Limbless war veterans drafted to toughen up young Londoners

<p>Amputee former servicemen and women are deploying their military experiences to help young people become more resilient to the challenges of modern life.</p><p>The Making Generation R project is a collaboration between veterans organisations <a href="https://blesma.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Blesma </a>and <a href="https://thedriveproject.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Drive Project</a>.</p><p>Hear how the squad’s experiences and coping strategies shared at innovative workshops are inspiring schoolchildren to better navigate the stresses of the 21st Century.</p><p>We speak with south Londoner Dan Richards, now a project manager and competitive cyclist, after recent session held at Sadler’s Wells theatre in Clerkenwell.</p><p>Dan was formerly a trumpeter with King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery who needed his right arm and shoulder amputated after a horrific motorbike crash.</p><p>He describes his mental health battle as he struggled to get a job after making over 300 applications following his medical discharge from the army.</p><p>The Leader also speaks with Jon Bryant, Blesma chief executive and former Army Air Corps colonel, who tells us about the battlefield injuries being suffered in Ukraine.</p><p>More than a dozen ex-servicemen and women are involved in the project.</p><p>You can donate to the Standard’s Ukraine Appeal here: gofundme.com/eveningstandardukraineappeal.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>