NEWS

Read the latest updates and view archived articles from Walking With The Wounded's 'Walking Home Home For Christmas' December campaign.


Matt's Story

By Walking With The Wounded on

Every penny you raise for Walking Home For Christmas will support people like Matt..


‘As an alcoholic, I’d taken things right to the edge and I needed to rebuild my life in gradual steps. The help I received from WWTW was incredible. My WWTW Advisor, Alex, was always there for me - She listened, she did lots of work on my behalf and then she pointed me in the right direction. She got it spot on and I cannot thank her enough for that.’

Matt joined the Royal Hampshire Regiment in 1983 at the age of 16. After 5 years’ service, Matt decided to leave the army to pursue a career outside of the military. 

Unfortunately, it was during this period that Matt began to drink. At first it was social drinking – the odd pint after work and at the weekends – but this gradually increased until it spiralled out of control and he was drinking all day every day,  as a result of his drinking, Matt’s marriage ended in divorce. 

Matt referred himself - first to SPACES (Single Person’s Accommodation Centre for Ex- Services) and then on to Mike Jackson House (MJH), where he moved in June 2018. The situation came to a head in January 2019 when staff at MJH were alerted to the fact that Matt had collapsed and was extremely unwell. An ambulance was called and he was rushed to hospital where he stayed for several weeks – the medical staff were direct and informed him that he had been one hour away from dying.

Then, one night in September 2019, he received a phone call from the hospital to say an ambulance was on its way to collect him for his liver transplant operation. The procedure went well and in time Matt made a great recovery - he hasn’t touched alcohol since.

Matt was keen to re-engage with society and work, so at the beginning of 2020 he met with Alex, his Employment Advisor at WWTW. Alex and Matt met on a weekly basis, worked on his CV and helped him to make some key decisions. Alex researched some possible ideas and then put Matt in contact with Age UK’s Men in Sheds – a community-led initiative that offers free space and facilities for men of all ages to regularly get together to socialise and to share and practice their woodworking skills. Matt now attends several times a week to work on his woodwork projects.

'I've gone from rock bottom to the very top, I couldn't ask for much more from WWTW, thanks to their help, I'm really looking forward to this Christmas'





Toby's Story

By Walking With The Wounded on

Serving in the Royal Engineers for four years, Toby’s deployment to Serbia was a life-changing time resulting in lasting mental trauma. Only 21 when he left the military, Toby’s transition back into civilian life was not straightforward and he relied heavily on drink.

His life started to implode until he was finally diagnosed with PTSD and help came through veteran services. Toby was initially in the RAF cadets when he was 17, but when looking for a career he decided to enlist in the Army. He qualified as an HGV driver with the Royal Engineers and he enjoyed military life, making strong and lasting friendships with the guys he served with.

Toby was eventually diagnosed with PTSD and received intensive treatment at Combat Stress, the...

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Leanne's Story

By Walking With The Wounded on

Leanne’s military service with the Royal Corp of Signals was cut short when she was medically discharged after being injured in training. Initially she transitioned back into civilian life well, and used her military skills in the security industry.

When her brother was tragically killed in a car accident some years later, however, Leanne struggled to cope. She tried to keep a ‘stiff upper lip’ but gradually developed severe depression and anxiety, made worse by the long hours and shiftwork her demanding job required. She knew she needed a change.

Applying for a variety of roles, Leanne never seemed to have the right experience and, over the next two years, her applications were repeatedly turned down. Finally she was offered a job, but...

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Ally's Story

By Walking With The Wounded on

Ally was born and raised in North London and after school he went on to college to study for a degree. He got married and had 2 children and worked hard to support his family. As a young man with ambitions, he set up his own close protection company. It was whilst at work that he suffered a significant injury that left him feeling bereft, as if he had lost a part of himself. Ally wanted and needed a new role in life, one that offered support and reliability. He chose the Army.

In 2009, Ally joined the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) and served in the Reserves whilst continuing to maintain his business commitments. He later transferred to 7th Battalion The Rifles and in 2013 he was deployed on active duty to Afghanistan as part of Op...

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