They have fought in war zones and risked their lives for their country, but for some ex-servicemen and women, their biggest challenge begins when they return home. Hannah Bryan meets the Royal British Legion's new north area manager

FOR many ex-servicemen and women, the shift from a disciplined and regimented life in the Armed Forces to a life back home is hard to adjust to.

Some replace military exercises and tours of Afghanistan with drugs and alcohol, while for others, the horrors seen in combat become too much to bear, culminating in mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Many may find themselves homeless through no fault of their own, or simply struggle with the day-to-day tasks many take for granted – doing the housework or popping to the shops.

‘‘That is where we come in," says Marcus Hawthorn, the new north area manager for the Royal British Legion.

‘‘We are there for whatever problems they may face. It is often hard for some coming out of the Armed Forces, where everything is done for you, to adapt to what we consider a normal life.

‘‘A lot become disengaged, so we are there to try and break that cycle and engage them again. We support them and help them to become part of the community once more.’’ As a former colonel with a 30-year career in the Army under his belt, the 50-yearold’s passion for helping those in need is clear to see, and as a father-of-two, he knows only too well the issues faced by the hundreds of ex-servicemen and women leaving the Armed Forces and returning to civvy street.

After joining the Army at 19, he served as a logistics officer, working in Hong Kong, Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq before moving to the Ministry of Defence.

Upon leaving at 49, he secured a job at the charity Age UK, before joining the Royal British Legion earlier this year.

‘‘I was very lucky to come out of the Army and into a job,’’ he says. ‘’I found my feet quite well, but if I think about it, if I came out and I was struggling I think it would be hard to say ‘I do need help’.

‘‘There are a lot of different reasons why people find it hard to ask for help, but often it is that pride thing – they find it difficult to ask for help.

‘‘As a lot of people are not confident enough to ask for help themselves, it is often friends or family who ask for help for them as they are not sure what to do.’’ He recalls the story of one elderly veteran who was referred to the charity by his friend.

His shower had broken and, because he was unsure of what to do or who to talk to, he and his wife had not been showering for a number of weeks.

As a result of the call for help, the charity arranged for a registered handyman to fix the shower and sent the couple on a week-long Poppy Break – a paid-for holiday available for all serving or ex-servicemen and women and their families who are in need of a break.

The charity has been supporting the Armed Forces and their families for more than 90 years, and relies heavily on donations and fundraising.

Last year the charity’s annual Poppy Appeal broke its £1m fundraising target for the North-East region for the third year in a row, with more money still to be collected.

That money helped provide support to more than 1,200 of the region's Armed Forces members, with some of the most common calls including assistance with debt and help with housing repairs and maintenance.

More than £730,000-worth of grants were also given out by the charity in the region alongside their support services, with demand expected to rise this year. The charity also recently launched an online information point and dedicated phone number with trained advisors, which is open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, to reach out to and offer advice to members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

A number of new pop-in advice centres are also due to open in towns and cities across the country, including Newcastle.

As Marcus explains, his team will endeavour to help any North-East Armed Forces family in need in whatever way they can, from paying the rental bond on a house for a homeless veteran, to helping a young widow through an inquest.

‘‘We are here for whatever they need, be it financial support or help to find employment or help with mental health,’’ he says. ‘‘If we cannot provide the help ourselves, we will help them access the right people who can.

‘‘The British Legion is a fantastic charity – it does amazing things for some of the most important people to our nation.

‘‘The charity’s slogan – ‘Shoulder to shoulder with all who serve’ – really is true. If you are in need, we are here to help."

Call the Royal British Legion's new contact centre on 0808-802-8080. All calls are free from landlines and most mobile networks. For more information, visit britishlegion.org.uk.