Revamped venue hitting right note with locals

April 19, 2013 – 2:15 pm

Somerset’s latest music venue needs a name!

Standing in the shadow of Glastonbury Tor just a few miles away from the legendary Pyramid stage at Pilton, the new venue has been launched at the Somerset Retreat at Ashcott.

Run on  behalf of military charity Afghan Heroes, the Retreat has already played host to several musical evenings but founder Denise Harris was determined to create a bigger and better venue for local bands.

“Apart from the obvious event just down the road at Glastonbury we don’t have too many live music venues in the area and judging by the response so far there is plenty of demand for some genuine entertainment all year round.

“Having completed the refurbishment of the bar and restaurant and welcomed our first former services resident to the Retreat it was clear we needed more space to put on live music and so we decided to upgrade the old skittle alley.”

Afghan Heroes has invited people to come up with a snappy name for the new venue with the best suggestion winning the star prize of a slap up meal for two in the Retreat’s critically acclaimed restaurant.

Denise said the charity had already put a great deal of thought into how the venue would operate.

“We said from the beginning we were keen on bringing our local skittle teams home to the Retreat so it was clear we couldn’t simply convert the whole alley just like that.”

Afghan Heroes decided to build a special folding stage at the far end of the skittle alley which  can be pushed back against the wall leaving plenty of room for the diamond.

Denise commented: “We are really pleased to be able to run two different activities in the skittle alley as we can then appeal to our well established audience along with new generations of people keen to see the best local bands.

“All we need to do now is find a name for the place!”

The Somerset Retreat offers accommodation for up to half a dozen former services personnel to help them make the sometimes difficult transition back to Civvy Street..

 

Bumper weekend trade combined with brisk weekday turnover has helped transform the fortunes of the bar and restaurant – which was the subject of a massive refurbishment programme at the end of last year.

The charity has already taken on five full time and seven part-time staff and is actively recruiting additional front of house and waitress staff.

Anybody interested in entering the competition should email  info@afgh.org or private message through Facebook.

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Afghan Heroes Retreat welcomes first former soldier

April 5, 2013 – 1:13 pm
Denise, Alex and Jason at The Retreat

Denise, Alex and Jason at The Retreat

Military charity Afghan Heroes has welcomed the first former soldier to its unique post services facility at The Retreat in Ashcott near Glastonbury.

Alex Fulford who served with 1 Rifles on two tours of Iraq and one in Afghanistan, took up his place at the Somerset Retreat – a new facility set up by the charity to help former services personnel make the sometimes difficult transition back to Civvy Street.

Alex, originally from London, said his life fell apart when he left the army suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. With his marriage in tatters and no home to go to he ended up at the Windsor Hill Wood shelter near Shepton Mallet.

Alex said: “I could hardly believe it when I heard about the Retreat. I have been let down so many times by people promising this and that it seemed almost too good to be true.

“After I left the army I found myself living in a shed and chopping wood –   I knew I was stuck in a rut and I wanted to get back to work.

“The Retreat is a fantastic opportunity for me – I know there are lots of other ex-soldiers out there who also need the help Afghan Heroes is providing. When I first visited and saw what the charity had done I really didn’t want to leave.”

During his time at the Retreat Alex will be mentored by former Royal Engineer Jason Queen, who has been appointed to help re-integrate   former forces personnel with the wider community and adjust to life away from the military family.

Afghan Heroes founder Denise Harris said the Retreat had been set up specifically to help people like Alex.

She said: “This is really the defining moment for us as we have been working towards this for the past three years. We now have the chance to give Alex the space and support he needs to get back on his feet.  Hopefully he will be able to rebuild his life, begin training for a new career and find a new home away from the army.”

Afghan Heroes took over the premises in November last year and spent a frantic few weeks completely refurbishing the property ready to welcome its first residents. Staff have barely had time to catch their breath since it opened at Christmas.

Denise went on: “This project has been our over-riding priority since we launched in 2009 and has proved successful beyond our wildest dreams.

“In order to provide a new home and proper support for people like Alex it was essential we put the concept onto a proven business footing as we intend the Somerset Retreat to become the template for other post-services facilities around the country.”

Denise, whose son Corporal Lee Scott lost his life in July 2009 while serving with 2 Royal Tank Regiment in Afghanistan, said the idea is to set up  a dozen centres  across  the UK  multiplying the number of former services personnel the charity can help.

The Somerset Retreat offers accommodation for half a dozen former services personnel above the successful bar and restaurant business serving the local community.

Denise said: “We always intended the Retreats to be able to stand alone as fully functioning businesses rather than rely on them being subsidised by the charity itself.

“The public bars have been packed and we have served up to 120 covers a day at the weekends. We have received glowing reviews from people who have dined with us and are particularly pleased the locals have reacted so positively to what we are trying to do.

“The Retreat has proved a real hit with the public and this has turned our dreams into a viable business proposition allowing us to offer people like Alex a new start.”

Denise Harris said the Retreat’s five-star success had made all the hard work setting it up worth it.

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Retreat launches search for new mentors.

February 26, 2013 – 1:21 pm

Military charity Afghan Heroes has launched a search for mentors to run its post-services facility at The Retreat in Ashcott near Glastonbury.

The Retreat was launched at the end of last year to help former service personnel make the sometimes difficult transition back to Civvy Street.

With all renovation work now completed charity founders Denise and Andy Harris have stepped up their search for a mentor who will take charge of up to half a dozen former service personnel, setting out educational and community roles to help re-integrate them into society.

Denise said it was vital Afghan Heroes made the right appointment.

“This is without a doubt the most important role within the charity since we launched in 2009. It is essential we find the correct person, preferably with some military experience, who can interact with these young people and understand something of what they have been through.

“Although the Retreat is a massive new venture for us it is clear we need a very special person to help reshape  our young people’s lives and help them re-integrate with the  wider community. They will need to demonstrate compassion, understanding and maturity as well as a great deal of patience.”

Denise said the role would suit people with military experience although it was not essential.

“Our mentors will need to demonstrate they are capable of dealing with young men and women who may well be having trouble adjusting to life away from the military family.

“They  will need to be mum and dad and favourite uncle rolled into one.”

The Retreat will accommodate up to half a dozen former services personnel in the guest rooms upstairs. There is also an office, a lounge and a kitchen.

The Retreat  was launched at the end of last year and has proved successful ‘beyond our wildest dreams’.

Denise said: “The Retreat has enjoyed  brisk business since  launching in December and we are particularly pleased the locals have reacted so positively to what we are trying to do.”

Packed public bars and up to 120 covers a day at the weekends have helped establish the Retreat concept as a successful business template providing the impetus for a network of similar centres around the country.

Denise, whose son Corporal Lee Scott lost his life in July 2009 while serving with 2 Royal Tank Regiment in Afghanistan, said the plan was to appoint mentors at each of the twelve centres they plan around the UK.

“It’s no exaggeration to say the success of the Retreat concept depends on us finding the right person to start the ball rolling in Ashcott.”

A shot of the newly refurbished restaurant.

A shot of the newly refurbished restaurant.

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Talk4Heroes

December 5, 2012 – 2:29 pm

Talk4Heroes

True Heroes have partnered with mobile distributor Data Select to launch an amazing new appeal to support our core missions including “The Retreat Projects” and the “Give Us Time” initiative. This new appeal, Talk4Heroesaims to raise funds to sustain the charities objectives for the foreseeable future by simply talking, with T-Mobile.

You can sign up and register for T-Mobile’s incredible ‘Full Monty‘ pay monthly SIM only plan with unlimited talk, text and data on your mobile phone for only £21 per month. Get it whilst the offer still lasts!

Not only is this a fantastic deal, but 15% of your monthly subscription will be donated to True Heroes to help the charity directly influence the lives of our service personnel, their families and the families of the fallen both now and in the future.

Support True Heroes through this package as you make your everyday call to loved ones and friends!

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER.  Data Select’s customer services team will endeavour to contact you within 48 working hours of submitting your registered interest!

We will keep in touch on a regular basis to tell you how your support is helping True Heroes through our new appeal.

 

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Fundraiser to Support British Troops

November 22, 2012 – 11:28 am

Leading politicians and military top brass were among the guests at a fundraising event to provide holidays for returning British troops.

Leading politicians and military top brass were among the guests at a fundraising event to
provide holidays for returning British troops.

Liam Fox, Andy Harris (Afghan Heroes), David Cameron, Denise Harris (Afghan Heroes)

Called ‘Give Us Time’ the initiative aims to provide week-long holidays for Armed Forces
families who need time to recover together from the stresses that military service in
Afghanistan can bring.

Launched by former Secretary of State for Defence the Right Honourable Dr Liam Fox MP
and Denise Harris founder of the Charity Afghan Heroes established by the mothers of
soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Among the guests were Prime Minister David Cameron, Foreign Secretary William Hague
and Chancellor George Osborne.

The aim of the initiative is to provide families of those recovering from the trauma of combat
to readjust in a neutral environment away from the stresses that family life at home can
bring.

It will apply to those next of kin who have lost a loved one, service personnel who have
suffered physical injury and those who need time away to come to terms with the mental
stress of combat.

The property registration section of the website was launched in June 2012 and appealed
to owners of second homes, holiday homes and timeshares across the UK and abroad to
donate week-long holidays for our troops.

This has resulted in over ten years worth of holiday time being pledged so far.

The scheme is currently in a pilot stage with a number of families having already enjoyed
time away together.

The next step is to launch phase two of the website to allow those who have served
in Afghanistan and their families to register their interest in taking some of the donated time.
Every service person and their family will be treated on an individual basis.

William Hague, Liam Fox, Denise Harris (Afghan Heroes)

For further information please visit www.giveustime.org.uk or www.afghanheroes.org.uk

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Heroes Charity Riders Quad

October 10, 2012 – 1:54 pm

Heroes Charity Riders will be donating a 250cc Spyder Quad finished in Wine Red to a member of the armed forces, who is serving or has served in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Five members of the rider’s branch will be selected to review the applications, which will be overseen by the chairman of the rider’s branch.

We are now requesting nominations for the review, the registering process is simple please send an email to office01@afgh.org, detailing the nominees name and presenting a brief case as to why he / she should be the beneficiary.  The nominee process will be open for thirty days and therefore will close at midnight on the 10th November.  The case review will take place during the following fourteen days and the beneficiary will be announced on the 30th November.

The Chairman is pleased to be able to make the donation on behalf of the Rider’s branch, through its membership subscriptions and fundraising activities, new membership details for 2013 will roll out very shortly together with a package of benefits for its Rider’s.

So come on help us get a Hero Mobile.

Register your nominee now: -  office01@afgh.org

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Give Us Time Update

August 28, 2012 – 1:48 pm

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Since its launch of the property registration the “Give us Time” initiative has secured in excess of TEN years worth of holidays, thanks to the generosity of the British public and major timeshare, commercial tour operators and travel partners.  Our first family has just trialed the scheme which is due to roll out in 2013, read about their experience as followed and reported in the Sunday Express.  A huge thanks to Club la Costa for this, the first of many!!  These boys and Girls really deserve our support, thanks again from all the Afghan Heroes and Give us Time team.

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Bale Baleiwai

August 3, 2012 – 2:29 pm

An article in The Telegraph was brought to our attention concerning the pending deportation one of our finest serving soldiers “Bale Baleiwai” with requests to help him if we could. With the help of Dr Liam Fox and others a letter was sent to the home office, see below:

Dear Damian

You will be well aware of the case of Bale Baleiwai, given the publicity surrounding it.  There is, undoubtedly, great public anxiety about how this part of immigration policy is operating.  Although serving in the armed forces is not an automatic guarantee for settlement in the UK, I believe the vast majority of people in this country would want to see preference given to those who had been willing to put themselves in harm’s way for our national security.

On top of those generic points, there are the specific conditions applying to Bale Baleiwai, particularly the fact that he has a wife and children who are UK citizens.  When the public see some thoroughly unpleasant individuals allowed to remain in the UK, but those willing to fight in the British army being deported, they will justifiably begin to wonder where our priorities lie.

I hope you will reconsider this decision.

Yours sincerely

LIAM
Parliamentary Office of the Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP

We heard yesterday that Bale Baleiwai has been given a reprieve.
This was a wider campaign and Afghan Heroes would like to thank eveyone involved.

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Ash-Rocks

July 31, 2012 – 3:52 pm

Ash Rocks
25th and 26th August
Venue: The Ashcott Inn, Bath Road, Ashcott

Two days of live music running from 2-12 confirmed acts include: -
Rod’s Faces, Joe Whelan, tribute acts including Madness, LAdy Gaga, Katy Perry, Adele, Robbie Williams and much, much more!  Tickets are limited so purchase yours now. Tickets can be purchased online via the Afghan Heroes website or at the Aschott Inn up to, or on the day. Tickets are £10 a day or £17.50 for the weekend.
Early booking advised, as the limited numbers are already filling fast!!

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Dr Liam Fox in partnership with Afghan Heroes launches ‘Give Us Time’.

June 11, 2012 – 11:31 am


‘WE NEED TO GIVE FORCES FAMILES TIME TOGETHER TO RECOVER’ – FORMER DEFENCE SECRETARY

8 June 2012: A new charity to provide holidays for recovering armed service families has been launched by former Secretary of State for Defence the Right Honourable Dr Liam Fox MP.

In partnership with Afghan Heroes, the registered charity set up by the mothers of soldiers killed in Afghanistan, this new initiative is called ‘Give Us Time’.

The idea is to provide families of those recovering from trauma of combat to adjust in a neutral and quality environment. It will apply to those who have lost a loved one, those who have suffered physical injury and those who suffer from the mental stress of combat.

Dr Fox said: “During my time as Secretary of State for Defence I was extremely heartened to see how we improved the treatment of those who had been physically injured in combat.

“Medical improvements in prosthetics, better physiotherapy and improved social attitudes all contributed to a better chance of rehabilitation. In terms of psychological trauma – the invisible scars of war – we are making progress, though perhaps at a slower rate.

“One of the areas where I think there remains room for improvement is the integration of service families into this equation.

“As a doctor working with the Armed Forces I learned the importance of seeing our personnel, not as isolated individuals, but as members of a wider family and community dynamic.

“Give Us Time has been made possible thanks to generously donated week-long holidays in second homes, holiday homes and timeshares across the UK and beyond.

“We now look forward to helping those returning from active service recover through this scheme.

“We are launching the property registration part of our website on Monday 11th June and we will trial the system throughout the rest of 2012, rolling it out more extensively in 2013. We aim to launch the armed service family part of the website in September this year.”

Denise Harris, founder of Afghan Heroes added: “When we launched Afghan Heroes, one of our main objectives was to provide support for families of the fallen and those returning from theatre.

“I know through personal experience how difficult it can be for those who have suffered loss or injury to recover. Give Us Time is a fantastic initiative and will go a long way to help those who have put their lives on the line readjust to a normal civilian life.”

This launch has been made possible by various partner organisations who have kindly donated their valuable time and resources, including Serco, VenueDirectory.com, Fanatic, and Cobweb.

For further information please visit http://www.giveustime.org.uk  or www.aghanheroes.org.uk

ENDS



Issued on behalf of Give Us Time and Afghan Heroes by Empica Ltd. For further information, contact Martin Powell or Laurence Phillips on (01275) 394400 or (07963) 092074.

By afghanhero | Posted in News | Comments (2)
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