At the end of August, Birmingham Boccia Club proudly attended a Help for Heroes event, introducing the group to the exciting world of boccia. The session offered a relaxed and supportive environment where attendees could try the sport for themselves. It was fantastic to see how quickly everyone embraced it. Boccia proved hugely popular, with many veterans taking part and showing great enthusiasm and teamwork throughout the day.
Following the event, several members of Help for Heroes were inspired to take their interest further and went on to sign up for the Boccia England Heathcoat Cup Festival on 14 September. Their participation marked an important milestone, not only in their own journeys with the sport, but also in the ongoing relationship between Boccia England and the Help for Heroes community.
This also demonstrates how impactful local taster sessions can be in sparking new interest, building confidence, and creating clear pathways for veterans to become involved in competitive opportunities such as the Heathcoat Cup Festival.
One of the participants inspired by boccia is Tim, a veteran whose life story embodies resilience. Tim had always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, Sgt James William Seely, who served in the Norfolk Regiment 7th/8th Battalion during WW1, enduring 1,326 days in theatre across the Somme, France and Belgium. Tim joined the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1984 and served until 1994, posted to Germany (BAOR) working on battlefield nuclear missiles, acting as a battery medic in Northern Ireland and even responding to a friendly fire incident that left a soldier dead.
His service came at a cost: Tim sustained physical injuries and developed mental health challenges. After leaving the Army, he struggled to find stability and turned to alcohol to numb both physical and emotional pain. In 2018, he was diagnosed with PTSD and now lives with a number of long-term conditions but none of this has stopped him.
He has trialled for several Invictus Games (Sydney 2018, The Hague 2020, Düsseldorf 2023) and plans to apply again for Birmingham 2027, aiming to compete in recumbent cycling and other sports. He also volunteers extensively, serving on the NeuroLifeNow Engagement Panel, taking part in pain research projects, and representing veterans on the Help for Heroes Research Group, Combat Stress National Veterans Voice group, the Invictus Games UK 2027 Host Organisation Alumni Focus Group and the Accessibility Panel. Tim is keen to be able to support Boccia England through raising awareness of the game for others and first steps is gaining a valuable coaching badge!
For Tim, and many like him, discovering boccia through Help for Heroes has opened a new chapter: a sport that is inclusive, low-impact and team-oriented, and that offers the same camaraderie he valued during service. After attending the event on Saturday, Tim told us:
“I’ve played boccia for over a year now, I love the social benefits that it gives me. We have such a variety of players who access the club including players that are non-verbal. We connect through laughter, and I’ll do anything to make these players smile. Boccia is not an easy sport and after years of being in the artillery, target sports are for me! I do love a lob shot… sometimes they work but when they land I love it! Boccia is a truly accessible sport and that’s why I love it!”
Over the years, our partnership with Help for Heroes has gone from strength to strength. Together, we’ve been able to create opportunities for veterans to stay active, connect with others, and experience the many physical, social, and mental health benefits that boccia brings.
In Birmingham and beyond, these collaborative events show how boccia can offer a sense of purpose, enjoyment, and community for those who have served.
Looking ahead, we’re committed to expanding this partnership even further. We’re excited about the positive impact this collaboration can have and are determined to continue building pathways for veterans to get involved in the sport — whether as players, volunteers, or supporters.