TV presenter Jules Hudson takes part in a sponsored walk for Walking With The Wounded’s ‘Walking Ho (Image: Jules Hudson)
Another Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday have just passed, and it’s easy to forget veterans and their families. They don’t just exist in a bubble around Poppy Day, and the opportunity for annual reflection and remembrance over the sacrifices of generations of fallen servicemen and women remains crucial.
But it’s also vital we don’t overlook our living veterans who have returned to civilian life post-service. While the majority live enjoyable and purposeful lives, there are still many who sadly struggle with the burden of the physical and mental scars from their time in the armed services.
The very real everyday struggles they can face – whether it be with employment or reintegrating into social circles – are often misunderstood or not acknowledged by society. As a current member of the Reserve Forces, I’m passionate about supporting our veterans to live fulfilling lives.
That’s why I’m incredibly proud to support Walking With The Wounded for this year’s Walking Home fundraising campaign. WWTW’s work empowers veterans with personalised support to reignite their sense of purpose, enabling them to make a positive contribution to society and enjoy independent lives.
For more than a decade, WWTW has led its annual Walking Home winter fundraiser, encouraging Brits to embrace the wintery outdoors via a sponsored walk in support of the charity’s incredible work. To date, the event has raised more than £2million.
The theme of Walking Home 2024, which runs from December 9 to 20, is Let’s Talk, which aims to encourage conversations around mental health. With long dark evenings now upon us, it’s no secret winter can be the loneliest time of year.
Recent research undertaken by the charity has found that six out of ten veterans experience feelings of loneliness on occasion. This is a 10% increase on the same statistic for the general public.
As well as supporting veterans with mental health, physical health, and social support, another focus is to educate the general public on the struggles veterans face post-service.
Jules alongside local cadets in Monmouth. (Image: Jules Hudson)
In our survey, over half of the general public felt that upholding mental health was the biggest challenge facing veterans when returning to civilian life. Yet, when asked if they felt veterans received the appropriate level of mental health support, only one in five people agreed.
This highlights the importance of this year’s Walking Home fundraising effort, and why this is the ideal time to take part in supporting our veterans. Our research also underscored the value of outdoor exercise as veterans’ most popular mental-health boosting activity – in contrast to the general public which showed socialising with friends and family as the primary mental health booster.
Nine out of ten veterans surveyed said that the key to improving mental health was spending enough time outdoors. I took part in my sponsored walk earlier this month. I began at Monmouth Castle, where my former regiment, The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers, is stationed. It gave me a wonderful feeling of nostalgia, and it was a pleasure to be joined by cadets from Monmouth Detach- ment ACF and Haberdashers’ Monmouth School CCF.
Hearing about the cadets’ career aspirations, whether in the military or otherwise, was inspiring. My walk-mates for the afternoon were only too happy to ask plenty of questions about my own journey, offering an opportunity to look back on achievements. It never ceases to amaze me how powerful a simple stroll in the outdoors can be for your own mental well-being, particularly so while supporting the mental health of others.
It is an incredibly fulfilling experience. That’s why I’m calling on all Brits to carve out a little time this winter to take on a sponsored walk both for the benefit of yourself and in aid of a brilliant cause. There’s no minimum distance, nor is there a minimum amount needed to be raised. It’s simply about coming together with those close to you and embracing the beautiful outdoors as the perfect platform to open up.
I’d like to thank WWTW for allowing me to lead this year’s event, and hope their valuable work goes from strength to strength thanks to generous donations from proud Brits. There’s no better time to sign up on the charity’s website, call on friends, family and colleagues, and get out walking.
- Jules Hudson is an Army Reservist and presenter of the ’s Escape to the Country. Visit walkingwiththewounded .org.uk to sign up or support Walking Home.