Military veteran starts female support group

A former Royal Military Police officer has said the response to her plan for a female veteran support group has been amazing.

Zoë Robson from Cheshire served in the Army for 12 years, before leaving a decade ago to start a family.

The 40-year-old, who now works as a clinical rehabilitation specialist in Nantwich, wanted to create a "safe space" where female veterans can talk about their lives, experiences and issues.

Twenty women have already joined the group, which will meet regularly in the town.

"We've got all different ages and experiences, Army, Navy and RAF, what an amazing group of people I've managed to find locally," said Ms Robson.

She said many existing veteran support groups were male-dominated, and not the right space for her.

"I'm a mum, I'm a wife, and I just needed something that was a bit more feminine, a safe space to talk about women's issues, and other things that come with being a veteran and a woman."

Ms Robson said she had felt shame when she came out of the military as she left to have a child, and for many years did not feel she could wear her veteran's medals, and other women felt the same.

"Because they haven't left because it's the end of their service, they've left to become a mum," she explained.

The veteran said it was a "real challenge" leaving a "high-intensity environment" to become a parent as "you are two different people really."

The support group began with posts on social media, and Ms Robson wants it to grow to become more than just meeting up for a drink and a chat.

"It would be lovely to go and see people in care homes who may have served," she said, as well as getting the group involved in local community events.

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