Volunteer and ex-armed forces veteran Dave Mottershead has decided to go to university to do a combined masters in Social Policies. He’s been volunteering for Crest Co-operative since May 2017 and has made a huge step forward in his life by returning to education.
Dave was a Lance Corporal among other ranks in the Royal Logistic Corps between 1999 and 2002 and has served in Kosovo, Norway, Oman and Cyprus. He served again from 2008 through to 2012 as a Household Cavalry soldier.
After his time serving for his country, Dave found himself suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a variety of mental health problems such as depression, insomnia, and at one stage attempted suicide.
“I used to suffer in isolation”, Dave said. “I didn’t feel I could trust anyone. I would leave the house maybe once a fortnight and not make eye contact with a single person”.
Dave’s struggles with mental health and his everyday life lead to attempts at taking his own life. Not long after, he discovered Veteran’s Shed Wales, a group of ex-veterans struggling with life after serving their country who support one another and help volunteer in the local community. Through Vet’s Sheds Dave then joined Crest Co-operative as a volunteer and helped craft gifts out of recycled metal.
“Crest saved my life”, Dave continued. “Despite all my problems, people treated me fairly, and everyone has been so nice and kind. It’s helped me start to trust people again.”
Dave credits Crest Co-operative in his healing process and providing him with a form of “logotherapy”. By committing time in his day to come to Crest, Dave used his skills to weld items such as wine racks, door numbers and signs, all out of recycled metal. This process gave Dave the time and space to heal in his own individual way, and was a form of therapy to him.
“Crest is a good place for creative people with mental health problems to express themselves”, Dave continued. “Without Crest I would have never even thought about applying for university”.
To learn more about Vet’s Sheds, ex-veterans who help each other after service, please go to https://veteranssheduk.com.
To become a volunteer at Crest, please call 01492 596783 or email [email protected].