Team Bella is a powerful example of how volunteering together can amplify impact. Veteran Barry Coase and his therapy dog Bella along with Barry’s wife Petra and fellow Veteran Eddie “Uncle Eddie” Braillard began supporting other veterans through Combat Stress after Barry experienced first-hand how much Bella helped him during his own recovery journey. Their visits brought connection and reassurance to veterans in treatment, helping create moments of calm and trust.
When in-person support was limited during the pandemic, Barry, Eddie and Petra brought others together to form Team Bella, a group of volunteers united by a shared purpose. As a team, they began organising and taking part in fundraising and awareness activities within their communities, supporting Combat Stress through events such as March in March and local challenges.
Working as a team allowed volunteers to motivate and support one another, share responsibilities, and reach more people than they could alone. Together, Team Bella has raised thousands of pounds to support specialist, evidence-based mental health treatment for veterans across the UK, while building strong friendships and a sense of belonging among team members.
In recognition of their collective impact, Barry and Bella were awarded a British Citizen Award for Services to Volunteering and Charitable Giving.
Their story shows that volunteering doesn’t have to be done alone by coming together as a team, volunteers can make a bigger difference, support each other, and be part of something truly meaningful.
