We are proud to support Style for Soldiers with a £20,000 grant towards their annual Christmas Reunion and Networking Dinner – an uplifting event that brings together injured former service personnel, their partners, and families, at what can be a particularly difficult time of year.
Held every December, the reunion offers former patients of Headley Court Military Rehabilitation Hospital, many of whom sustained life-changing injuries while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, a rare opportunity to reconnect with those who understand their experiences.
Now in its twelfth year, the Christmas Reunion is one of three annual gatherings hosted by Style for Soldiers, which also organises a summer dinner and a family day at Woburn Safari Park. These events are often the only time former patients and their partners, many of whom are full-time carers, can meet up with those who share a lived understanding of injury, recovery, and resilience.
Our grant will help ensure that this much-loved event continues to offer former soldiers a source of joy, friendship, and much-needed peer support during the winter months. In a warm and familiar setting, guests enjoy good food and conversation – and, above all, the chance to forge or rekindle friendships that provide long-lasting support.
Founded by designer Emma Willis MBE, Style for Soldiers began by gifting bespoke shirts and regimental walking sticks to injured veterans. Over time, Emma’s close relationships with former patients, many of whom she met at Headley Court between 2008 and 2018, evolved into a vital support network that now spans the UK.
Emma said: “The ABF has given us greatly appreciated and significant grant support. It also takes such a personal interest in our work, knows that we have no overheads and that all funds received go towards the three Style for Soldiers reunions we give, which evidently become more important every year.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer of the Army Benevolent Fund, added:
“We’re honoured to support Style for Soldiers. The reunions play a unique and powerful role in the long-term recovery of our veterans and their families. At a time of year that can heighten feelings of isolation, this Christmas gathering is a lifeline, bringing comfort, community, and lasting connection to those who need it most.”