Former soldier sets up safe space for veterans
BBCA former soldier who struggled to return to civilian life has set up a safe space for veterans of his generation at the offices of the business he now runs.
Richy Thrower from Crewe, Cheshire, has a video production company based in nearby Nantwich, which is where local veterans are invited to meet, have a coffee and get involved in social activities and exercise.
Called Operation Reset, it is aimed at those who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
Thrower said he had tried going to existing veteran's meetings, but found many attendees were much older than him, "and nine times out of 10, you haven't got a lot in common, I just wanted to do something for people of my era."
He joined the army from school and deployed to Afghanistan at 18, and said that after leaving the military in his early 20s he struggled without the structure, purpose and bonds it had provided.
Thrower started drinking, linked back up with people he joined the army to escape and faced issues including addiction, poor mental health and homelessness.
He said it took almost eight years to find his way in life.
The 33-year-old said that if he had the support and access to what he is offering now, his life have may have been different.
"Walks every week, little brews..just something I could go to and sit with the right people, I probably wouldn't have gone down that path."
Thrower, who found purpose through filmmaking, said he wanted Operation Reset to give veterans something to look forward to, with others they could level with, as many feel lost.
One, who was in "a bad way" and had not left their home for two months, joined a walk and is now a regular attendee.
Most of the time "people just want someone to talk to," he said.
He is working with Armed Forces Community HQ, which is set to open a veteran's suppport centre in Crewe.
"I think it's really important that we've got safe spaces like Richy's," said director of the community interest company, Laura Ingham.
"Walking through the front door of somewhere can be really scary, but when the first person you meet understands your life, your experience and they can relate to you, it just helps people drop those barriers."
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