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Welsh Government honours military during Armed Forces Week

Welsh Government honours military during Armed Forces Week

It is honouring veterans, serving personnel, and their families.
This week will conclude with a national event at Caldicot Castle on June 28, backed by £20,000 from the Welsh Government.
The event will gather people to recognise the armed forces' integral role in Wales.
Welsh troops, who make up around six to seven per cent of the UK's armed forces, are stationed worldwide.
The Welsh Government supports the armed forces community, including those leaving service and their families, with tailored career events, educational help, and a highly regarded mental health service, Veterans NHS Wales.
Ken Skates, the cabinet secretary with responsibility for the armed forces, said: "The armed forces community enriches every part of Welsh life.
"This week of celebration gives us the chance to show our sincere thanks to those who serve or have served, and to reaffirm our commitment to supporting them, whatever their circumstances."
The government has also introduced a GP accreditation scheme to provide veterans with care that acknowledges their unique experiences.
More than 50 surgeries are now classed as 'Veteran Friendly'.
Sarah Murphy, minister for mental health and wellbeing, urged more practices to join the scheme to ensure every veteran gets the 'specialist support they deserve.'
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I silently battled bulimia and anxiety at height of my career – but arrogance cost me Olympic gold, says Colin Jackson
I silently battled bulimia and anxiety at height of my career – but arrogance cost me Olympic gold, says Colin Jackson

Scottish Sun

time2 days ago

  • Scottish Sun

I silently battled bulimia and anxiety at height of my career – but arrogance cost me Olympic gold, says Colin Jackson

At one point, Colin consumed less than 1,000 calories a day while training as an elite sportsman SECRET STRUGGLE I silently battled bulimia and anxiety at height of my career – but arrogance cost me Olympic gold, says Colin Jackson Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE is a double world champion athlete whose records couldn't be broken for years. But off the athletics track, Welsh hurdler Colin Jackson, 58, faced a far greater battle than he ever did in a race. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Colin Jackson has spoken out about his struggles with bulimia and anxiety during his athletics career Credit: Getty 4 Colin won Olympic silver at Seoul in 1988 Credit: Getty On the outside, Colin's famously big smile exuded happiness and contentment, yet inside he was in turmoil, regularly crying and starving himself as he silently suffered with bulimia. "I wasn't in a good place because I spent all my days comparing myself with other people," Colin says in an exclusive interview with The Sun. "Thinking I don't look like them and the only way I can get like that is by literally starving my body by trying to be extra lean." At his lowest point Colin was consuming less than 1,000 calories a day while training at full pelt, and admits he has no idea how he as able to maintain such high standards on the track. Among his achievements as an elite sportsman are 13 championship golds, nine silvers and a bronze. He went unbeaten in 44 races between 1993 and 1995, and two of his records seemed insurmountable for a time. The 12.91s he clocked at the 1993 World Championships wasn't bettered for 13 years, while his 60m indoor record of 7.30 seconds, set in 1994, stood for 27 years. Colin continues: "So I had all this going on in my brain whilst I was trying to compete. So as I was trying to take on the best athletes in the world, I was battling with myself as well. And it's such a hidden thing in a way. "I wish I could have been more vocal at that time. It would have helped me immensely and it would have no doubt improved my performance. "I know people will go to me, 'well, you were a world record holder. What else did you want? You're the best of the best'. Colin Jackson comes out as gay on Swedish TV interview as former hurdles world record holder reveals he didn't want it 'sensationalised' "Yeah, I was best of the best what you saw, but I wasn't the best version of me for myself. And that is what we're kind of striving to do, you know, and striving to be." Though the eating disorder no doubt had a detrimental effect on his athletic abilities, Colin insists it isn't the reason an Olympic gold medal eluded him. He finished his career with one Olympic silver from the 1988 Seoul Games in which he lost to American athlete Roger Kingdom. Colin was a heavy favourite in Barcelona four years later, but lack of preparation for the second round race saw him suffer a muscle injury, which hampered his performance in the final in which he finished seventh. He says: "I blame myself for not getting Olympic gold. So I did blame nobody else, because my training partner did exactly the same training as me, and he did win the gold in the event I should have won the gold in. So I knew that all the preparation stuff was bang on. "It was just me being an arrogant idiot, which cost me my title. So I could happily live that, because I could put that in a compartment, if you know what I mean. "I think the battles were, because of all the other issues, I didn't enjoy it. It's a shame when I look back and I think, you know, my God, I was the best in the world, and I never enjoyed the environment, because I was always battling with myself. You know, I cried a lot when I was an athlete. I cried an awful lot. "When I was on my own, under the pressure of it all, I cried a lot. And then I'd wipe away the tears, and I'd come back out, and there'd be a big smile, and it'd be like, well, it's just me taking on the world again." Simple ways to check in with those who matter this summer START WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND YOU Use the moment you're in to open the door gently. BE OPEN ABOUT YOUR OWN FEELINGS Sometimes sharing a little of your own story helps others feel safe to share theirs. ASK QUESTIONS THAT INVITE A REAL ANSWER Open-ended questions give people space to reflect and respond honestly. KEEP IT LIGHT – OR GO DEEPER IF IT FEELS RIGHT Trust your instinct. Some people just need a friendly check-in – others may need space to open up. MOST IMPORTANTLY – JUST LISTEN You don't need to have the answers. Just being there and listening can mean the world. REACH OUT – EVEN WITH A SIMPLE TEXT If someone's been quiet lately, a quick message could be the spark that starts a conversation. REMEMBER TO FOLLOW UP If someone opens up to you, check back in a few days – it shows you care and that the conversation wasn't just a one-off. KNOW WHEN TO ESCALATE If someone is really struggling – or you're worried about their safety – encourage them to speak to a professional, or contact one on their behalf. Courtesy of #SPARkupaconversation campaign 4 Colin had a glittering career winning 13 championship golds Credit: Getty 4 He reached the Strictly final with Erin Boag Credit: Rex In 1997, at the age of 30, Colin won silver at both the World Indoor and Outdoor Championships. But behind the scenes he felt lonely and contemplated his own mortality, despite being surrounded by loved ones. "I remember I had a birthday party," he says. "Well, it was my 30th birthday. We're at a restaurant and everybody's there celebrating. "They were having a great time. And I was ripping inside, absolutely ripping, thinking, well, what am I going to do? This decade, the decade I'm going to retire, and I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life. And everybody's celebrating me being 30, and to me, it's one year closer to death. "And that's the way my mind was taking me. And so, again, it's like, it's really, it's tough, you know, when you're an individual like that, and you can't, and you don't feel like you can speak. The room was packed with all my friends, and I felt I couldn't speak to any of them about how genuine I feel, because they were having a great time." Retirement didn't prove the end for Colin, far from it. Reality TV called and he reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2005 as well as finishing third on Dancing On Ice in 2021. He remains heavily involved in athletics and is an ever-present on the BBC's coverage of the sport. Now, he's using his platform and experience of mental health struggles to encourage men to open up. Colin has partnered with SPAR to launch the national #SPARkupaconversation campaign, encouraging people to bust out a BBQ and have a good natter. New research found 44% of men have had fewer than two meaningful personal conversations with a male friend in the past year. It's something Colin would like to see change, particularly with figures showing 75% of the 6,000 suicides in the UK in 2023 were men. And with nearly half of British men saying they'd be more compelled to open up while cooking, having a barbecue is the perfect opportunity to do so. Colin says: "It's so easy to talk to somebody like you when you're already bought into the process. You understand the dynamics, the importance of it. "We're men ourselves. We understand the importance of it, but also the scenarios and situations where you don't have the genuine opportunity to chat. "And so to create a natural environment to chat around a barbecue, it just seems to be the right place because you can have those real special one-on-one times. It doesn't have to be a big moment – it just has to be real.' "And it's really important to be able to have that with a friend that you know who's gonna listen to you. That is paramount." SPARk the BBQ. SPARk a conversation. #LoveSummerMoments #SPARkTheBBQ #SPARkAConversation #LoveSummer

Powys cross border patients miss out on £120m NHS cash
Powys cross border patients miss out on £120m NHS cash

Powys County Times

time2 days ago

  • Powys County Times

Powys cross border patients miss out on £120m NHS cash

Powys' cross border patients have been cut out of £120 million of new Welsh NHS funding. It has emerged that a £120 million fund that the Welsh Government announced last month to cut waiting times for Welsh patients will not include funding for Powys residents waiting for treatment in England. Starting this week, some Powys patients will wait longer than English patients, when being treated in hospitals in England. The plans to intentionally make patients wait longer by Powys Teaching Health Board were agreed back in March. Powys patients are now facing slower access to treatment in English hospitals despite available capacity. Powys Teaching Health Board has said it needed to bring about this action to live within its means and to respond to the financial expectations set out by the Welsh Government. Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George, said that when news of a £120 million fund was announced last month to cut waiting times for Welsh patients, he wrote to the Health Secretary Jeremy Miles MS, and asked him to set out how the £120 million would benefit Powys patients who are on a waiting list in England. After further questioning by Mr Geroge in the Senedd, Mr Miles confirmed that the funding would be targeted at Welsh health board waiting lists. 'Powys residents, who are waiting to be seen in other Welsh health boards, will also benefit from the additional funding,' said Mr Miles. 'As of April 2025, there were 380 outpatient pathways from Powys waiting more than 52 weeks at other Welsh health boards. 'This additional funding to support our ambitious plan to continue reducing long waits and the overall size of the wating list is targeted at Welsh health board waiting lists.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Mr George MS, said that people in Powys feel 'short-changed', and challenged the Health Secretary to ensure Powys Teaching Health Board receives sufficient funding to purchase healthcare based on shorter English waiting time standards, adding that the current situation 'treats Powys patients as second-class citizens''. 'After the debate, it's clearer than ever that the Welsh Government is again letting Powys down,' said Mr George. 'I again asked for clarification, and yet, Jeremy Miles MS did not address my requests that this additional funding should be used to pay hospitals just over the border in England to treat Powys patients, in the same timeframes as English patients are treated in the same hospitals. 'People in Powys will wait longer than patients just over the border, for the same treatment, in the same hospitals, due to the Welsh Government not being prepared to fund Powys Teaching Health Board adequately. 'This means Powys residents will wait longer for treatment because of financial constraints. 'This is a failure of political will, not resources.'

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