Question 1

What is 5 and 20, Buddy Buddy?

Accepted Answer

5 and 20 is a UK mental health resilience and peer-support platform for veterans, serving personnel, emergency services and their families. It is the members' companion to Steve Gaskell's books Last Parade and 5 and 20: Buddy Buddy, turning the books' exercises into weekly self-checks, buddy check-ins and a 41-exercise workbook you work through online.

Question 2

Who is 5 and 20 for?

Accepted Answer

It is built for the UK military and emergency services community: veterans leaving service, serving personnel, reservists, and frontline responders such as police, fire, ambulance and search and rescue, plus their families and supporters.

Question 3

How does the weekly self-check work?

Accepted Answer

Each week you rate yourself across physical, mental and relational wellbeing on a simple 1 to 5 scale, then answer three honest questions: How are you really? What are you avoiding? What is your next action step? The check is private to you and helps you spot early warning signs before they become a crisis.

Question 4

What is a buddy check-in?

Accepted Answer

A buddy check-in is a structured way to reach out to a mate you have committed to look after. You record whether you made contact, how they are doing (solid, wobbly, struggling or worried), any concerns, and whether a follow-up is needed. It keeps you accountable so no one slips through the cracks.

Question 5

Is 5 and 20 a crisis service?

Accepted Answer

No. 5 and 20 is a peer-support and self-development platform, not a substitute for professional or clinical care. If you are in crisis right now, call Samaritans free on 116 123 or the emergency services on 999. For military-specific help in the UK, Op COURAGE is the NHS veterans' mental health service.

Question 6

Do I need to buy the book to use the platform?

Accepted Answer

The platform is built around Steve Gaskell's Last Parade and 5 and 20: Buddy Buddy. If you have bought the book, the members' area is where you put the exercises into practice. You can create a free account to access the self-checks, buddy tools and 41-exercise workbook.

Question 7

Is my information private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your self-checks, buddy checks and workbook entries are private to your account. Buddy Circle group chats are only visible to the members of that group. We process data under UK GDPR and never sell it.

Question 8

How do I join a Buddy Circle?

Accepted Answer

Buddy Circles are small, private groups of up to five members. You join by invitation: a group creator or admin sends you an invite code, which you enter under Buddy Circle to join the group. There is no public list of groups, so your conversations stay private to the circle.