The Gamelea Countryside Training Trust www.gameleactt.org.uk, is a registered charity and has been delivering rural skills training and therapeutic activities on a two hundred acre farm on the Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire, for twelve years.
The founder Elizabeth Hill is also a director of Care Farming UK and has had an interest in helping ex service personnel for many years as her beloved Grandfather was in the trenches, and gassed and partially blinded, during the First World War. He went on to become the chief accountant of Chesterfield Corporation until retirement when his PTSD reached crisis point and at that time no one realized what was happening.
Elizabeth’s father also served in Italy and North Africa during World War ll.  A friend – a Major with the TA suggested to her, that, what was taking place on the farm would be ideal for ex service personnel who were finding it difficult to readjust to civilian life.
Elizabeth decided that if she could help prevent one person and their family from going through the horrors of PTSD, as she had witnessed within her own close family, then she had to offer a service to Veterans.
The project Rural Life Skills was conceived.
This helps Veterans to readjust and learn new skills. It helps them rehabilitate and receive the type of therapy they need to enable them to have coping strategies to deal with a wide range of mental illnesses.
Some of the activities are also adrenalin fuelled and so the veteran can have fun safely.
Elizabeth has been working closely with Cllr Kevin Parkinson – elected member for Heanor – Derbyshire County Council. With his help, two properties have been secured for ten years, in order to offer accommodation to homeless veterans.
A café, - Café Heroes, drop in centre and training facility is being established in Heanor town centre and the Veterans will be offered a variety of volunteering and work opportunities as well as therapy and vocational skill training in conjunction with the farm. A support group for parents, partners and children will also be set up with the help of John Roberts and Ian Harper of the Family Trauma Centre.
A local food business Forces Flavourite is also being established and profits from this business will go towards supporting these activities. See the website www.forcesflavourite.co.uk
The launch of the project will take place on or around the 26th June (British Forces Day)
For anyone interested in getting involved or taking part in the project please contact Elizabeth Hill:-  01246 568206  elizabeth@gamelea.fsnet.co.uk