Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) marked Armed Forces Day by celebrating the hard work of the UK’s armed forces and its staff who have served or are still actively serving.
Armed Forces Day, which took place on Saturday June 25, traditionally offers the public the chance to discover more about the work of the UK Armed Forces.
EPUT’s Transition Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) team, who support ex-service men and women with mental health needs, took part in the Colchester Garrison Show to recognise the contribution made by staff who are also Reservists, veterans, Cadet Force volunteers or part of a service family.
Highlights of the event at Abbey Field included displays by the 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, the Parachute Regiment’s Red Devils freefall team, music from the British Army Band Colchester, and a march by veterans and cadets from across Essex.
Last year, EPUT received the highest badge of honour from the Ministry of Defence in recognition of supporting the armed forces community and was awarded gold accreditation from the Employer Armed Forces Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin MP.
The award formally recognises EPUT as a forces-friendly employer that supports the recruitment of ex-armed forces personnel, members of the armed forces and their partners.
Armed forces personnel, including those who may be wounded, sick or injured, are not unfairly disadvantaged during Trust recruitment selection processes and policies are in place to support reservist employees fulfil training and mobilisation commitments.
The gold accreditation builds on the bronze and silver awards presented to the Trust in 2020 and signing of the Armed Forces Covenant in November 2019.
The covenant represents a commitment to treating serving personnel, veterans and their families with fairness and respect and recognises the work of the Trust’s Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS). The service aims to re-integrate service users into everyday life by helping them access therapies for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
David Powell, regional lead for TILS and an Army Cadet Force instructor, said: “It was an honour to be part of a fantastic day celebrating our armed forces and was great to see so many people take part in the event.
“I am really grateful that EPUT has always fully supported my commitments to our Army Cadets which enables me to provide a great opportunity and experience for our young people while still enabling me to continue to work for the Trust.”
For more information about the Trust’s Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) please visit:https://www.eput.nhs.uk/services/op-courage-the-veterans-mental-health-and-wellbeing-service/