Tonight, Thursday 1st October, was a very special night for the finalists of our second group of award categories, and these nominees were literally sitting on the edges of their seats.
This evening we proudly announced the winners of the Education, Training and Development; Healthcare and Rehabilitation; Sporting Excellence and the Patron’s Special Recognition Awards in the second Soldiering On Awards 2020 virtual ceremony.
The Zoom event was hosted by the much loved Coronation Street Star and SSAFA Ambassador, Antony Cotton.
The ceremony was also attended by the category finalists and sponsors; judges; General the Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL, President, Soldiering On Award; Rear Admiral Jim Macleod, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel Capability) and Defence Services Secretary; David Richmond CBE, Director of the Office for Veterans Affairs; and Lt Col Sue Wright.
As the winners found out, the news was simultaneously shared across social media channels.
The Earl Howe, Patron of the Soldiering On Awards said: “Despite the new virtual backdrop, the evening was a tremendous hour of celebration. All the finalists’ achievements cover an impressively wide range, from driving change in the Armed Forces environment and supporting our veterans’ community, to fields beyond Service life – be that sport, business, charity-work or public service.
“As the scope and prominence of these Awards has increased with each passing year, they add ever more value through the strong and positive messages that recognition gives to the vital and impressive work being done by our Nominees, Finalists and Winners in their communities.
“Huge congratulations to ALL our fantastic 2020 winners and finalists. Each and every one of you is an inspiration to us all.”
Our finalists were:
Sapper Support – a 24:7 phone and social media helpline service providing emotional, physical and financial support.
Martin Diver – retrained as a Mental Health Nurse, Martin is passionate about facilitating best outcomes for Veterans and their families using mental health services.
Combat Stress Occupational Therapy team – providing Occupational Therapy on a residential basis to all Veterans who attend the treatment centres.
You can read more about these finalists here.
We are delighted to announce that the Winner is…
Sapper Support
Sapper Support is a phone and social media helpline service providing emotional, physical and financial support to Veterans 24 hours a day. Initially created to help Royal Engineers with mental health issues, the organisation quickly evolved into helping veterans from all three services and members of 10 Fire Brigades and the West Midlands Ambulance Service.
This award recognises people who work tirelessly to ensure the military family have opportunities to stay fit and well, both physically and mentally. It therefore honours individuals and teams that have demonstrated a major commitment and contribution in support of the health and welfare of serving or former members of the Armed Forces community. This may be through healthcare, therapeutic treatment or rehabilitation services and support.
Lt Colonel Ren Kapur MBE, CEO of X-Forces Enterprise and Co-Chair of the Soldiering On Awards said: “The selfless dedication of our winners is both humbling and inspirational. It is so special to share these moments of celebration, not just with the winners but with all of the finalists.
“We couldn’t do this without the continued support of our sponsors, who have stood by us, and our finalists through challenging and uncertain times. Our growing community is stronger than ever.”
A word from our Sponsor…
“Redwood Technologies Group is proud to continue to sponsor the Healthcare and Rehabilitation Award category. In my role as a judge for the awards, I have been truly inspired by the nominations put before us and the selfless dedication of each of the finalists. The Healthcare and Rehabilitation finalists have all demonstrated their outstanding commitment to ensuring that support is available to all those who have served us and require assistance in their time of need.”
Martin Taylor, Deputy CEO, Redwood Technologies Group”
