Back to Home Page                ABOUT BEWSA

BEWSA was formed in September 1987 after a small group of disabled ex-service men and women were invited to fly to the United States of America to participate in the “Paralysed Veterans of America (PVA) National Veterans Wheelchair Games”.

After seeing first hand how the Americans used participation in sport as a source of rehabilitation for those who have been injured in the service of their country, and seeing that the UK did not have an organisation to meet these needs, BEWSA was born.

  BEWSA was registered in 1997 as a National Armed Forces Charity (No. 1071226).  This opened up new channels for funding from such organisations as the Lottery fund, Foundation for Sport and the Arts, and many other grant making bodies, ex-service agencies and charities.  The object of the charity is to promote welfare and rehabilitation of disabled ex-service men and women through participation in sport, sports medicine and any other means deemed legal under charity law.

  Since the first invitation to the PVA Games, BEWSA has had an open invitation to send 12 of its wheelchair athletes to compete for Great Britain against the American and Puerto Rican disabled ex-service athletes.  BEWSA is the only ex-service association outside of the USA to be allowed to take part in these games.

  As well as helping those who have been injured with their rehabilitation through sport and sports medicine, BEWSA also encourages its athletes to compete to the highest standards of competition.  We have many within our ranks that have competed in summer and winter paralympic games with many medals to their credit.

  Due to our special relationship with the RAF and Army, we arrange monthly training weekends at RAF Cosford (Shropshire) and Azimghur Barracks (Wiltshire) for those who wish to train for their events. The bases offer a wide range of facilities that enable the athletes to train for a number of events including: track & field, archery, basketball, power lifting, shooting, tennis and weight training.

  January 2000 saw the beginning of a new venture for BEWSA and its members; Millennium Dive (BEWSA) came into being with the aim of teaching disabled ex-service men and women the art of scuba diving.  This has turned out qualified disabled divers who can now go on to become qualified dive instructors and pass on their newfound knowledge to others.  This venture has been supported by a grant from the Millennium Festival Awards and service and civilian diving instructors.  BEWSA is also a BSAC member (BSAC 2000) in which each dive student is enrolled.  We believe that this is a first for disabled people and we are happy that BEWSA is leading the way.

In support of the welfare of our members, BEWSA has its own Welfare Officer who, working with The Royal British Legion (RBL) and service charities / associations, can offer advice on the full range of welfare and disability matters and if necessary make representation to RBL or service agencies on a member’s behalf.  This advice and support is on offer five days a week.  

A welfare clinic is also held once a month during the training weekends.

Over the years, a very good relationship has been built up both with RAF Cosford and Azimghur Barracks to the extent that RAF and Army personnel have become members.  A retired Air Chief Marshal and former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff is our president, a former RAF Cosford base commander, now an Air Commodore, is a vice-patron.

BEWSA, supported by the RBL, has, over the years, organised and hosted world and international ex-service wheelchair games within the country: Challenge 93 at Stoke Mandeville in 1993 and The Wilkinson Sword of Peace Games at Gateshead in 1995.

The participation in sport and sports medicine plays a very serious role in the rehabilitation and re-integration of disabled ex-service men and women who have been injured in or outside of service life.  Sport has always played a major part in service life and BEWSA encourages its young and not so young to overcome their own physical and mental disabilities to become as active as they possibly can and to live life to the full.  Being disabled does not mean that people are not able to enjoy and compete at any level of sport.

As you will see from our Meetings and Sports pages, we cover an extensive range of sporting activities.

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