Published on: 12th December 2024
On Wednesday 11 December, Paralympic gold medallist and former Royal Engineer Commando Gregg Stevenson joined members of the Midlands Op COURAGE team at St Andrew’s Stadium in Birmingham to give a special presentation about his journey from serving in the Armed Forces to becoming a professional rower, to now supporting other veterans.
Gregg served as a Royal Engineer Commando before suffering a traumatic injury in 2009, where he lost both legs below the knee. Despite initial struggles, he worked hard to regain his fitness and pursued opportunities to learn new sports.
He became interested in rowing after trying out for the Invictus Games in 2018. Gregg then went on to qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where he won gold in the mixed double sculls, alongside his partner Lauren Rowles.
Alongside his impressive professional rowing career, Gregg is also a skilled mental health practitioner supporting veterans in his role as Armed Forces Lived Experience Lead for Op COURAGE North. Last month, Gregg was announced as a trustee for Walking With The Wounded, a key delivery partner for the Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership.
Gregg gave an inspiring presentation, touching on his time in the Armed Forces, his injury and subsequent rehabilitation, incredible professional rowing career and now his valuable work with the NHS, using his own lived-experience as a veteran to help develop the Op COURAGE service.
Gregg also participated in a focus group with key team members to discuss their shared goal of improving substance misuse and addiction services for the Armed Forces community, along with Midlands Op COURAGE partner Tom Harrison House. Tom Harrison House is a charity, providing a specialist addiction recovery programme for UK Armed Forces veterans and emergency services personnel.
Gregg said:
“Working in veterans’ mental health is unique and in Op COURAGE we’re very lucky to have expertise from both skilled staff and veterans. It’s so important that we spread the word and make sure veterans reach out for help when they need it.”
Paul Izod, Op COURAGE Substance Misuse Nurse at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said:
“It was great to hear about Gregg’s experience as veteran, Paralympian and Armed Forces Lived Experience Lead.
“His commitment to supporting veterans and using his own lived experience is not only hugely inspiring, but it has also given us lots of ideas as to how we can develop our work to benefit our service users.”
Alongside Gregg’s presentation, the partnership’s Veterans' Voices forum also took the opportunity to hold its first ever in-person meeting. Veterans’ Voices is the main service user forum for Midlands Op COURAGE and embodies the principles of co-production. Co-production is a way of working that involves people who use health and care services, carers and communities in equal partnership.
The forum, whose members include staff and veterans from across both the East and West Midlands, ensures that veterans are consistently involved in the design, delivery and evaluation of Op COURAGE services across the region. The group which usually meets virtually on a bi-monthly basis, is chaired by Dr Esther Riggs, Principal Counselling Psychologist from Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Co-Chaired by Toby Downing, from Tom Harrison House.
We are proud to support Veterans' Voices with the following members from Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust:
- Doug Wing, veteran and Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership Operational Lead
- Andy Davies, Op COURAGE Service Manager
- Linda O'Hara, veteran and Participation Lead
- Sarah Riseborough, veteran and Op COURAGE Support Worker
- Gary Hillary, Op COURAGE Peer Support Worker
- Emma Welbourn, Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership Communications and Engagement Officer
About Op COURAGE
Op COURAGE is an NHS service developed with people who have served in the Armed Forces and experienced mental ill-health. Working together with NHS services and charities, Op COURAGE makes sure people who have served and are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing get the specialist care, support and treatment for their specific needs.
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust was named lead provider for the Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership in April 2023. Since then, working with our partners, we’ve supported more than 2,000 veterans, service leavers, reservists and their families across both the East and West Midlands.
Veterans, their families or other health professionals can refer, or self-refer to services by calling 0300 323 0137 or emailing mevs.mhm@nhs.net
Please visit www.opcouragemidlands.nhs.uk for more information.
Midlands Op COURAGE is proudly delivered in partnership by: Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, St Andrew's Healthcare, Walking With The Wounded, The Ripple Pond, Tom Harrison House, and Mental Health Matters.
