Supporting Somerset's veterans: How ARK at Egwood is transforming lives with a £100,000 grant from the HPC Community Fund

Acts of Random Kindness (ARK) is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. The inter-generational, therapeutic land-based day facility is based at Egwood, on the outskirts of Merriott in Somerset.

We spoke to Nigel Bell, CEO of ARK at Egwood. He explains how we’ve helped the future of 100s of armed forces veterans in Somerset, thanks to a 3-year grant for almost £100,000 from the Hinkley Point C Community Fund’s open grants programme to fund a full-time Armed Forces Link Worker.

“At ARK we support people with learning disabilities, autism, mental ill health and dementia, alongside low-income families, social isolation, and young people who need help with education or their social and emotional mental health.

In general, we support people of all ages with varying needs at ARK.

We also support any member of the Armed Forces community in Somerset – either serving or ex-serving. This includes family members who may also need help.

We’re working in partnership with the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board and are one of two Armed Forces Hubs in Somerset, established to improve and develop increased support and pathways to the Armed Forces Community in Somerset.

Social isolation is the main challenge faced by ex-serving members of the Armed Forces. Once they have left the forces, the transition back into civilian life may not have gone as smoothly as they’d expected, and many experience physical and mental health issues.

Somerset has the second-largest population of veterans in the UK. Many people leave the forces and don’t know where to go, or who to call on for help. The role of the Armed Forces Link Worker is to spread the word and make those warm introductions. By asking, ‘What’s not working for you?’ they are able to connect the right people and be a holistic fix wherever they need help in their lives.

Over the years we’ve seen significant referrals coming from the Bridgwater and Highbridge area. The referrals come in from GP surgeries, the community mental health team, village agents, community centres and word of mouth. Without our support the demand increases, as does the strain on private health services and the NHS.

My hope is that we’ll eventually have four Armed Forces Link Workers reaching each corner of Somerset, connecting the whole of the county – by networking, and sharing funding and resources.

The main thing is that the veterans need to know what’s there on their doorstep – they need to know where to go and who to turn to for help and support.

We’re very grateful for this funding. We know that every penny we’ve been awarded from Somerset Community Foundation will go a long way in supporting many 100s of people over the next 3 years.”

Photo caption: Jonathan Higman (NHS Somerset CEO) and Nigel Bell (ARK CEO) with ARK team members and veterans from the Armed Forces Hub.

21.01.25