Two former Merseyside special forces soldiers have “dedicated their lives” to helping other ex-military across the North West.
Peter McComb, from Litherland and Colin Eastaway, from Bootle, who both served in Iraq and Afghanistan, founded The Block CIC - a veterans outreach organisation - in November 2020. The organisation, based in Kirkdale, bridges the gap and offers a wide range of support services to ex-servicemen and women.
Ran by Peter, Colin and a small team of volunteers, The Block offers emergency accommodation, emotional support, coffee mornings, drop-ins, signposting, and more. Through it, the two claim they have pledged over £360,00 of their own money and over 5,000 hours of their own time to help their fellow veterans.
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Colin, who works in security, said: “The Block really is a 24/7 service and we have gone out to veterans in times of crisis at any given time. My partner will tell you - many dinners have been abandoned because we have gone out on a call and we’ve been out at all times of day and night.”
Peter and Colin met in a careers office in 2000 and went on to serve together in countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, both losing friends and suffering from PTSD as a result. After Peter was discharged due to a brain injury during combat and becoming “disillusioned” with the lack of support, he invested his military compensation into creating The Block, with Colin soon joining forces with his old friend.
During the past two years, the team have helped over 250 veterans with some claiming the group saved their lives.
The 42-year-old added: “We do this because we genuinely care. Other charities and services will often switch their phones off after 5 pm but we work tirelessly around the clock to help our fellow veterans. The success stories are amazing though and it’s so rewarding to see people who have been struggling with their mental health get back on their feet.”
The team focus on helping veterans in times of crisis, getting them off the streets and providing a safe haven and refuge for them. One recent success story is Leon who, due to “major alcohol problems”, was living in a tent in the woods with his two dogs. Colin and the team went to pick him up, gave him a mental health assessment and provided him with accommodation, a phone, clothing, food and support - he is now doing well, with a good job and his own property in the affluent area of Formby.
Leon said: “Since leaving the military I was diagnosed with PTSD and went through a stage of drinking every day. I lost everything and this led to me living in the woods with my two dogs. I recently met The Block’s patron, Johnny Mercer, and told him I’d be dead if it wasn’t for The Block. This small organisation have turned my life around.”
Yet, despite the efforts of the team, The Block has still not had any official funding, instead investing their own money and being reliant upon donations from the public. One such donor is Sharon Garton, from Mansfield, who has raised over £20,000 for the project in memory of her son Andy - a veteran who tragically took his own life due to PTSD in 2021. The money donated by Sharon has been vital in keeping the project alive with her fundraising efforts fully funding one of the group's holistic therapy retreats.
Colin said: “We’re so grateful to those who have supported us so far. It is frustrating not receiving funding but we’re getting there. I work full time and my partner works part-time, whilst Peter has serious medical issues following his time serving, and although the volunteers do a truly fantastic job, we really need funding to be able to employ full-time staff here. We have a great space here and it has so much potential. We just need funders to put their hands in their pockets now as we’ve invested everything and can’t rely on the public forever. It’s been two years and we have a proven model.”
A recent ONS report showed that there are over 50,000 veterans residing in the North West of England. A recent British Journal of Psychiatry report highlighted that veterans are much more likely to develop PTSD than non-veterans and of those who have served in conflict, 17% reported symptoms of PTSD and 30% were predicted to develop a mental health condition.
The Block volunteer Craig Donoghue, who is a veteran himself, said: “There are many veterans walking amongst us who have deep underlying issues following service. Many of them, feel they have nowhere to turn because they are too proud or simply because people won’t understand. This can build up and we have seen some tragic cases.
“The role of places like The Block to bridge the gap is vital. I know, as becoming part of it and volunteering here has saved my life. Even if it’s just to drop in for a brew and a chat or to one of our Hotpot Fridays — it’s having people to confide in who understand and somewhere you won’t be judged that’s so important.”
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