10th Anniversary
2021 saw Felix Fund – the bomb disposal charity reach its 10th Anniversary. Born out of a requirement for specialist help for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) & Search communities following their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan Felix Fund has met the challenges and provided the tailored support needed since 2011.
Dashboard Course
The charity started with normalisation breaks for teams returning from deployment and saw over 100 personnel benefit from a week made up of a variety of team building activities as well as an opportunity for them to talk over their experiences both as a team and individuals. These breaks proved vital in reducing the risk of poor mental health among these personnel. Following the withdrawal of troops in large numbers from the Middle East Felix Fund reviewed its focus and what it was delivering and developed the Dashboard program. This preventative stress training based on mindfulness provides serving personnel and veterans with the tools and techniques to recognise the warning signs of stress and to be able to develop their ability to relax, clear their minds and focus on positive aspects of life. This will then feedback into a more productive and positive work and home environment.
Our Dashboard program has now been running since 2016 and we had had over 700 individuals attend.
Grants
As well as focusing on helping with stress and other mental health issues Felix Fund is a grant making charity providing financial assistance in times of need. Since 2011 we have given out over £1.7m in help to veterans, serving personnel and their dependent family members. This financial support for veterans has helped with a wide range of home adaptations, mobility equipment, sporting equipment and specialist counselling. As well as emergency grants for those veterans who found themselves out of work or on reduced hours when the first lockdown happened. A number fell through the gaps of the Government support on offer at the time.
For serving personnel grants have covered emergency childcare costs, medical equipment, and funeral costs. Other grants have gone towards welfare facilities on camp and community projects for the benefit of military families.
Felix Fund has always prided itself on being able to not just provide quick support but to listen to what people need and to help finance this need when and where appropriate. Being a small charity has some advantages, limited red tape means we can turn a grant request around in a few hours if necessary. For example, a young reservist had got into difficulties with rent arrears, the bailiffs were on the doorstep while he was at work and his sick mother could do nothing. An agreed stay of execution meant Felix Fund could get funds to him within a couple of hours to help towards his repayment.
10 Year Appeal
Helping the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Search communities since 2011, Felix Fund has evolved with the needs of those we are here to help.
Please help us mark this occasion by making a donation to our 10 Year Appeal. We have a target of £100K which will go towards helping the men and women from across all aspects of EOD & Search from any British military service. Despite now being in our 12th year you can still donate to this appeal.