Style for Soldiers Newsletter Spring 2016

THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING SMART SHIRTS AND WALKING STICKS TO THE PATIENTS I MEET AT HEADLEY COURT MILITARY REHABILITATION HOSPITAL, AND GIVE THE CHRISTMAS PARTIES WHICH HAVE BECOME THE LARGEST REUNON FOR INJURED SERVICE PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE UK.

AS SO MANY ARE NOW FACING MEDICAL DISCHARGE FROM THE FORCES DUE TO THEIR LIFE CHANGING INJURIES, THE IMPORTANCE OF A NEW CAREER AND PURPOSE TO LIFE BECOMES PARAMOUNT FOR A FINANCIALLY SECURE FUTURE AND SELF ESTEEM.

THE PARTIES HAVE BEEN A HELP, INTRODUCING SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS IN A RELAXED, SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT, AND THE NEED FOR THE FULL WORK ‘ UNIFORM ‘ BECAME APPARENT TO HELP WITH CONFIDENCE AT INTERVIEW AND FOR NEW JOBS.

MARKS AND SPENCER HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE, GIVING STYLE FOR SOLDIERS 250 VOUCHERS WORTH £400 EACH TO SEND OUT TO THE SOLDIERS, WHICH HAVE ENABLED THEM TO BUY A SUIT AND SHOES TO FULLY CLOTHE THEM. LAST WEEK THEY ISSUED ANOTHER 250 VOUCHERS, HAVING ASKED ME TO ALERT THEM AS SOON AS WE CAME TO THE END, THAT NO ONE GOES WITHOUT. THEY HAVE SORT NO PUBLICITY, FORWARDING THE EMAILS AND LETTERS I RECEIVE IN THANKS FOR THEIR VOUCHERS TO THEIR STAFF WHO HAVE HELPED THE SERVICEMEN AND THEIR PARTNERS IN THE REGIONAL STORES.

HUNTSMAN HAVE GIVEN 10 BESPOKE SUITS WHICH HAS GIVEN THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME AT THE MEASURES AND FITTINGS, AND THEIR STAFF ALSO HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONAL, ESPECIALLY ANNETTE WHO HAS MADE ALL THEIR SUITS WITH EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY.

OUR PATRONS LISA ARMSTRONG AND DAVID GANDY HAVE RAISED THOUSANDS OF POUNDS, LISA AMONGST HER COLLEAGUES AT THE TELEGRAPH, AND DAVID BY AN ONLINE AUCTION OF 3 ‘ SOCK MONKEYS’ , MADE BY THE GREAT LONDON SOCK COMPANY HE CO OWNS. THE IMAGE OF DAVID GANDY ON SOCIAL MEDIA OUT AT A CAFE WITH THE MONKEYS RESULTED IN A BUSINESS WOMAN FAN IN LA BIDDING £3000 WHICH HAS PAID FOR ONE OF THE SERVICEMEN DAVID HAS GOT TO KNOW WELL TO GO TO MAURITIUS FOR HIS HONEYMOON THIS SUMMER ( SEE PICTURES OF SHAUN AND DAVID BELOW), BY VERY HAPPY AGREEMENT OF THE GENEROUS LADY.

HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF BEDFORD IS KINDLY HOSTING A STYLE FOR SOLDIERS FAMILY DAY AT WOBURN SAFARI PARK THIS SUMMER; 220 FREE TICKETS FOR THE PARK, AND A BARBECUE LUNCH. WE SENT OUT THE EMAIL TODAY AND HAVE ALREADY HAD MANY EXCITED REPLIES. AS SO MANY OF THE SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN HAVE NEW BORNS AND YOUNG CHILDREN WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE LOVELY FOR THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO MEET, AS WELL AS TO SEE OLD FRIENDS AGAIN.

AFTER THE LAST PARTY I HAD A LETTER FROM A FORMER SOLDIERS WHO CAME WITH HIS DAUGHTER SAYING IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD BEEN OUT SOCIALLY FOR 4 YEARS, SINCE HE LEFT THE FORCES, AND MIXING WITH FELLOW MILITARY HAD GIVEN HIM THE CONFIDENCE TO START GOING OUT AGAIN. THIS WAS SO GREAT TO HEAR AND ENCOURAGED ME TO TRY AND GIVE THE PARTIES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE UK, TO REACH THE MANY WHO COULDN’T OR WOULD NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING TO LONDON. OUR NEW PATRON FRANCIE CLARKSON AND I WILL PLANNING THESE FROM THIS YEAR ONWARDS.

MAPPIN & WEBB HAVE ASKED STYLE FOR SOLDIERS TO BE THEIR CHARITABLE PARTNER, PLEDGING FINANCIAL SUPPORT GIFTING 5 OF THEIR NEWLY LAUNCHED CAMPAIGN WATCHES AND 100 PAIRS OF ENAMEL CUFFLINKS DESIGNED BY THER CREATIVE DIRECTOR ELIZABETH GALTON. I HAD WANTED TO PRODUCE A COMMEMORATIVE CUFFLINK AS SO MANY CHOOSE DOUBLE CUFFS FOR THEIR SHIRTS, TO REMEMBER THE TWO RECENT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WHERE SO MANY OF TERRIBLE CASUALTIES HAVE OCCURRED, AND THESE WILL NOW BE ON SALE AT M&W WITH 7% OF PROCEEDS GOING TO S4S. LE CAPRICE HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOORS VERY RARELY IN SUPPORT OF STYLE FOR SOLDIERS, AS MAPPIN AND WEBB ARE GIVING A DINNER TO LAUNCH THE WATCH AND CUFFLINKS, AND TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE CHARITY.

WE HAVE TWO NEW AMBASSADORS TO JOIN DAVID, FORMER BOMB DISPOSAL ROYAL ENGINEER SAPPER MATT WESTON, NOW PLAYING A FUNDEMANTAL PART IN THE VETS PROGRAMME AT BARCLAYS, AND LT. ALEX HORSFALL  ( SEE BELOW ). MATT IS IN A WHEELCHAIR AND NOW WORKS IN THE CITY. I REALISED HE COULDN’T CARRY A BRIEF CASE AND HE WAS NOT FOND OF HIS BACK PACK ON THE BACK OF HIS CHAIR. I APPROACHED MULBERRY AS MATT RESEARCHED AND ADVISED ME THAT THEIRS WERE THE MOST DESIRABLE OF ALL, AND THIS MORNING THEIR FORMER MILITARY CEO PLEDGED 5 BEAUTIFUL LEATHER BACK PACKS. I SHALL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE BACK PACKS IN THE FUTURE AS I ALSO GATHER THEY ARE THE ONLY OPTION EITHER IN A CHAIR OR WITH PROSTHETIC LEGS AS BALANCE CAN BE A GREAT CHALLENGE.

MARIA WITCHELL, WHO JOINED US AS A PATRON LAST YEAR, GAVE ME INESTIMABLE HELP IN HER CAPACITY AS A FINANCIAL LAWYER ( SHE IS ALSO FORMER SPECIAL FORCES AND MI5 ) IN APPLYING FOR LIBOR FUNDING FROM THE CHANCELLOR, THE FINES IMPOSED ON BANKS FOR FIXING THE INTEREST RATES. THE FUTURE OF STYLE FOR SOLDIERS IS SECURED FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS WE WERE THRILLED TO BE AWARDED £1.5 MILLION. MY THANKS TO MARIA FOR HER HOURS OF GIVEN TIME AND WORK.

WE HAVE 650 INJURED SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN ON OUR DATABASE NOW WHO WE HAVE MADE SHIRTS AND WALKING STICKS FOR ON MY VISITS TO THE HOSPITAL SINCE 2008. WE ARE IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH MANY,  BUT THERE ARE ALSO MANY WHO ARE LAYING LOW.  WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN, THROUGH SMART, MORALE BOOSTING CLOTHING AND HAPPY, SOCIAL EVENTS PUT ON ALL AROUND THE UK ,TO RE UNITE THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES TOGETHER ON A REGULAR BASIS WELL INTO THE FUTURE AS I HAVE SEEN HOW GREAT A HELP THAT CAN BE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

EMMA

THANK YOU LETTERS, EMAILS AND PHOTOGRAPHS SENT TO US.

I will be forever in your debt, at one of the bleakest times in my life that literally cost me everything, You and your Team were there to take my measurements for one of your amazing shirts. From the outside what seemed like a small gesture of good will provided me with the shirt and confidence to succeed at interview and propelled me to where I am now. Dan Richards

Hi just to let you know my M&S suit arrived yesterday ,tried on everything and my wife said I looked a different person. She will be adding a thank you to style for soldiers web site thank you Kristal and Emma and everyone at the charity for helping me in this darker time in my life

Yours. Keith

Just a note to say thank you very much for the walking stick you kindly made and sent me from Style for Soldiers. It will be very well looked after and used frequently with pride. Karen

I just wanted to say Thank you.  My stick is awesome and is already helping me out and helping my rehab. It is great to know there are still loads of people out there still helping out injured service personnel.

Once again many thanks. Dave