It was great to join the Convenzis team again for the patient flow event. As always, the team were incredibly accommodating and happy to help. The quality of attendees is always of a high standard and relevant to the patient flow and to us also. We continue to have great discussions and footfall around our stand with no need to try and encourage people to come and see us. Really positive event for us and we look forward to working with Convenzis in the future.
The Listening out Loud Foundation
Mission Statement
The Listening out Loud Foundation dedicated to work in local communities building the common good through mutual support of Veterans struggling with life after the Services. With friendly and understanding support and a focus of working within the local community's needs, LOL is committed to serving those who have given so much for us all.
About Us
Whilst visiting amputee soldiers in Selly Oak Hospital in 2009/10 we made friends with a soldier, a triple amputee. We knew that 'Help For Heroes' were doing a fantastic job with amputees but nobody seemed to be concentrating on mental health problems. This was the start of our journey.
After many conversations with him and his father it became increasingly clear that there was no successful system in place which worked simultaneously for him, his family, his job and his sanity.
We started to think about a home where veterans and families could come and rest whilst we helped them.
Soon enough, Councillor Gordon Baxendale - Congleton West Army Champion - generously liaised with Cheshire East resulting in property being gifted to enable us to provide homes for those veterans.
In October 2012 the charity was formed.
It is almost impossible to imagine how frustrating veterans find it when trying to navigate the state system after fighting for their country. It is especially difficult if they are diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as they have often become alienated from friends and family with no job waiting for them.
All these factors create a very slippery slope into homelessness.
That is why we are here for them - why we do what we do.
Since we opened our doors in 2012 we have given 87 ex-forces personnel a home and the offer of help they needed. Those we were able to help were willing to help themselves by initiating positive changes and by working to rid themselves of their addictions. Those we haven't yet been able to help are, in their own words, 'not ready'.
Following our dedicated work, numerous ex-forces personnel have moved into the local community and are now working full time. There are also those who live independently but still receive benefits and support whilst continuing with their counselling
We are dedicated to a continued focus on mental health and addiction issues.
We have found ourselves helping more and more with court appearances and reuniting ex-servicemen with their children. We work closely with children's services to ensure the children have a happy reunion. Quite often we find the children say that they see dad as looking the same but not acting the same. They ask questions like 'Why is daddy sleeping all day and not seeing his friends?'
We are very aware that the trauma is often passed around the whole family and that they ALL need support. Whilst we continue to offer our help, we do not receive any funding.
My son, Andrew Dolman Bayley volunteers many hours with court appearances and working alongside the children's services. We need help to raise money so we can help more families and so we can employ staff as outreach workers to continue supporting these families. We want to help prevent unnecessary emotional trauma so we can avoid family breakups, rough sleeping and the addictions that sometimes follow.
I am very proud of how The LOL Foundation has helped our boys over the years. It is sad though that some of them are not ready for change. We always let everyone know that when they are ready our door is always open. We have recently had two such members who did return and the difference in them both is heart warming. Both members have made huge progress.
As with all charities and volunteer based organisations we have had our share of criticism -
'Why are you bringing ex-service personnel who have addiction issues into our town?'
'You are not registered with The Care Quality Commission (CQC) surely you can't be doing things right?'
We say to these people, 'Please come and visit us anytime and see the invaluable work that is being done. Our lads need positive support and understanding not negativity.'
We have fully qualified counsellors who work around the clock to support the lads and lasses. We work as a therapeutic community with the members living together as a family, it is here they find understanding which is the key ingredient so their healing process can begin.
LOL is not about sticking plasters on these issues, we work very hard to get to the core of the problem. Our goal is to help these lads and lasses lead a normal life.'
Jill & Andy Dolman - The LOL Foundation founders.
Additional Information About Us
The foundation was established to reduce poverty, distress and suffering experienced by
homeless veterans and works to help reintegrate them into civilian society.
“Our main focus is to provide a holistic approach to supporting the lads, promoting independence
but at an individual pace,” explained founder Andrew Dolman-Bayley.
A veteran himself, Andrew understands first hand the reality of life after the forces and is keen to
spread the word of the invaluable work they are doing in the region. “We have received fantastic
support from Cheshire East Council which has enabled us to offer a safe home to 12 ex-service
“It is almost impossible to imagine how frustrating veterans find it when trying to navigate the
state system after fighting for their country. It is especially difficult if they are diagnosed with
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as they have often become alienated from friends and
family with no job waiting for them. This is where we come in.”
Around 10% of the UK’s 250,000 people who find themselves homeless are ex-forces.
Since opening their doors in 2012 the LOL Foundation has given 87 ex-forces personnel a home
and the offer of help they needed to regain their independence. This is achieved through counselling to assist with psychological problems and addiction, support to overcome minor offences and to re-engage with families wherever possible as well as training for those without a trade and advice on how to find suitable employment.
Details:
- The LOL Foundation
48 Lawton street
Congleton,
CW12 1RS
Registered Charity Number: 1149199
