Armed Forces Community Programme
Battling the Odds
Beacon Counselling Trust are proud to support the Armed Forces community with ‘Battling the Odds’. This programme provides free gambling-related harms training for professionals supporting the Armed Forces community, and free and confidential specialist treatment and support for any currently serving personal or veterans who may be experiencing gambling-related harms. As part of this programme, we also offer free treatment and 1 to 1 practical support for those affected by somebody else’s gambling and a wide range of aftercare programmes to support recovery.
The ‘Battling the Odds’ educational offer includes specific content examining why the Armed Forces are at risk of gambling-related harms, alongside examining how gambling can impact the brain, the risk factors associated with this issue, how to identify harms in serving personal and veterans, and the help and specialist support available.
BCT offer free, one and a half hour ‘Battling the Odds’ sessions online and a full day level two award accredited by the Royal Society of Public Health, to any organisations or individuals supporting the Armed Forces community.
Gambling-Related Harms in the Armed Forces Community
Our Armed Forces Community Programme Offer
For any enquires or questions relating to our Armed Forces Community Programme, please email armedforces@
Armed Forces Covenant Bronze Award
Beacon Counselling Trust are extremely proud to be recipients of the Armed Forces Covenant Bronze Award. The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver, and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the Armed Forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The ERS is designed primarily to recognise private sector support, although public sector organisations such as the emergency services, local authorities, NHS trusts and executive agencies are also eligible to be recognised.
To achieve bronze status holders are required to demonstrate their pledge in supporting the Armed Forces, including existing or prospective employees who are members of the community. Holders must have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and promote being Armed Forces friendly, and are open to employing reservists, Armed Forces veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners. Holders, once awarded and Bronze ERS, receive an electronic certificate and logos to display on their website, stationery and other collateral.
Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award
Beacon Counselling Trust (BCT) are extremely proud to announce that we are one of forty-seven organisations from across the North West of England to have been awarded Silver, in 2024, under the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for recognition in showing our support to Defence and the wider Armed Forces community.
The Employer Recognition Scheme was launched to reward employers who support Defence People objectives and encourage others to do the same. This includes employing serving and former members of the Armed Forces community and demonstrating flexibility towards training and mobilisation commitments for Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
Following on from our previous Bronze recognition Beacon Counselling Trust is honoured to become a successful Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award recipient and we look forward to attending a formal ceremony on 1st October 2024, which will be held at the Monastery Manchester and hosted by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for the North West of England and the Isle of Man.
Commenting on the announcement of the 2024 Employer Recognition Scheme Silver awards; Colonel Mark Underhill OBE DL, Chief Executive at the North West of England and the Isle of Man Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (NW RFCA), said:
“On behalf of the Ministry of Defence we are honoured and delighted to be able to recognise the outstanding support and commitment given to the Armed Forces Covenant by businesses and organisations in the region, through the Employer Recognition Scheme awards. Each recipient has demonstrated not only that their support to the Covenant and the wider Armed Forces community, but also that they are prepared to support their Reservists, Service Leavers, Spouses, Veterans, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and Cadets in the workplace.”
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
In May of 2023, BCT received funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund to deliver ‘Battling the Odds’, the Armed Forces specific gambling-related harms training programme to the Armed Forces community across the North West. The funding, which will run for two years will allow BCT to engage with currently serving personal, veterans and those working in helping roles to identify gambling harms, and provide treatment and specialist support for anyone at risk of, or experiencing harm.
