AI 2018 Business Excellence Awards

62 Acquisition International - 2018 Business Excellence Awards BE180085 Best Mental Health Support Charity 2018 - UK Sapper Support Sapper Support was established following Tim’s personal experiences. He outlines how the organisation came into being and how it works to provide support to an underrepresented community. “Sapper Support came into being after I learned that a friend of mine had taken his own life. He had, unbeknown to us, been suffering from PTSD for some time, but as is the way, he kept it to himself. I was upset that he failed to or thought he couldn’t approach his friends for help. So, I looked into what help was available. The big charities were all well- established, but there seemed to be something missing: there was no 24/7 helpline staffed solely by veterans. So, I started one. “With an 0800-number bought from the internet and five mobile phones purchased from a local supermarket, Sapper Support went live on the 1st December 2014, staffed solely by veterans, and over 80% are also 999 employees. I decided that this added experience needed to be utilised, so we now cater for emergency service workers who may suffer from PTSD and associated mental health illnesses. The’ baggage’ a veteran carries around can be overwhelming some days, but to then add to this by witnessing trauma and violence whilst serving in the 999 community is sometimes unbearable.” Since it first began Sapper Support has flourished, and today its callers fall into three demographics: veterans, veterans serving in the 999 community and those who serve within the 999 community. Tim discusses the support that the charity offers to these callers and how it works to ensure that they are passed on to the relevant organisations should they require further assistance. “Thanks to our expertise, at Sapper Support are able to administer emotional support 24/7 with two contact numbers and a text number. We give callers the option of how they would like to make contact. We also give our service users the option to use social media, messenger and face to face support, whilst maintaining 100% confidentiality. Our ethos is simple. Make sure they hang up in a better frame of mind than when they called Sapper Support is a Charity helping those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) set up by ex-serving members of the Royal Engineers. We spoke to Founder Tim Evers to find out more about the vital work his organisation undertakes. Company: Sapper Support Contact: Tim Evers Address: 1, Scott Lane, Gomer- sal, West Yorkshire, BD19 4JY Phone: 07852994222 Website: www.sappersupport.com Tim Evers: Founder Sapper Support