As a Poppy Supporter you help so many people in so many ways.
One of those people is Scott Robertson, a participant of the Royal British Legion funded Battle Back Centre. Scott faced major challenges since leaving the army.
“I thought I’d lost everything.”
Scott served in the British Army’s Royal Signals for 14 years, following in his father’s footsteps. He joined in 2005 and loved military life from day one. His career took him across Germany for 8 and a half years, 2 tours of Afghanistan, and a posting in Cyprus.
But his second tour in Afghanistan changed everything.
“It was a very kinetic tour of duty, and the amount of activity was just off the scale and nothing could have prepared me for that. Being posted with the infantry as well, which I had not experienced before, meant it was very full on and there were a lot of elements that made it very difficult. Sleepless nights became the norm and so it was a very problematic and traumatic ordeal all round for me and others around me..”
The Struggle After Service
After Scott returned home, the sleepless nights continued, he started to get stressed and anxious about loud noises and would often dive off the bed and hide under it. To cope with his struggles Scott began drinking even more after being told these responses were normal, after an active combat tour of duty.
“I was in a very dark place, and I just didn’t seem to be able to get the support I desperately needed at the time. I also went through some personal trauma in my home life, and I was just ready to give up. I felt that the Army didn’t want me anymore and once discharged, I felt completely lost and didn’t want to be around."
The Turning Point
Eventually, Scott began proper treatment for PTSD and found an outlet through playing golf with other veterans, thanks to the On Course Foundation. Golf became a lifeline.
His time at the Battle Back Centre really helped him accelerate his recovery. Scott also found faith, which he calls the most transformative stage of his recovery. Through his church community, he rebuilt his sense of purpose and met his fiancée. Life began to look brighter.
Invictus Games: A New Chapter
Encouraged by a friend, Scott applied for the Invictus Games. He represented Team UK in Düsseldorf in 2023 and in Canada in 2025.
Team UK Invictus is a 18-24 month, cyclical adaptive sport recovery programme for Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) Serving and Veteran men and women, and their friends and family, culminating in an international adaptive multi-sport event, the Invictus Games.
The RBL provides:
- Significant (and sometime life-changing) recovery support to competitors and their families who are selected.
- Support (including recovery pathways where appropriate) to hundreds of beneficiaries who apply to take part and are not selected.
- Raising the national and international profile of wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans – including the RBL’s role in supporting them.
“It’s quite indescribable. I didn’t think it was going to come again, so I was quite shocked. Completely different to last time, then I didn’t feel worthy, I didn’t feel like I deserved it. This time it’s more around I thought I’d come so far in my recovery, I thought there would be more people that would be chosen ahead of me”
Scott’s growth has been remarkable. From a quiet, reserved man at his first selection camp to a leader and motivator at the next, he now embraces his role as a source of encouragement for others.
Looking Ahead
Scott’s growth has been remarkable. From a quiet, reserved man at his first selection camp for Düsseldorf 2023, to a leader and motivator in the Vancouver–Whistler 2025 Winter Invictus Games, he continues to push his boundaries - even exploring Nordic skiing and biathlon despite the challenge of loud noises and his PTSD.
“Anything is possible now. The MAC (Multi-Activity Course) week at Battle Back was the best thing the RBL could’ve done. It gave us the chance to meet people, to integrate with them and see them at a deeper level than just the sport. It helped me see that I am a leader and that’s what I’m going to bring to the team. I might not have an official badge of leadership, but I know that I’m going to be a leader and encouraging people. Empathy, I’ve been there and done it, I can help others, I can recognise the signs in others that need a little support.”
Thanks to supporters like you, Scott has a bright future ahead - one filled with hope, purpose, and the power to inspire others.
Thank you for your loyal support of the Royal British Legion. Poppy Supporters are a special group of people keep an eye out for more updates on how your support is helping those in the Armed Forces community.
The Battle Back Centre in Lilleshall, Shropshire, is the home of the Royal British Legion (RBL) Recovery Services. Recovery services encompass several programmes, all designed to assist serving military personnel and veterans overcome the barriers and challenges encountered because of injury or illness.
Whilst the Battle Back Centre was originally established to support wounded and injured service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the services offered have grown over the years and now includes a significant expansion to support veterans.
The Battle Back Centre hosts Multi-Activity Courses (MACs), which are 5-day residential courses combining sport and inclusive adventure-based activities, adapted to an individual’s needs and delivered by highly skilled coaches.
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