Veteran volunteers support Hemel Hempstead residents during coronavirus pandemic

RE:ACT volunteers support disaster responses and relief efforts in the UK and internationally
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Hertfordshire residents in need are benefiting from the expertise and support of highly skilled ex-military volunteers from RE:ACT, formerly Team Rubicon UK.

RE:ACT is a national charity supporting humanitarian disasters through the deployment of veteran volunteers.

Using skills and experience gained through years of military service, RE:ACT volunteers are tasked to go to support disaster responses and relief efforts in the UK and internationally.

Team RE:ACT volunteers helping in HertfordshireTeam RE:ACT volunteers helping in Hertfordshire
Team RE:ACT volunteers helping in Hertfordshire

Steve Johnson, an ex royal marine with over 30 years of combat service, is one of a group of six veterans supporting Hertfordshire’s efforts to deliver food and other essentials to those who have been asked to self-isolate for health reasons.

So far, over 100,000 packages have been distributed to residents and organisations helping those in need in the county and a further 1,600 prescriptions have been delivered by additional local volunteers.

Between them, the veterans have 125 years of service and have completed many tours of action abroad including in the Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Iraq, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.

The veterans have all been furloughed from their day jobs and travel from across Essex and Buckinghamshire to support Hertfordshire’s most at risk.

RE:ACT volunteers’ step in to help support public and emergency services at times of immense pressure.

All of the team have background expertise that makes them perfect for the job, so for instance this team in Hertfordshire specialise in logistics, supply and distribution, food safety and data management and finance.

Steve said: "We’ve been here for around five weeks and a number of us will we be here until mid-July to support the recovery phase.

"We all get a good feeling about helping out, freeing up the people working on the frontline to do what they do best.

“A big thing for many veterans is coping with mental health concerns, many people, myself included, suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after leaving active service.

"The military is such a huge part of your life, it’s like a big family and when that ends it can be hard to deal with that loss and shared experience.

"My wife is an ICU Nurse and has been working so hard during this pandemic; before I joined the team, I’d been at home climbing the walls for weeks.

"Team Rubicon gives veterans a sense of family and purpose when often there is none. We’re all absolutely delighted to get the call to step back in to serve our county in a voluntary capacity.

“We take our role and responsibilities here very seriously. If it were my family, I would want someone looking after them, we care what happens to these people.

"It’s a brilliant operation here in Hertfordshire, we’re glad to have been able to add to that and offer our expertise – it’s a great sense of achievement and the people we’re supporting are so grateful.”

Terry Douris, Executive Member for Education, Libraries and Localism, said; “We’re so grateful for the dedicated support of the RE:ACT veteran volunteers who are helping us to distribute vital food and medication to those Hertfordshire residents most at risk from contracting coronavirus.

“Their knowledge and experience gained in the armed forces has been invaluable in helping us to make sure we can get the right help and support to people in the most effective way.”

Hertfordshire County Council is proud to hold a Gold Award of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and be part of the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant Board.

Hertfordshire County Council is a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant and responsible for organising and supporting the Hertfordshire Covenant Board, promoted as Hertfordshire Heroes.

In Hertfordshire, this brings together business, military organisations, charities and local authorities in a shared commitment to ensure that no veteran faces a disadvantage when accessing public services, the armed forces community is honoured and celebrated for the sacrifices they have made, and the military and civilian communities are well integrated.