The Flat Cap Coffee Roasting Company was established in 2018 by husband-and-wife duo, Mark and Alex. Prior to their new business, veteran Mark left the Army due to complex PTSD and physical injuries in 2017 after 23 years’ service and Alex gave up her job working with primary aged children to help Mark with his recovery.

‘’Neither of us have extended families so during the time of Mark’s discharge, it was lonely and frightening. Help for Heroes provided us with somewhere to go and became the ‘family’ that we didn’t have. When we needed someone to chat to or have a coffee with, there was always someone there. If we needed someone to talk to, there was always someone to listen and to offer advice. The organised events that Help for Heroes run such as coffee mornings and family days out gave us the opportunity to meet other people in similar situations making us realise that we weren’t the only people going through what we were facing and that we could overcome our barriers and build up our lives again. Without Help for Heroes, I don’t think we’d be where we are today’’.  

In addition to emotional support, the couple received practical support in the form of business courses and a business mentor and as avid lovers of coffee, Mark and Alex began establishing their own coffee roasting blends at home. 2019 brought this passion to life when they opened their very own Roastery near Salisbury Plain. The Flat Cap Coffee brand was born.

‘’When Mark left the military, he was so used to wearing his beret that he felt very exposed without it. He received a flat cap as a gift and began to wear it as a replacement for his beret. He built up quite an extensive collection of flat caps and is very rarely seen without one! When we were thinking of names for the business, it seemed to be an obvious choice and suited us perfectly’’. 

The Flat Cap Coffee Company specialises in high quality coffee beans from around the globe, offering superior taste; all roasted by hand and shipped far and wide.

The hope for Mark, Alex and their coffee brand is to, ‘’inspire and to help others who may be struggling, to raise awareness of the many issues faced and give back to the charity in any way that we can’’.

Mark and Alex’s message to anyone thinking of supporting Help for Heroes is, ‘’Help for Heroes needs your support now more than ever before. The number of Veterans that need help and support is growing, and the work that Help for Heroes do is completely life changing’’.  

To anyone who might be thinking of coming forward for support from Help for Heroes, they offer this advice, ‘The first step is the hardest but once you have made it, you are already on your journey to recovery. Approach Help for Heroes and they will give you non-judgemental help and support in which ever areas you need it. It really will change your life for the better’.