The Leader podcast: Amputee war veterans drafted to toughen up young Londoners

Amputee former servicemen and women are deploying their military experiences to help young people become more resilient to the challenges of modern life.

The Making Generation R project is a collaboration between veterans organisations Blesma and The Drive Project.

Hear how the squad’s experiences and coping strategies shared at innovative workshops are inspiring schoolchildren to better navigate the stresses of the 21st Century.

We speak with south Londoner Dan Richards, now a project manager and competitive cyclist, after recent session held at Sadler’s Wells theatre in Clerkenwell.

Dan was formerly a trumpeter with King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery who needed his right arm and shoulder amputated after a horrific motorbike crash.

He describes his mental health battle as he struggled to get a job after making over 300 applications following his medical discharge from the army.

The Leader also speaks with Jon Bryant, Blesma chief executive and former Army Air Corps colonel, who tells us about the battlefield injuries being suffered in Ukraine.

More than a dozen ex-servicemen and women are involved in the project.