A team of Ripon-based soldiers are rowing and cycling the equivalent distance from Cyprus to the UK to raise money for a men’s mental health charity.

21 Engineer Regiment has been in Cyprus since April as part of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force. They’ve been carrying out patrols on the buffer zone that runs between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Whilst there, they have decided to raise funds for men’s mental health charity CALM.

They will use a combination of static bikes and rowing machines and plan to cover the 4,338 kilometres from their base in Nicosia all the way back to the regiment’s headquarters in Ripon.

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Spr Parker from the regiment said:

“Fitness is very much part of our daily lifestyle and so combining such challenges to highlight an important cause works really well for me.

“Mental health is hard to face, but for some reason it’s even harder with young men. In society I feel mental well-being among men is often not taken seriously enough or just overlooked”.

The link to donate is: https://www.justgiving.com/team/Road2Ripon

Five females aged 16 and 17 based at Harrogate’s Army Foundation College have reported rape or sexual assault since 2015.

Sexual assault allegations by junior soldiers in the British Army came to light in October following a freedom of information request to the Ministry of Defence by the charity Child Rights International Network (CRIN).

The MOD revealed there had been 41 complaints of rape or sexual assault by under 18s in the army since 2015.

Government junior defence minister Leo Docherty said yesterday in a written response to a question on the subject that five of these complaints were from young females based at Harrogate.

The college on Pennypot Lane recruits about 1,500 young men and women each year. It is the only British Army establishment that delivers military training to soldiers under the age of 18.

Allegations of bullying and abuse at the college were raised in the House of Lords last month.

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The college was recently rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, which gave positive feedback on safeguarding at the college, saying it investigated incidents thoroughly and made necessary improvements.

A British Army spokesperson said:

“We have very strong duty of care and safeguarding mechanisms at AFC (Harrogate) to ensure junior soldiers have the right support structures.  This includes multiple methods of accessing welfare support, including confidential support lines. We take every incident seriously and will refer an allegation to the Royal Military Police for investigation. We also have a Ministry of Defence police officer based at AFC (Harrogate) to assist in education and investigation.

“The armed forces takes any allegation of rape or sexual assault very seriously, and investigates all allegations thoroughly, taking action where appropriate.

“Since 2018 the Royal Military Police has provided sexual offence and consent training at all army basic training establishments in support of the army’s approach to eradicating offending amongst its ranks and educating on the complexities of consent. So far this year, sexual offence and consent training has been delivered to over 600 soldiers at AFC (Harrogate).”

Harrogate Army Foundation College has been rated outstanding in a new Ofsted report.

The army college’s result was released alongside 13 other centres, all inspected under a new framework.

The college, on Penny Pot Lane, Killinghall is the only basic training establishment for 16-19 year olds in the British Army.

The Ofsted report praised the college for its “very good training .. immaculate facilities”.

It also gave positive feedback on its safeguarding saying the college investigated incidents throughly and made necessary improvements.

In recent years the college had been in the spotlight following bullying and assault complaints by soldiers and their families. In 2018, the Guardian revealed college staff were accused of 50 cases of assaulting or mistreating teenage recruits between 2014 and 2017.

This week’s report said recruits said “there is no bullying at college” and believed staff would deal with any incidents that arise.

Areas for improvement

A common reason for recruits leaving training was down to not understanding the demands of the army. Ofsted said the college needs to give accurate information.

It also pointed out the recruits’ poor diet, adding that the soldiers should be taught the importance of healthy eating.

Persistent weaknesses across the 14 sites in resources, infrastructure, accommodation and improvement planning were found.

Ofsted said the same problems had been identified for the past two decades. The inspecting body has called on the MoD to put measures in place to prevent repeating failures.

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New vision for the college

A new Commanding Officer was employed in July 2020, Lt Col Simon Farebrother MC, with a new vision for the college.

The report added his ethos of “emotional and psychological safety, inclusion and teamwork is firmly embedded” within the college.

He said:

“I’m absolutely delighted, the grade reflects the hard work of my military, civilian and contractor staff at all levels. I’m enormously proud of them, continuing to deliver throughout an extraordinarily challenging period.

“The junior soldiers depart with valuable qualifications, a bunch of new friends and walk into a brilliant career, full of opportunity.”

The inspection was carried out in May 2021.

Three soldiers in Ripon will take part in a 700-mile barefoot relay this weekend to raise money for a girl with a rare genetic disease.

The soldiers have been inspired by Major Chris Brannigan, who walked the distance barefoot solo in August this year.

He did so to raise funds for Hope for Hasti, a charity set up to develop a treatment for his daughter Hasti, who has Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Major Brannigan raised £375,000 and since then others have boosted the total to £670,000 of the £1m target,

This weekend’s 700 miles, which will be completed in five-mile stages, will add to the tally.

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The three members of Ripon’s 21 Engineer Regiment stepping up to help are Sergeant Max McGoon, Corporal Lee Connolly and Private Matty Haigh, who will complete the 94th, 95th and 96th legs of the route on Sunday.

They will walk from Hessay, York to Langthorpe. Hasti’s favourite soft toy, Obama the llama, is being used as the baton by all those taking part.

Private Haigh explained why the soldiers wanted to support fellow soldier Major Brannigan.

“In January 2015 until August 2016 Major Brannigan was my boss in Catterick and Cyprus. He was a very supportive and family-orientated man.

“My fiancée Chloe and I are expecting a little girl at the end of this year. Major Brannigan has shown me that no matter what life throws at you, you always fight back and most importantly that you can do anything when it is for your children.

“I hope we can raise a massive amount of money for Hope for Hasti by doing the barefoot relay.”

To support the Ripon soldiers in their efforts, click here.

Dishforth Military Wives Choir members will take on the 98th leg of the relay.

Seven members of the Dishforth Military Wives Choir are also taking part. They will cover the 98th leg of the relay from Ripon Cathedral to North Stainley. The choir also supported Major Brannigan during his original march in August.

Choir member Sue Bell said:

“Chris said to us he would walk to the ends of the earth for his children and we thought five miles barefoot is nothing in comparison and the least we could do for all the children with rare diseases.”

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Hope for Hasti 

Major Brannigan and his wife Hengameh have been fundraising for over a year for their daughter, Hasti, who was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.

There is currently no treatment for the disease. The Hope For Hasti charity was set up this year to raise money to start the research and a clinical trial into a gene therapy treatment for CdLS.

Chris’ barefoot march raised £500,000 but their final goal is £2.5million to fund a treatment. It is hoped this relay will raise further vital funds for the charity.