A local veteran’s support service has launched an innovative new scheme for local veterans, aiming to improve both physical / emotional wellbeing through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The JohnPaul Project was set up in memory of local soldier JohnPaul Finnegan who took his life after a lengthy battle with PTSD after leaving the army. The project provides a range of talking therapies and physical activity programmes with the central aim of improving veteran wellbeing and reducing the prevalence of suicide in the veteran population.
The project has teamed up with renowned combat sports gym, Aspire Combat Sports which is based on Queens Drive in which expert practitioners in BJJ are providing a fully funded beginners course open to all Merseyside based veterans.
The project started this week with a number of veterans in attendance all of whom were delighted with the course and looking forward to progressing their skills in BJJ.
Phaedra Bell Project Coordinator of the John Paul Project said ‘We were really proud to launch this project last night and happy to see all the veterans from across the services to come down and take part, we believe the BJJ programme provides an excellent way of bringing people together and improving wellbeing’
Dean Garnett Head Coach at Aspire Combat Sports ‘ As a gym we are passionate in supporting our local community and promoting martial arts such as BJJ as a tool for improving peoples physical and mental wellbeing. We have highly skilled coaches in Liam and Marlon who are providing really bespoke support enabling people with all abilities to take part’
The project is open to all local veterans, if you would be interested in taking part please phone Caring Connections on 01512892761 or email veterans@caringconnections.org.uk to reserve your space.