Hull 4 Heroes talking groups expand reach

TALKING groups set up to support the mental wellbeing of serving military, veterans and their families are going to be popping up in some new places.

- By DEBORAH HALL

The GEO/LISA peer support network is growing out from the Barton upon Humber and Hull areas where it began.

GEO comes from George "Geo" Ellis, a former soldier from Barton upon Humber who sadly took his own life at the age of 24 in 2021. The letters also stand for Get Emotions Out.

Geo's father, Adrian Ellis, formed GEO Support in memory of his son. It was created with the aim of providing a safe space for military men to talk about their experiences and support one another.

Similarly, LISA comes from Sgt Lisa Bateman, of Driffield. She was a serving medic who also took her own life, at the age of 34, in 2020.

Her mother, Carole Scholes, has worked with Hull 4 Heroes to set up Lisa’s Ladies, encouraging serving and former military women to open up and talk.