Ashliegh Young

Application Support Specialist Ashliegh Young is now HUC’s AFC champion but prior to joining the organisation he served in the army for 16 years, during which time he undertook tours of Afghanistan and Iraq.

“It’s especially difficult to be apart from your family at such an important time of year, although I was relatively fortunate in that there were only three Christmases when I didn’t manage to get back to the UK – I guess that’s not a bad batting average,” reflected Ashliegh.

“When you are away, you get bits & bobs coming through the post, which helps to keep spirits up. At the same time, you get a lot of days, and even weeks, without anything, which can be a bit tough. In those circumstances, you just come together and, hard as it is, the camaraderie helps you get through it – I will always remember our Commanding Officer coming around in a Santa suit!

“On the occasions I wasn’t able to get back, I took some annual leave a week or two before so we’d celebrate then, and I always got to enjoy the full Christmas experience albeit not necessarily at the same time as everyone else.”

Jess Bell

NHS 111 Support Administrator Jess Bell can empathise with Ashleigh’s experience; while not in the forces herself, Jess’s husband Ryan was a veteran of more than 20 years.

“The festive period can be a real challenge when your spouse is in the forces,” reflected mother-of-two Jess.

“Ryan worked as a Casualty Notification Officer, with responsibility for informing family members when someone died,” said Jess. “I remember one Christmas, Ryan was on call, meaning that if someone was to die, he would be required to rush away to break the news to their family.

“Fortunately, that didn’t prove necessary but, as you might imagine, it was always in the back of your mind that a call might come.”

With Ryan no longer serving, Jess, who has volunteered for work over each of the last four Christmases, is looking forward to spending the big day with her loved ones, buoyed by the knowledge that this year she need not fret about Ryan being called away at a moment’s notice.

Lead Resource Planner Mandy Smith’s experience is not dissimilar to Jess’s, albeit for Mandy it’s her son, Adam Hill, a private in the Royal Anglian regiment, rather than her partner who is in the forces.

“It’s the uncertainty of it all,” said Mandy. “As things stand, Adam will be at home with my partner David (Flood, HUC’s Assistant Service Manager for Cambridge and Peterborough) and me but he’s on 24-hour standby so that could change at any moment.

“We’ve had all his presents wrapped up and ready to go for some time, just in case he’s called away at the 11^th hour.”

Kelsey Haver

As things stand, Training and Development Manager Kelsey Haver is also looking forward to spending Christmas at home with her husband Ross, an officer in the British Army.

However, while Kelsey is keeping her fingers firmly crossed that Ross won’t be called away, she is all too aware it could yet happen.

“He’s going, he’s not going… unfortunately, that’s just how the army works,” said Kelsey, who recognises that without the support and understanding of her employer, things could have been even more challenging.

“One of the many good things about working for HUC – which has been recognised by the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award – is the flexibility they offer spouses in taking leave when their partners are being deployed,” said Kelsey.

“If, for example, Ross were to be called away next Wednesday, I could take some leave at short notice to help him get sorted, before driving him to the airport.”