuffield Way, Abingdon, OX14 1RL www.blesma.org 03 01235 552 895 | [email protected] | www.ortho-europe.com News, views and opinion NEWS from the world of Blesma Photographs: Andy Bate Here to support you in the midst of a global pandemic n recent weeks, COVID-19 has impacted “We knew it would be difficult to reach “Straight away, through running various severely on all our lives, and Blesma and everybody but we wanted to try to contact cash flow projection scenarios, we were Iits Members are certainly no exception. the entire membership as soon as possible,” confident we had enough funds to continue The Association has faced many challenges said Ian. “We phoned and wrote to Members, to operate,” said Ian. The next step was in its 100-year history, but the coronavirus prioritising those deemed vulnerable or to transition staff to working from home. pandemic is unique. Blesma has continued who needed to be shielded. Most were ok, to support Members and their families in but some weren’t, and the Support and BUSINESS AS (NEW) NORMAL this period, with an even greater emphasis Outreach Officers responded to a number “We were already in the process of an IT on tackling loneliness and isolation. of requests for assistance. We wanted to migration programme that would enable As a matter of course, the team based in ensure that our Members felt reassured that staff to work from anywhere,” said Ian. Chelmsford regularly updates a risk register the Association was there to support them “We quickly provided staff with what they for the Board of Trustees, which includes during the crisis. In the first 10 weeks of needed, and those who couldn’t work – our the Association’s planned responses to all lockdown, we had 5,703 ‘contacts’ with face-to-face activities had to stop in line manner of significant events. Front and Members, including 3,390 by phone.” with government guidelines, for example, centre of the Association’s thinking from Blesma began 2020 in a sound financial while corporate and community fundraising the very beginning of the coronavirus position, and strong reserves have allowed came to a direct halt – were furloughed. pandemic, according to Blesma’s Operations the Association to function despite the However, we are bringing those members Director Ian Waller, were its Members. harsh economic affects of the pandemic. of staff back to work in the coming weeks.” 04 www.blesma.org Behind the scenes On set with Member Simon Brown (p32) The Association’s financial assistance and “ BLESMA IS grant giving continued to operate. For the IN GOOD two months from the end of March, Blesma SHAPE, AND awarded 219 grants to 189 Members for AIMS TO COME welcome items ranging from mobility aids to living OUT OF THE expenses. A number of Digital Inclusion Welcome to the Summer issue. grants provided Members with tablets and CRISIS WITH AN OFFER This is my first as Chief Executive, laptops to stay in touch with loved ones. so it would be remiss of me “Members have not been able to meet in THAT IS EVEN person – which is one of the cornerstones BROADER not to say a huge thank you to of Blesma membership – but we quickly THAN WAS the Members, Trustees and staff established a range of online activities, THE CASE who have been so generous from fitness classes to book clubs, that BEFORE THE in welcoming me into the brought people together,” said Ian. LOCKDOWN” organisation. The comradeship SET TO COME OUT STRONGER of Blesma has shone through, “We have also been liaising with the NHS despite us all having to communicate electronically. and other service providers to ensure our The Association is in good shape thanks to a Members are supported with their health and prosthetic needs,” said Ian. “Many NHS tremendous spirit, some sound planning, and a staff were redirected to support the COVID-19 lot of hard work. We were, therefore, in a good response, so we are expecting something of position to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. a bow wave when it comes to prosthetics This issue is full of examples of how Members provision in the coming months, and we will have reached out to each other. The article on self- continue to advise our Members accordingly. “But Blesma is in good shape. We are in care in self-isolation shows how some Members are a robust financial position, we continue to keeping fit, while others are improving their health foster links across the Association, and we and wellbeing through online classes. I am very aim to come out of the crisis with an offer grateful for all the support, encouragement and that is even broader than was the case pre- lockdown,” said Ian. “Our focus now is on advice that has passed across the organisation. preparing to start visiting Members, but We also commemorate VE Day through the stories this will be done very carefully and slowly of some of the Blesma Members who were there. as we follow government guidelines. We Amongst all the celebrations in 1945, there was a like to think we know our Members and deep appreciation of the sacrifices that had been that they know us, and through good and Left and below: bad times we will continue to be there to BSO and Member made, and an understanding of the challenges to help ensure they have independent and Paul Findlay has come.