Empowering Veterans Through Debating

Veterans are being taught the art of British Parliamentary Debating to help in their ongoing recovery from trauma and injury during their military careers, helping many to regain the voice they feel has been lost. 

Forward Assist supports veterans with a host of issues – from unemployment and homelessness to involvement in the criminal justice system and mental health struggles – to live positive lives as part of civilian society, with the struggle to adjust often being exacerbated by the hugely traumatic experiences they have suffered during their time in service. The pioneering charity is the only resource in the UK to offer support with military sexual trauma – estimated to be one of the main causes of PTSD amongst veterans – and many of its thousands of clients may also experience brain injury, physical injury and mental illness. 

Read more here: https://www.nrtimes.co.uk/empowering-veterans-through-debating/

Women Veterans ' Virtual Debate Training' Starts in March 2021

Thanks to funding from the Covenant Trust Fund we are, at last able to progress our Veterans British Parliamentary Debate Training Project. As such, we are delighted to partner with Parallel Histories https://www.parallelhistories.org.uk/ to deliver virtual debate training to women veterans in March 2021.

A team of eight women veterans will initially work with a group of students to learn the art of debate. During the course participants will gain an understanding of debating, confidence in public speaking, and the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills that enhance their ability to structure and organise thoughts and arguments. By enhancing the learners' analytical, research and note-taking skills, the women will learn how to form balanced, informed arguments using reasoning and evidence. The participants will also be invited to visit the House of Commons & House of Lords to see debates taking place in both sides of the House when the current C-19 restrictions permit.