Remembrance Day 2025: Turning Gratitude into Action

Remembrance Day 2025: Turning Gratitude into Action

As we observe the Two Minutes' Silence on Sunday, we will remember all those whose lives have been altered by war: those who never came home; those who came home with invisible wounds; their families - and many more. Remembrance is our collective promise that their courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten. It is also a call to consider what we will do - today - to honour that legacy.

For many Veterans, the road back from deployment is long and uneven. Post-Traumatic Stress can emerge years after the uniform is put away, showing up in sleepless nights, sudden flashes of memory or rage - or a numbness that makes everyday life feel distant. These are not just private battles. Partners, children and wider family members can feel the tremors too, living with the impact of trauma at home.

Helping today's military heroes

PTSD Resolution exists so that no Veteran or family member has to face this journey alone. Founded in 2009 and accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to the Quality Network for Veterans Mental Health Services, the charity offers free, prompt and effective therapy through a UK-wide network of 200 therapists. There is no waiting list and no referral required. Treatment is available locally, online, or by phone - meeting people where they are, when they are ready.

The results speak for themselves. After nearly 5,000 referrals to date, 82% of Veterans, Reservists and family members complete their treatment programme - far higher than typical completion rates in mainstream services. Most clients complete therapy in an average of seven sessions, with more sessions available if needed. 

Crucially, the charity is lean by design: there are no salaried staff or assets, so funds go directly to therapy, essential research and public information. A full course of treatment costs, on average, £940 per client - and it is always free to those who need it. The charity receives no government funding and instead relies on voluntary gifts and grants.

This Remembrance Day, we're asking… How would you like to be remembered?

This Remembrance Day, many people ask how they can translate Remembrance into meaningful action. One powerful way is to include a gift in your Will to PTSD Resolution. A legacy is a statement of values - a way of saying that care, dignity and hope should be part of the inheritance we leave to the next generation. For Veterans and families, it can be the difference between waiting and getting help; between coping alone and finding a path forward:

Simon, a former Royal Marine who served for 22 years, says he had "bottled things up" for years after Iraq and Afghanistan - haunted by losses and memories he couldn't share. When a colleague suggested PTSD Resolution, he finally reached out: "The treatment was great and I felt at ease with the therapist. I'm in a good place now… I should have done it years ago."

Why leave a gift in your Will to PTSD Resolution?

Because PTSD Resolution receives no government funding, gifts in Wills are a lifeline. They allow the charity to fund therapy quickly, expand its therapist network to reach people wherever they live - and ensure that Veterans with complex needs, such as addiction or imprisonment, are never turned away. Legacies also support public awareness and research, so more people recognise the signs of trauma and seek help sooner. 

Because the organisation operates so leanly, the impact of each gift is direct. To put it in real terms, the average cost of a complete treatment programme is £940: a modest bequest can fund an entire recovery journey for one person, while larger gifts can sustain care across communities for years to come.

If you are considering a legacy, your solicitor can help you include PTSD Resolution clearly in your Will - whether as a share of your estate, a specific sum or a particular asset. If you already have a Will, you can usually add a simple codicil to reflect your wishes. Some people also choose to let the charity know, in confidence, that they have pledged a gift; while never required, this helps with long-term planning and offers the chance to express thanks.

Why choose this moment?

Because Remembrance is about continuity - the thread that connects past sacrifice to present compassion and future care. A gift in your Will says: we will remember by making sure today's Veterans and their families can sleep through the night, return to work, re‑connect with loved ones, and feel safe in their own skin. It honours those who fell by supporting those who still carry the weight of service. It translates gratitude into action.

As we pin on our poppies and gather at memorials, we also look ahead. If you share the belief that no one who has served should face the aftermath of trauma alone, please consider including PTSD Resolution in your Will. Your legacy could be the moment someone like Simon stops "bottling things up" - and begins to heal.

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Learn more about PTSD Resolution's work and how your legacy could change a life: www.ptsdresolution.org

You can find a local, qualified solicitor to help you write a Will on Remember A Charity's website. 'Remember a Charity' have negotiated a 20% Discount on Will Writing Services. More here