Armed Services Weekend

The LINk recently helped to staff a Stand at the Armed Services Weekend event held on Southsea Common. The Stand was set up by the Veterans Outreach Support Group (VOS) which provides an outreach service for ex-service personnel in need of support. The LINk has contacts with VOS by attending the regular “drop in” sessions held at the Royal Maritime Club in Queens Street Portsmouth. A clear theme which has emerged from visits to these sessions is that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] is a common experience amongst people attending the drop in. Following the relationship the LINk has built with VOS a request was made for the LINk to assist with staffing the Stand on Saturday 02/07/2011 and Sunday 03/07/2011. Both Volunteers and Local LINk Support provided cover. The time spent at the event was filled with a mixture of both the concentration needed to listen to the points made by people attending the event and the admiration for the ex-service personnel (of all ages) who paraded with pride during the day. An aim of the LINk is to set up a group of people who have experiences of PTSD. The purpose of the group would be to gather information about the issue and establish if the LINk process can help this section of the community. If you are interested in helping with this project please contact the LINk