Worthing-based charity, Care for Veterans were delighted to receive a grant from the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust (EKCT) in October 2024. This generous grant was donated to support the charity’s mixed rehabilitation service, which provides crucial care for disabled ex-service personnel and their families.
Founded in 1963, EKCT is an independent family trust created to formalise Ernest and Joan Kleinwort’s philanthropic interests. Their passion for improving lives in their home county of Sussex and promoting wildlife conservation globally has driven the Trust’s work for decades. Since 1978, EKCT has donated over £50 million to charitable causes, making a significant impact across the community and beyond.
For over a century, Care for Veterans has been a lifeline for ex-service personnel. Offering respite, palliative, long-term, and rehabilitation care, the charity supports individuals aged 18 and older. The care home’s youngest resident is just 20 years old, while its oldest is an inspiring 102-year-old World War II veteran. Through in-house services such as a wheelchair clinic, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychological counselling, and a Wellbeing Hub, Care for Veterans empowers residents to live with dignity and independence.
Occupational Therapist Claire working with Care for Veterans resident Steve
Occupational Therapy sessions are one of the supported services by Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust. Much of Occupational Therapist Claire’s work focuses on wheelchair safety and positioning, ensuring residents can access customized mobility support without long NHS waiting lists. Claire also assists residents on their journey to independence, such as Steve, a veteran who survived a road traffic accident in 2015 which caused a severe brain injury, paralysis, short-term memory loss and a speech impairment.
When Steve expressed a desire to improve upon his cognitive functions, Claire sought out a stroke recovery workbook, which allowed Steve to work on his hand-eye coordination. The book involved several types of activities for improving cognitive processing, visual perception, & fine motor skills. Claire also encouraged Steve to add his own ideas and creativity to the activities. Claire reflected, “Occupational therapy is broad and tailored to the individual. I’m always trying to find meaningful and functional activities for the person while ensuring safety. Once we started doing these activities, Steve told me he had not put pen to paper since before his accident – this reality for him is part of what makes this choice of activity particularly impactful”.
Claire praised her colleagues, saying, “Our Rehabilitation Assistants who run the daily activities here in our Wellbeing Hub, Gill and Lisa, are the unsung heroes. They have dedicated years to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for residents, always receptive to their needs and suggestions.”
Rehabilitation Assistant Lisa with two Care for Veterans residents
The grant from Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust has been instrumental in supporting the continuity of these crucial services.
Care for Veterans’ CEO Peter Inkpen commented, “We are so grateful for the immense generosity and kindness of Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust. Their decision to support our charity has enabled disabled veterans and their families to access the services they need most so that they can have the best possible quality of life. For some, this has meant learning to regain lost abilities, whilst others have been able to maintain strength and independence”.
For more information about Care for Veterans, please visit www.careforveterans.org.uk.
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