12 months ago a plea for help for an ex servicemen who'd fallen on hard times was posted in the NAAFI forum on the Army Rumour Service web site. This is a report on the transition from this to where we are now.
Within hours we'd secured enough to ensure his property was safe, within a few more hours we had enough to provide him with a Christmas, a few more hours there was enough to send him to Spain along with his family and square away their passports. This is a long article but please take the time to read on.
The money was still coming in so a couple of SSAFA chaps made us aware of others who were facing hard times so Christmas was given to them courtesy of donations made.The rolling stone gathered momentum as funds continued to be donated. With this we managed to home, feed and find work for an ex Kings Division chap in Carlisle (He is now thriving, playing an active role in his childs life and holding down a job) we sent further vouchers for servicemen's children to relieve the pressure of Christmas and also set up a kitty for Sellyoak.
Not long after, calls starting coming in regarding site members, members of the forces community who had found themselves for various reasons including injury in service on hard time. 'Spanish Dave' continued to offer and donate places in Spain so a sub committee was set up and an ops room formed where plans could be made and arguments and bickering could take place.
More debt cases came in, more injured blokes who could benefit from a week in the sun spoke up and before we knew it a small amount of structure began to sneak up on us.
Websites were made, artwork done and a whole load of scary internet stuff appeared all over the begging bowl threads, this broke up the monotony of constantly screaming out for cash.
The response was overwhelming and for those who have been around the NAAFI the Army Rumour Service for more than the last year will be aware of how quickly we have been able to box off cases when they appear. To press we've yet to let anyone down.
Achievements
In total we've raised over £38k
This is where your money was spent
- 11 serious debt cases dealt with
- 2 Bankruptcy orders set aside and stopped
- 3 Homeless servicemen homed, dealt with and assisted
- 6 Site members assisted ( No details to be posted here for obvious reasons)
- 54 families to Spain, flights, hire cars, spending money, passport fees, cleaning fees, accommodation when unavailable through donations
- 2 veterans medals replaced
- 6 court appearances to stop varying civil actions
- Alarms, orthopedic beds, hearing appliances, blind appliances, lap tops - purchased and donated
- White goods donated / bought and installed
- Sellyoak Kitty established
- RBL branch supported
- Covered two holiday of a lifetime trips to Los Angeles
- Paid domestic energy bills / council tax for people who simply couldn't afford it and who would either have personal belongings removed by bailiffs or have service disconnected
- Given the children of KIA servicemen Birthday presents
- 3 Rental bonds covered and month in advance / negotiations with Landlords and letting agents
- Provided Christmas presents / food vouchers for families on hard times.
Auctions
People have auctioned the most sensible to the most bizarre items with a view to fund raising, some have even auctioned themselves. This continues to be one of the favoured means as opposed to being bullied into coughing up. 'Niner Domestic' kindly spent time making a quilt with all the Regimental cap badges on it from members pledges. Many personal and expensive items have been pledged, repledged and sent around the country all in aid of raising cash.
Thanks
Special thanks to the team who do all the work. Most of all thank you to all that have contributed and made this entire thing possible. Unfortunately it's a little difficult for me / us to pass on the gratitude from those who benefited, and to try and demonstrate to you how much the whole Sgt Slingsby / Help Them Out / Holidays 4 Heroes initiative has assisted and improved their lives.
Many of you just see a fresh thread and some words from, we are the lucky ones who get to see the results. All I can do is assure you that we wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't needed. We've seen many of the casualties in Spain and be under no illusion how grateful they are and how needed their time away was.
There have been some outrageously generous anonymous donators, special thanks to you guys, you know who you are.
Without the assistance of overseas property owners we would not have been able get so many deserving cases overseas for a vital break from their current routine of hospital trips and rehab, all the properties involved are showcased on www.explorepolaris.com so if you are looking for a holiday have a look and don't forget to mention us. It is not just the properties though, we have had people collected from the airport and ferried around, we have had crates of beer put in fridges, welcome packs of food and wine, discounted golf, it goes on and on.
As must what we do...
Comments (1)
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The call went out on an ARRSE Thread at 1800 ... which was locked, deal done, within an hour!
THAT is the power of "Help Them Out", and the good friends of the Army Rumour Service, and those who support Sgt Slingsby.
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Holidays 4 Heroes is an informal group of people that assists wounded service personnel and their families get a precious break from the routine of rehab, hospital appointments and visits to welfare offices by facilitating holidays away from it all in accommodation donated by our sponsors in the UK and abroad. 
Deals with the cases that either lie outside the normal remit of the main Service Charities, or require a faster response than they can usually provide. Sometimes the cases require financial assistance, a little bit of nudging in the right direction for long-term help, or the application of a bit of expertise.