The first guest speakers for On Track have been announced, including AFC Bournemouth’s Steve Cuss and powerful lived experiences from veterans and their families.
The Tank Museum’s wellbeing event takes place on 5 October in conjunction with World Mental Health Day, and features speakers and expert-led workshops designed to support armed forces and emergency services personnel, veterans, and their families.
Guest speakers will include Steve Cuss from AFC Bournemouth, who will share how the power of football can support mental health. Steve is the Head of Community Sports Trust, as well as managing the Woman’s Team – the Cherries.
He is joined by Major Pat Burgess MBE DSc, whose “plain and simple” mindfulness techniques have been taught across the defence industry, prisons, schools, and even Glastonbury Festival.
Jess Sterling-Yateman is returning to the event after her moving talk in 2021 to discuss the challenges of living with a parent with complex mental health issues after serving in the Armed Forces. Former Royal Marines Sergeant Danny Cole will also be sharing his lived experience with PTSD.
Rosanna Dean, Visitor Experience General Manager, said:
“Armed Forces and emergency service personnel can face unique risks and challenges to their mental health. On Track event gives these individuals techniques and peer-to-peer contacts to help build their coping skills and positively impact their lives”.
Exhibitors inside the Museum will include Models for Heroes, Dorset Police and Al-Anon, and the event will be livestreamed on YouTube for those who are unable to attend the day in person. The final guest speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The event is kindly supported by the National Lottery Community Fund and SSAFA, and is run in partnership with Bournemouth University, the Armed Forces Covenant, NHS Dorset, AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust, and Dorset Mental Health Forum.
Admission to On Track is free for serving Armed Forces, veterans, and past and present emergency services staff. Normal admission charges apply to other attendees. Pre-booking is required. For more information see tankmuseum.org/on-track