About Me
Hi, I'm Aaron.
I'm proud to be leading this project, which is dedicated to supporting young people from armed forces families by providing them with the opportunities and encouragement they truly deserve.
Having grown up in Poole and Taunton in an armed forces family myself, I have deep respect for all those who serve and the families who stand behind them. I know firsthand some of the unique challenges military life can bring. For me, sport and physical activity played a huge role in navigating those ups and downs, offering structure, building resilience, and helping me develop the tools to handle adversity.
I've been fortunate to have access to sport throughout my youth, and it shaped who I am today. Sadly, access to these kinds of opportunities isn't always easy or equal. That's why I'm passionate about using this project to break down barriers and open doors for others.
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is helping young people transfer lessons from sport into everyday life, whether it's learning to manage pressure during a penalty kick and applying these lessons to help their focus and composure during a school exam, or something entirely different. Sport offers a safe space to make mistakes, grow, and come back stronger. A lesson well worth sharing.
Background
As mentioned earlier, I grew up with a parent in the military. After he passed away, sport became a vital outlet for me, offering not just an escape when I needed it, but also a sense of normality and consistency during a difficult time. I believe that I understand the strong bonds within the armed forces community, as well as some of the challenges that young people and families may face. Through this project, I hope to ease some of those struggles by using sport and physical activity as a positive force.
We were lucky to be supported by the Royal Marines community at RM Poole, who provided us with housing and opportunities to engage in sports sessions. That experience left a lasting impression on me and planted the seed of wanting to give something back to the community that stood by us when we needed it most.
Unfortunately, I was medically discharged when joining the Royal Marines due to mental health challenges linked to the loss of my dad, something I hadn't processed in a healthy way at the time. That experience led me to pursue a different path to achieve the same goal. I've since been working with the Jump Start programme at SASP.
I've spent the past few years helping young people who have experienced adversity or trauma, again using sport and activity as tools for growth and resilience. I'm very proud to be part of the Jump start programme and feel that many lives have been improved as a result.
You can find out more about the Jump Start programme and the wider work SASP does on this website.
Now, I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead a programme specifically dedicated to families within the armed forces community, bringing my personal experiences full circle and allowing me to give back in a meaningful way.
Hopes & Aspirations For The Project
To put it simply, I hope that these sessions support young people and the community as a whole, from families and other charities to local areas and the military itself. It has the potential to do so in such a vast variety of ways. I am excited to see where it leads. I hope that we can show the impact that the sessions are making so that we can expand to involve more young people within the Armed Forces communities.