On this page you will find information about:
- What Recovery services are and how they can support currently serving and ex-service personnel.
- Who delivers Recovery Services and who can attend.
- Where Recovery Services are held and how to apply to attend.
Recovery services are aimed at addressing a range of related ‘wellbeing needs’, including the links between physical and mental health; developing ways of managing stress; healthy living including improving diet and sleep; the importance of social networks.
Many of those who have taken part in RBL Recovery Services have gone on to compete at the Invictus Games and been involved in our Recovery through the Arts programmes.
Find out more about the Invictus Games.
Who can access Recovery
Services?
Access to Recovery Services is
unrestricted and open to all, irrespective of whether the injury or illness was
caused by, or incurred as a result of, service life or not. Additionally,
access to recovery services is not restricted according to the type of injury
or illness. Beneficiaries will be supported whether the injury or illness is
physical, mental or a combination - focusing on what someone can achieve
instead of what they cannot.
What are Recovery Services?
The programmes offered by Recovery Services are:
Battle Back Centre
The Battle Back Centre in Lilleshall, Shropshire, is the home of the Royal British Legion (RBL) Recovery Services. Recovery services encompass a number of programmes, all designed to assist serving military personnel, and veterans overcome the barriers and challenges encountered as a result 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 significant expansion of support to veterans as well as families and friends.
Facilities
Accommodation and catering are provided for the duration of a course held at the Battle Back Centre.
Multi-Activity Courses
MACs are 5-day residential courses combining sport and inclusive adventure-based activities, adapted to an individual needs, and delivered by highly skilled coaches.
Activities
The coaching delivered is informed and draws upon a number of psychological frameworks and models which focus on self-empowerment, such as Self-Determination theory and the Chimp Paradox, and is delivered in tandem with the sport and adventure-based activities, which typically include:
- Archery
- Indoor caving
- Indoor climbing
- Laser Clay Target Shooting
- Mountain Biking
- Road Cycling
- Sitting Volleyball
- Tennis
- Water sports
- Wheelchair Basketball
Skills Courses
Skills Courses are 5-day residential courses based at the Battle Back Centre and which build upon the experiences achieved during the MACs.
Participants who have attended a MAC and found health benefits in a specific sport or activity can return on a Skills Course, which focuses on one activity for an entire week. This allows additional understanding of how they may integrate this activity into their lives beyond their time at the centre.
Activities
Skills courses can focus on any of the activities undertaken as part of a MAC.
- Archery
- Golf
- Outdoor climbing
- Mountain biking
- Road cycling
- Water sports
"I was at an all time low."
"Battle Back was my light at the end of the tunnel."
I spent nine months at home. I used to just lie in bed. On bad days I couldn't even stand up to brush my teeth. But Battle Back changed my life.
Recovery through the Arts
Recovery Through the Arts is our arts programme for our Armed Forces community. Our programmes provides an opportunity to develop new skills, and helps improve confidence, self-awareness, and motivation to support an individual’s recovery and transition into civilian life.
Our programmes offer both in-person residential and live digital sessions including everything from painting, sculpture, photography, improvisation, writing and storytelling workshops to visits to theatres. The annual programme is seasonal and new activities continually being added.
Recovery Pathways
The Royal British Legion are proud to offer a Recovery Pathway. Our Pathways team with work with you to create a bespoke pathway to aid you on your recovery journey.
Working with several different stakeholders we will offer you advice on pathways leading to services that will support you in leading a successful and fulfilling life.
Invictus Games Experience
Team UK Invictus is an 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’s involvement encompasses:
- 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.
Eligibility
Unfortunately, no clinical, medical, or nursing support can be provided on the courses. Arrangements can be made for a carer to support the beneficiary, if required. Service dogs are allowed with the correct certifications being presented.
To attend Recovery Services you:
- need to have served in the Armed Forces, and
- must be independently mobile (users of wheelchair or motorised chair can be accommodated).
How to apply to attend
The methods for enquiring about and accessing Recovery Services differs slightly between veterans and service personnel.
Ex-service personnel and veterans
Get in touch
If you are an ex-service person and would like to access any of the services or have any enquiries about services offered, please contact the contact centre via:
- Telephone: 0808 802 8080
- Website: Royal British Legion | Armed Forces Charity
Currently serving personnel
Only serving personnel on recovery duty are eligible to attend a MAC. If your unit or Personnel Recovery Unit (PRU) has not loaded you onto a MAC, please contact them and request to loaded onto a course.
If you would like to find out more about MACs and how to attend, please get in touch with the MOD Office Manager via:
- Telephone: 01952 815 670
- Email: [email protected]
FAQs
Where are Recovery Services held?
Recovery Services are predominantly
based at the Battle Back Centre, which is located at the Lilleshall National
Sports Centre in Shropshire.
The Lilleshall National Sports
Centre is equipped with a wide range of facilities, including but not
exclusively, archery ranges, sports courts and extensive grounds. Where
activities require dedicated facilities, for example climbing and caving, these
will be delivered offsite. Transport to any external site will be provided
whilst on MACs and Skills Courses.
What facilities are available at the Battle Back Centre?
The Battle Back Centre can provide accommodation for up to 24 people. The residential facilities available are equipped with a range of accessible facilities.
