From RAF Flight Sergeant to RBL Advocate: Stacey’s Journey
“If you have ever served…the RBL will have your back”
Stacey’s journey from Flight Sergeant in the RAF police, to veteran, through to receiving support from the RBL, has led her to her current role in RBL’s Diversity and Inclusion team. Recently she shared her experience as a guest speaker at RBL’s Membership conference.
A new path at the Battle Back Centre
After being medically discharged, Stacey spent time at our Battle Back Centre, which supports injured and wounded service personnel with their recovery through adaptive sports and adventurous activities. This paved the way for her to represent Team UK at the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf.
“The Battle Back Centre is an amazing place.”
When asked at our annual conference what she would tell serving personnel about what RBL means to her, she said about The Battle Back Centre: “they run multi-activity courses for medically downgraded service personnel as well as veterans. The Battle Back Centre got me approaching challenges in life, changing from ‘Can I do this?’ to ‘HOW can I do this?’.”
Breaking records
Despite living with Multiple Sclerosis as well as arthritis in her knee, Stacey then went on to break two British records at Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 in both the one-minute sprint and four-minute race for indoor rowing.
She now holds 11 British records and is currently waiting to hear if she has been selected to represent Team UK again at the Invictus Games 2025. She is also looking forward to the Paralympics in Paris, having taken part in an expert advisory panel and has secured a place as a torch bearer.
Invictus, Stacey said, was life changing – and in some cases “lifesaving”. Praising RBL’s role in the games, she a gave a special mention to the RBL's Women's Section, which had donated £500,000 so that friends and family could support team members at both Dusseldorf 2023 and Vancouver Whistler 2025.
Advocating for disability awareness
Being a guest speaker at Conference was “a real privilege” adds Stacey, as she reflects on her motivation for spreading awareness of disability among a new generation of veterans.
“I am passionate about shining a light on ‘younger’ veterans, disabilities, and adaptive sports so this was the perfect arena for that.”
“I used to hide my disability for fear of what people think, but since I began highlighting disabilities within the Armed Forces community, I know it has helped others become open and honest about seeking help.”
The impact of Invictus Games
Stacey hopes that whilst at conference, she was able to convey to RBL’s members that the funding spent on Invictus was money well-spent, with being part of Team UK a life-changing experience for most, and a life-saving experience for some.
“Being selected to represent Team UK at Dusseldorf 2023 meant that we had lots of time with the lovely RBL Recovery Services Team. It was from encountering them and their amazing attitudes towards work that led to me applying for a job at the RBL. I’ve always supported the Poppy Appeal and have been involved in London Poppy Day a few times.
Knowing that some of the money collected from the Poppy Appeal goes on recovery pathways for people like me and my friends, both serving and veterans, means that I will never take the RBL’s work for granted."