We’re pleased to introduce a new booklet developed as part of The Red Tent Project, Mode Rehabilitation’s initiative focused on menstrual and hormonal health for servicewomen.

The booklet has been designed to support open conversation about an issue that is often overlooked in military environments. Menstrual health is a routine reality for many servicewomen, yet practical discussion about it can still be difficult to access within the structures and demands of military life.

This guide provides a clear overview of the Red Tent Project and the sessions we deliver on bases across the UK. These sessions create a calm, confidential, peer-led environment where servicewomen can talk openly about menstrual health, share experiences, and explore practical strategies for managing their wellbeing in training, exercise, and deployment settings.

Rather than traditional lectures, Red Tent sessions are designed as discussion-based clinics. They recognise that servicewomen already have lived experience and knowledge, and the goal is to create a space where practical insights can be shared openly and respectfully. The sessions also help gather insights about the realities women experience in service, helping inform future understanding and awareness across the Armed Forces community.

The booklet also outlines practical menstrual management options, including external products such as pads and tampons, internal products such as menstrual cups, and hormonal methods that may reduce or suppress bleeding. It emphasises that there is no single “best” solution, and that access to clear information helps women make informed decisions that work for their health, preferences, and operational environments.

We’re also grateful to Mooncup, who have supported the project by providing sample products and demonstration items for our sessions. Their contribution helps make discussions more practical, accessible, and empowering for attendees.

The Red Tent Project forms part of Mode Rehabilitation’s wider commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community through informed discussion, practical resources, and peer-led learning.

If you would like to learn more about the project or arrange a session, you can explore the booklet below or contact our team directly.

At Mode Rehabilitation, we believe in pushing boundaries—not just in therapy, but in life. That’s why we’re excited to support our friend and fundraiser, Jake McCormack, who is about to take on one of the toughest endurance events in the UK: the 13 Valleys Ultra, a 180 km run across the Lake District, starting at 6:00 am on 25 September.

Why Jake Is Running

Two years ago, Jake wasn’t a runner. He had never done a half marathon. Never done a full marathon. Never even considered ultra-running.

Then some friends convinced him to join them on an outrageous challenge – the Sea to Summit Trilogy, running over 30 miles each day over the three biggest mountains in the UK (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon).

He threw himself in at the deep end, and something clicked. Since then he has completed multiple long-distance challenges that he never dreamed he’d be capable of, including the 7 Valleys Ultra (110km)… And now he’s stepping up to the next level. This isn’t a leisure jog – it’s a full-on ultra test. And Jake is doing it so that the miles he completes translate directly into support for others.

Ultra-running has become Jake’s way to find peace, decompress from the pressures of running a business and raising five children, and push himself further than he ever believed possible. And doing it for a good cause gives it even deeper purpose.

The Challenge: 13 Valleys Ultra – 180km

• Event: 13 Valleys Ultra
• Distance: 180 km
• Start time: 6:00 am, 25 September
• Terrain: Rugged Lake District, through both day and night, every kind of elevation and condition
• Team: Jake will be joined by his friend Dean Forrester for part of the event, while some of his other teammates will tackle the shorter distances (2, 5, or 7 valleys)

What Your Support Means

Proceeds are going to Mode Rehabilitation to help veterans and their families access mental-health support when they need it most. On average, we’re able to offer fast-track therapy, confidential support and tailored intervention because of your charitable donations.

Every donation to Jake’s campaign helps us reach more veterans who might otherwise struggle to get help.

We Want YOU On The Team!

Here’s the exciting part: we’re inviting other army veterans, their families or friends who feel inspired by this challenge and who might like to join Jake in future (or take on the event themselves) to get in contact with us.

If you’ve served in the Armed Forces, or you know someone who has, and you’d like to use your energy and resilience to raise funds for veterans’ wellbeing, we want to hear from you. It doesn’t matter whether you go for the full 180 km or one of the shorter valley-options, every contribution strengthens the team, raises awareness and extends the reach of this effort.

If you’re interested:

Email us at susan@moderehabilitation.com or call (0161) 494 1515 and mention the “13 Valleys Ultra team”. We’ll work with you to decide how you’d like to be involved—whether as a runner, supporter, or fundraiser.

How You Can Help Right Now

• Visit Jake’s campaign here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jakes-13-valleys-ultra-for-veterans-mental-health
• Donate what you can and share the link widely
• Encourage veterans you know to consider joining the team
• Follow Jake’s training journey, share updates, and stay connected

Thank You

To Jake for stepping up, to all the veterans we serve who remind us every day that purpose and belonging matter, and to every one of you reading this: your interest, your share, your donation—it all makes a difference.

Together we’ll make sure that no veteran has to fight their toughest battles alone.

Mode Rehabilitation is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a one-year grant from the Veterans Foundation to support a brand-new strategic role within our charity.

We are deeply grateful to the Veterans Foundation for recognising our work and investing in our future, their support enables us to take an important step forward in strengthening and expanding our services for the Armed Forces community.

A New Chapter for Mode: Welcoming Our Development & Partnerships Manager

This grant allows us to introduce a dedicated Development & Partnerships Manager, a role designed to help Mode grow, diversify, and build long-term sustainability.

We’re pleased to share that Daniel Whittaker will be stepping into this position. Daniel has a long history with Mode, having led the development of some of our most ambitious and successful projects. His background includes:

• A strong track record in grant writing, strategic planning, and project development
• Experience designing high-impact support programmes for veterans and their families
• A creative approach to branding, partnerships, and service design
• Leadership experience in the charity sector, including national mental health initiatives
• A deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by the Armed Forces community

Daniel’s work over the past year has already contributed significantly to Mode’s growth, including securing major funding awards and supporting the development of innovative new projects. This role now gives him the dedicated time and stability needed to take that work even further.

What This Grant Means for Mode

The Veterans Foundation grant gives Mode the capacity to:

• Strengthen our organisational sustainability
• Build new and meaningful partnerships across the Armed Forces and mental health sectors
• Develop new projects that respond to unmet needs within the veteran community
• Increase our fundraising capacity and diversify our income
• Improve long-term planning and impact measurement
• Expand support available to veterans, serving personnel, and their families

At a practical level, this role ensures that Mode can continue to grow, innovate, and reach more people with the high-quality mental health support we are known for.

A Thank You to the Veterans Foundation

We extend our sincere thanks to the Veterans Foundation for their belief in Mode’s mission and their commitment to improving the lives of those who have served. Their support plays a crucial role in strengthening the veteran support sector nationwide, and we are proud to be part of that wider effort.

Mode Rehabilitation is proud to announce that we have been awarded funding through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to deliver a new initiative supporting military families during one of the most challenging periods of Service life — the first weeks after arriving at a new posting.

Our new project, the Settling-In Support Roadshow, will run throughout 2025–2026 and bring mobile wellbeing and community support directly into barracks-adjacent communities and military settlement areas across the North West.

Why this project matters

Military families often relocate frequently, and national research shows that the early weeks in a new area can bring:

• difficulties accessing local services
• increased stress
• challenges settling children
• feelings of isolation
• disruption to relationships and daily routines

The Settling-In Support Roadshow is designed to meet families at exactly this moment.

What families will find at each event

Our roadshow events provide a friendly, non-clinical space offering:

• Emotional wellbeing support from qualified, trauma-informed practitioners
• Short-form couples-support sessions for families under strain
• A community welcome hub signposting families to nearby schools, healthcare, childcare, and community services
• Peer-connection spaces to help families meet others who have recently moved
• Printed and digital settling-in guides tailored to each event’s local area

All support is free and designed specifically for families within their first 6–12 weeks of arriving in the region.

Who the project supports

We welcome:

• Partners, spouses and family members of serving personnel
• Parents and children of all ages
• Reservist families
• Single-parent families
• Any family recognised under the spirit and commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant

Our commitment

Mode Rehabilitation has supported the Armed Forces community for over a decade. With the support of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, this project will help newly arrived families settle more confidently into life in the North West, feel connected sooner, and access the right support at the right time.

If your family has recently arrived in the area, we look forward to meeting you at an upcoming event.

In a remarkable display of determination and community spirit, three friends—Jake McCormack, Dean Forester, and former RAF serviceman Dean Harnett—recently completed the UK Sea to Summit Ultramarathon Trilogy. This grueling challenge encompassed three ultramarathons over as many months, traversing from the coastlines to the summits of the UK’s highest peaks: Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis, and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).

The trio embarked on this endeavor to support Mode Rehabilitation, a mental health charity in Stockport dedicated to providing essential services to military veterans and service leavers. Their mission was to address the pressing issue of prolonged wait times for mental health support among veterans, with reports indicating that nearly a quarter of mental health patients wait over 12 weeks to commence treatment.

Despite being novice runners, Jake, Dean, and Dean committed six months to rigorous training, preparing themselves for the 90-mile journey across some of the UK’s most challenging terrains. Their dedication was met with generous support from the community, culminating in £2,085 raised through 39 donations.

While the initial fundraising goal was £3,000, the amount collected will significantly impact Mode Rehabilitation’s mission. Each £60 donation enables the charity to provide veterans with expedited access to mental health services, including same-day referrals, triage within three days, and an in-person therapy session within a week.

In other words, with the money raised we can now offer 35 veterans much needed assistance on our fast-track referral program.

The success of this ultramarathon trilogy underscores the power of community involvement and the importance of supporting our veterans. Jake, Dean, and Dean’s journey serves as an inspiring example of how collective efforts can lead to meaningful change, ensuring that those who have served our country receive the timely mental health support they deserve.

For more information or to contribute further to this cause, please visit the original GoFundMe page.

Thanks again to Jake, Dean F, Dean H and all our generous donors for being awesome! 🏃‍♂️🏔️