We are excited to be awarded £9,900 in National Lottery funding to support our work providing model making activities to Armed Forces and Emergency Service Personnel in the UK. We will use the cash to provide Mental Health First Aid training to our volunteers. We have 30 volunteers and support 72 model making groups across the UK. Thanks to the players of the National Lottery we will be able to train more of our volunteers.

 Matt Harding, our Ambassador and former Lead Nurse for Inpatient Military Mental Healthcare at Southern Health NHS Model said…

The volunteers will undoubtedly come in to contact with people with mental health difficulties. One of the great benefits is the opportunity it gives for people of a similar background to come together, talk to each other and share their experiences. Often their mental health problems, treatment and symptoms can form part of that discussion. If our volunteers have an understanding of what that means it will enable them to offer a better informed ear, empathise, spot anything alarming and potentially sign post in crisis. That kind of knowledge only comes with training and as a result I believe the mental health first aid courses are really important to support both the beneficiaries and the volunteers.

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which is the largest community funder in the UK, will see 45 volunteers trained in Mental Health First Aid over the coming year.

Malcolm Childs, founder of Models for Heroes, said…

We are pleased that the National Lottery Community Fund has recognised the value in our work. Now, thanks to the National Lottery players we will be able focus on providing the best quality support to our beneficiaries and our volunteers that they undeniably deserve.

On the 22nd February members of the Wyton Gaming Club organised a Warhammer 30k event to raise funds and awareness for Model for Heroes.

Attended by 20 players and very generously furnished with raffle prizes from numerous suppliers the event raised a staggering £840. On behalf of our beneficiaries, we want to thank the Wyton Gaming Club for a thoroughly entertaining day and for their commitment to our cause.

On the 1st of March 2020 Model s for Heroes were invited to display their work at the East of England Model Show hosted by Peterborough Model Club.  Steff Keightley and Trevor Picking were there as volunteers running the table.  Jane Nash was also there who had donated her late husband's 1/24 mosquito to be built by beneficiaries as part of their therapeutic activity. The model was then raffled off to raise funds for Models fro Heroes.   This was then was won by Alf Morevo who also donated an extra cash sum at the end.   Our volunteers were welcomed to the show and were well looked after. We hope to go again in 2021!

Models for Heroes are now an associate of The Association of Ex-Service Drop-Ins (ASDIC).  ASDIC provide drop ins, hubs and centres a coordinated approach.  Charities and Organisations meet for a few hours in on place, allowing local veterans to attend and find out what support is available.  There are 41 different Drop-Ins signed up to ASDIC.  M4H already attend 5 ASDIC locations from Newcastle to Gosport and will be looking to offer our modeling sessions to the others during 2020. 
For more info on ASDIC, Check their website:   https://www.asdic.org.uk/

After a heavy need was identified in the area to offer a meaningful activity, M4H volunteer Nick came forward to offer to organise and run his own modelling session. Starting in January this session is set to be popular and well attended.   Only with your support are we able to provide the Croydon modelling sessions with everything they need to make a great success of their new group.   Best of Luck Nick, we cant wait to see what projects are going to be made.