July 2024

IT’S TIME TO VOTE!

Our Founder, Veteran and triple amputee, Andy Reid MBE has reached the final of the Inspiration Award category of Soldiering On Awards 2024. As public voting opens this week to choose the winner from three worthy finalists, the Army Benevolent Fund is calling on the local community to back Andy, who is an ambassador for the charity.

The National Soldiering On awards recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals, teams and businesses who work in support of the Armed Forces Community. Online public voting for the winner of the Inspiration Award opens on 23rd July and closes on 26th August – visit: www.soldieringon.org.  

The Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) nominated Andy for the ‘Inspiration Award’ in recognition of his outstanding achievements, as a fundraiser for the charity and founder of the Standing Tall Foundation, based in St Helen’s, as well as his courage in living with the serious injuries sustained during his Army career.  

Corporal Andy Reid was injured serving with the Yorkshire Regiment in Afghanistan in 2009. Andy survived an IED explosion, in which he lost his right arm, right leg below the knee and left leg above the knee. On his return home, Andy astounded people with his recovery.  

Having fought back from countless operations, Andy’s determination and strength have enabled him to redefine his life and find inspiration in serving others. Throughout his journey, Andy has received the support of the Army Benevolent Fund – starting with help to fund adaptions to make his home more accessible. Andy has raised thousands for the ABF which marks its 80th anniversary this year. He is dedicated to raising awareness of the charity’s support for soldiers, former soldiers and their families as an ambassador, most recently at events with Her Majesty The Queen and author, Sir Max Hastings.

A published author and accomplished motivational speaker, in 2020 Andy established the Standing Tall Foundation in St Helen’s with John Tabern (now CEO). The Standing Tall Foundation promote the mental and physical health of all community groups, by providing counselling, addiction support and physical activity initiatives and providing grants, items and services to prevent hardship.

Andy has pushed himself to the limit to support his foundation, the ABF and other causes. His daredevil fundraising includes tandem skydives and abseiling down the Big One in Blackpool; climbing Snowdon and kayaking hundreds of miles. In 2022, he summited Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Standing Tall Foundation, the first triple amputee from the UK to do so. Andy was awarded an MBE in 2019 for voluntary service to veterans and people with disabilities and received the Pride of St Helens Award 2022 for Courage.

Andy said: “I am deeply honoured to have been nominated by the Army Benevolent Fund and to have reached the finals of the Soldiering On Awards. I keep pushing myself forward to show other guys injured in service or someone who is just struggling with life, what can be done, that it’s not the end of the world and you can carry on as normal a life as possible. If just one person gets inspired to make a small step forward in their life, it will be worth every step I take – and all the win I need.!”

The Army Benevolent Fund is the Army’s national charity. Since 1944, the charity has been here for soldiers, former soldiers and their families – supporting them through all of life’s challenges. Throughout August, it is celebrating its 80th anniversary by sharing stories of the inspiring people and partners it supports – seeing Andy’s achievements recognized as winner of the Soldiering On Awards would be the ‘icing on the cake’

Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, Army Benevolent Fund, said: “The Army Benevolent Fund is delighted that our ambassador, Andy Reid MBE, is a finalist in the Inspiration category of the Soldiering On Awards 2024. Andy has experienced life-changing injuries but does not let them define him. He is dedicated to serving others – raising thousands for our charity, establishing his own foundation, and motivating many people through his story of resilience and recovery. Congratulations to Andy and his fellow finalists – reaching this stage is a wonderful achievement in itself!”

The winner in the ‘Inspiration Award’ category will be chosen by public vote from a shortlist of three finalists, and will be announced along with the other categories at a ceremony hosted by Jeremy Vine on 16th October. 

Online public voting for the winner of the Inspiration Award opens on 23rd July and closes on 26th August – visit: www.soldieringon.org.  

We are delighted to announce that Lindab have become the latest Affiliate partner of the Foundation. An affiliate partner is someone who has donated goods or services to us free of charge.

As you all may be aware, we are currently in the process of converting a property in St Helens into a 4 bedroom HMO to help Veterans in the town. Lindab work closely with B-Engineering, who are another of our wonderful Affiliate partners working on the project. Because of this, Lindab have kindly donated all the equipment needed for the ventilation system for the house.

Lindab want to contribute to tomorrow’s indoor climate. They also want to contribute to a better climate for our planet. They have a broad offering to the ventilation industry – from individual components to complete indoor climate solutions. They offer an unlimited range of functional, simple, economical and environmental ventilation solutions for both residential and commercial properties.

We are extremely grateful to everyone that has stepped forward to help with this exciting and much needed housing offering in St Helens.  Last year there was a 14% rise in homelessness in Armed Forces veterans, despite the government pledge and £8.8 million housing fund and the launch of Op Fortitude. We know that we are only making a tiny dent in the fight against homelessness, but we still hope to make a big difference.

The HMO will also provide a base for any veterans struggling with their mental health, wellbeing or addiction issues. We can offer them support here at the Foundation with the range of services we currently provide.

If you are a veteran in need, or know somebody that is, please get in touch with us today.

STF held its very first Charity Golf Day on Friday at Houghwood Golf Course and it was a great success! Massive thanks to everybody who took part and supported us on the day. 

We ended up 17 teams, made up predominantly of our Foundation partners and friends of the foundation. Special mention goes to one of our hole sponsors  Signs4Golf who travelled up all the way from Bognor Regis! Huge thanks also goes to our hole sponsors: B-Engineering, Communications Plus and MCR Concrete, as well as our Affiliate Sponsor Integral Legal, and our headline sponsor – Totally Wicked.

The day began at 11.30am for registration and breakfast butties with a shot gun start at 1pm to begin the event. After nearly 5 hours of competitive golf, everyone came back in for drinks and food and to find out the score cards from the day. Congratulations to MCR Concrete who scooped up first prize!

We rounded the night off with a presentation ceremony, raffle and auction. Not forgetting the hilarious comedic entertainment provided by the legendary John Martin. It was a tough crowd but he heckled them very well!

Here are some pictures from the day – we can’t wait for next year!