News - Project Nova’s Past and Present project: Changing veterans' lives

We received some amazing feedback from one of our Project Nova beneficiaries who was referred to us in 2019 by Essex Police.

Initially, the client was bailed to his parents address due to arrest, so was effectively homeless, lost his job and everything that goes along with-it including self-worth. Upon his first assessment before Christmas he was clearly struggling with his mental health, he already had a diagnosis of PTSD from the army due to his service. He had not had any support since leaving the army and was in his words ‘the darkest place he has ever been’

Off the back of this assessment he was referred to the Transition Intervention and Liaison Service and he was assessed and referred on to a Psychiatrist who has since diagnosed Complex PTSD. He was given a 2-year suspended sentence since he was engaging with Project Nova, and was also fined and given 200 community unpaid hours.

His case worker liaised with police to allow to volunteer with Project Nova’s Past and Present project in line with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He has completed his full 200 hours on the project and he has researched and uploaded hundreds of scattered war graves in the South of Essex. The focus this gave him and the commitment to helping his ‘brothers’ has had a huge impact on his emotional wellbeing.

During this period, he was re-arrested due to fabrication by his wife, WWTW liaised with custody and he was kept with cell door open due to his mental health, questioned and released with No Further Action.

The client told his advisor on several occasions that this opportunity has saved him. He is driven and continues to research the scattered graves. He has now moved into his own flat and gone back to work. He said:

“Of all the agencies that support the needs of ex-servicemen that I’ve used, Project Nova have proved to be by far the best, by a very long way. The fact that I was called, as opposed to having to make the initial phone call was so important.

Personally, for me to make a call to anyone at that stage of my trauma would have been inconceivable, due to my mental health state. Therefore, I would have had no support through what transpired to be the most difficult period of my life.

So, I will take this opportunity to thank Project Nova and hope that this gratitude will motivate the employees of this fine organisation to keep on, doing the right thing.

Lisa, I have thanked you on several occasions, as well you have deserved it. I have spoken of how grateful I am to have you on my side, when I felt no others were. For all the times you sat, talked, encouraged, advised and believed me I am forever in your debt.”

Want to get involved with Project Nova’s volunteer project? Join here