Help for Heroes Community Sports Series returns to LJMU

LJMU was delighted to welcome back onto campus the military veterans’ charity Help for Heroes for a special weekend of events for female veterans, organised to coincide with International Women’s Day 2025.

Gemma Kemble-Stephenson, who served as a medic in the Royal Army Medical Corps for 18 years and who is a community sports co-ordinator with the charity, led on delivery of the first female-only event with the university’s facilities offered up for use by the Sport and Physical Activity Department in conjunction with the School of Sport And Exercise Sciences.

Gemma suffered a spinal injury in 2018 and found taking part in adaptive sports with Help for Heroes was a big part of her recovery as she overcame a difficult transition to civilian life. She is now the current World's Strongest Disabled Woman and a para powerlifter and indoor rower.

Under its Armed Forces Covenant pledge, the university has been working closely with the charity to support its inclusive Community Sports Series, having previously hosted an event in July 2024. The Help for Heroes Community Sports Series provides veterans and their families with the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of sports regularly across the UK.

The event in March saw a group of women taking part in a number of adaptive sports taster sessions including netball, yoga, powerlifting, boccia and rowing, all taking place in LJMU’s state-of-the-art facilities.

We were incredibly proud to play host to this first-of-its-kind event on Merseyside and are very much looking forward to further collaboration with Help for Heroes.

Dr Gus Ryrie, LJMU’s Armed Forces Champion

Gus added: “Working together not only supports us in our mission to promote the Armed Forces Covenant, but also the university’s commitment to supporting and enhancing the provision of inclusive and empowering sport and physical activity opportunities for all.”

LJMU’s support for the Armed Forces community

LJMU signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2021. Since then, it has appointed its first Armed Forces Champion and formed a cross-university Armed Forces Steering Group, which brings together colleagues across all factions of the university to drive forwards everything from research to HR policy development, all with the aim of better supporting students and staff from the Armed Forces community and creating positive change for the community across the UK.

In August 2024, LJMU was awarded gold status under the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in acknowledgement of the work being undertaken in support of the Armed Forces Covenant.

Find out more about LJMU’s pledge to the Armed Forces community.