STAND TO NEWS

Check out our Facebook page and Twitter feed for updates and events-

​STAND TO SitRep - our quarterly newsletter

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SitRep Issue 9 July 2021
SitRep Issue 8 April 2021
SitRep Issue 7 January 2021
SitRep Issue 6 October 2020
SitRep Issue 5 July 2020
SitRep Issue 4 April 2020
SitRep Issue 3 January 2020
SitRep Issue 2 October 2019
SitRep Issue 1 July 2019

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Recovery Month September 2021
​We've had a very busy month and big thanks to all involved​

Rhubarb Farm 

Bootcamp
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Football
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Rockbox
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Some of the activities to look forward to this September for Recovery Month - speak with your worker or
call 01246 959 333 for more information.

Great day had by all at Ladybower Fisheries on 28/07/2021

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24/06/2021 Chesterfield Market Square #Armedforcesday
www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/this-is-why-an-army-vehicle-will-be-in-chesterfield-town-centre-today-3284706?fbclid=IwAR2yJxSfYYOv6X7hw6gvoZp6s2RZ-MMiPaxRufoiKNFvIpZZFlpgZp1Jljs

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Mystery Walk 27/05/2021
Feedback from the group said it was a fantastic day and we were all glad to get out  and about and importantly meet up with a group of Veterans that all had a shared experience.  
The points of interest were good with the Church being the favourite on the day.  From the staff point of view, it was great seeing old faces and indeed new ones we had never seen since they joined the project. The mutterings of when “will the next one will be” began during lunch and I for one will look forward to whatever we do as being outside and together is what helps to make STAND TO the project that it is today….  
A good day was had by all. 

Dust off your walking boots for a magical mystery tour around Chesterfield, Thursday 27th May 2021.
​​Contact your worker for more information or call 01246 959 333

Veteran CJ Feasibility Report 2021

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Stand To was funded by the PCC to create a feasibility to study to access the needs of Derbyshire Veterans who enter to criminal justice system to look at ways to ensure they receive a dedicated response. The full report can be read here

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Veterans' Information Point  Launched
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Covid Fund, STAND TO, Derbyshire Veteran Community Support Services - (Operating under Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service CIO) is to launch a new information point for Derbyshire veterans and their families.
 
Working closely with University of Derby researchers in Veteran Health, STAND TO are launching a new veteran first point of contact, (VIP) accessed via phone Tel 01246 959333 or email standtovcs@daas.uk.com between office hours Monday to Friday with an out of hours message service. The new VIP will link to a Directory of support services which may be veteran specific or may be engaging with employer recognition schemes for the Armed forces Covenant. The directory will also provide information on wider more general support services such as CAB, hospitals, GP practices, Mental Health support, addictions, welfare, relationship and financial support services.
 
Any member of the veteran community in Derbyshire who contacts the VIP will receive a response from a fellow veteran, a worker or volunteer from our STAND TO service.
 
“This new provision will help to link the needs of veterans and their families to a wide range of information we have in our VIP directory ‘“says Elaine Handley DAAS CIO Manager. “ we know from the five years we have delivered our successful STAND TO veteran alcohol service that  alcohol issues are only one of the problems experienced by our veteran community, our new VIP will widen our remit to reach out to veterans who may be experiencing a range of problems, those which may be as a direct result of Covid  or due to longer term issues.
 
This is much more than an information point, our veteran workers and Volunteers will engage with callers and link them to a range of groups, recovery events and activities such as  walking, boot camp and fishing offering them the opportunity to regain the camaraderie  many of them miss.”
 
Dr Paula Holt MBE, Patron of ‘STAND TO’ is pleased to see development of the Veterans Information Point (VIP): ‘It is good to see a resource that is developed and resourced locally to support local veterans and their families’ 
 
The VIP will link with the existing Veteran Gateway to ensure that callers are aware of national and regional services as well as those local to them.
 
The new VIP launches on Thursday 3rd December If you are a veteran or family member, would like advice, information or guidance or would like to support us by becoming a volunteer for our VIP, please get in touch! Our VIP needs you!

October 2020 - STAND TO are now part of COBSEO, the Confederation of British Service and Ex-service Organisations. COBSEO serves as a focal point for organisations involved in supporting and promoting Veterans' issues. This is an opportunity for STAND TO to establish itself in the ex-forces charity sector and is a great endorsement of our work and our values.

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Recovery Month September 2020
Castleton Walk
STAND TO had a great day out marching around Castleton....

​Recovery Month September 2020
​Accessible Fly Fishing - Ladybower Fishery 9th September 2020
STAND TO clients had a great day out at Ladybower, trying their hand at fly fishing for rainbow trout...... 

Up and Coming Events for Recovery Month SEPTEMBER
Walk - 1st September 2020
Fishing - 9th September 2020 
Bootcamp - 24th September 2020        **CANCELLED**

​Derbyshire Armed Forces Community Survey

Derbyshire want your input.... see the info in the poster and then click the link to go direct to the survey https://uodhscrc.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cvWVgw2Vykbc6ZD 
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​GROWING LIVES- TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER 2019 - A VIEW FROM THE GROUND
A visit to the Growing Lives Project was the brain child of the STAND TO coordinator Jane Lawther, who through discussions since early September with Kim Miles Head of Service - Support & Activities organised the visit of STAND TO.....
​Download SitRep Issue 3 for more...
Wednesday 6th November 2019 - DAAS Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The theme of the event this year was “Substance Misuse, Recovery, Health and Wellbeing.” The day started well at around 1200 with networking and lunch. The event was well attended with 60 plus professionals and clients in attendance....
​Download SitRep Issue 3 for more....

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October 2019 - STAND TO Patron appointed
​Dr Paula Holt.  Pro Vice Chancellor, Dean of Health and Social Care at University of Derby is now our Patron.
Paula started her career as a General Nurse, specialising in acute medicine, then became a Mental Health Nurse. She served as an Army Officer for 8 years in SE England, Germany and Scotland heading up mental health services for Forces personnel and their families, and undertook operational tours of Bosnia in 1993/4 and 1997. In the NHS she led a drug and alcohol team, a mentally disordered offender service and developed a mandated drug treatment programme for offenders.
Within Higher Education she has championed widening participation and supporting social mobility through health careers, making a success of Higher Apprenticeships for Assistant Practitioners and Nursing Associates.
As well as leading the College of Health and Social Care Paula leads on mental health on a range of external initiatives with schools and employers, on all areas of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity and on work related to veterans and the Armed Forces. Paula is Executive Lead for Regulation for the Council of Deans of Health, representing 85 Universities that deliver Health and care across the UK. 

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March 31st 2019 Accessible Walk - DAAS and Stand To staff and clients were joined by veterans from Derbyshire Veterans Group HQ for an 8 mile accessible walk on the Chesterfield branch of the Trans Pennine Trail, starting at Rother Valley and finishing at Chesterfield's famous Spire.
​Participants were invited to join the walk at various points along the route, giving the option of 3, 5 or 8 miles, making it suitable for all ages and abilities. 

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April 25th 2019 Recovery Football Festival - the Proact Stadium hosted the event, organised by Chesterfield FC Community Trust and attended by Stand To/DAAS.
Five teams participated, including Intuitive Recovery.

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Case Study
P is an ex-soldier and served with the Royal Logistics Corps. He joined the Army in 1992, progressing to the Parachute contingent of the Corps after his basic training. During his Airborne training he was admitted to the Medical Centre after collapsing on a run and was subsequently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He was not able to continue his Para training and his Commanding Officer found him a position working on camp security duties, whilst also playing golf for the Army Golf Team. He was eventually medically discharged from the army on medical grounds in 1996.
He approached STAND TO for help in getting his drinking under control in October 2017. He described himself as an emotional and impulsive drinker.
After his assessment by a STAND TO case worker, he decided to get pro-active with his own recovery. His goal was to cut his drinking down and eventually become abstinent. His drinking patterns were driven by stress and emotion – he’d stop at the off-license on his way home from work and regularly buy 3 x 660ml bottles of 5% lager. He would occasionally go to the pub and carry on drinking after he got home. His initial alcohol intake was 98 units per week. This started to cause friction in his family relationships and was having a negative effect on his health.
Our approach initially was to use a drinking diary to identify patterns of alcohol use, triggers for his drinking and strategies for alcohol reduction with the help of his STAND TO caseworker. He also wanted to get fit and used an on-line coaching resource run by an ex-Royal Marine. He essentially replaced alcohol with fitness training. He started playing golf again and made changes to his work-life balance. After around five months he felt he’d made significant progress and started to discuss the possibility of volunteering for STAND TO as a peer-support volunteer. His alcohol intake at discharge was 0 units.
P has done some training with DAAS to equip himself for a voluntary role with STAND TO and continues to help out at events whilst our volunteering policies and processes are being updated.
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Vacancies 
There are no vacancies with the STAND TO project at present, but you are welcome to check the DAAS vacancies page.
Please contact us for information on Volunteering opportunities.