04/02/2025
Veterans launch coffee company to support those facing PTSD
Gasway heating engineers, Scott Bunfield, left and Darren Woods, who have launched Beat the Demon.
Two British Army veterans have launched a coffee company and online community to help people face their demons. Darren Woods and Scott Bunfield have set up Beat the Demon, a business with a mission far beyond selling coffee.
Darren said: “We want to create a safe space for veterans and others suffering from PTSD. We’ve both witnessed a lot of serving soldiers and veterans suffer in silence, and unfortunately some guys that we’ve known have taken their own lives. We want to encourage them to open up and start that healing process."
Both Scott, left and Darren, served in the Parachute Regiment before joining Gasway and launching Beat the Demon.
Darren is 41 and lives in Hadleigh in Suffolk, while Scott, 38, is based in Frinton-on-Sea and works across Essex and Suffolk. They are both heating engineers for Gasway, which is part of Flagship Group. Darren and Scott first met in the early 2000s while serving in the Parachute Regiment. Though not close then, their paths often crossed during training exercises and operational tours. Years later, after they realised they both worked for Gasway, they quickly formed a strong bond.
Scott continued to struggle with PTSD after being medically discharged from the Paras in 2018. He said he felt "bounced between therapists," while doctors tried different medications to manage his overwhelming anger and constant need for adrenaline.
Scott said: "I felt completely lost. The support just wasn’t there. PTSD doesn’t go away when you take the uniform off, but it felt like I was expected to just get on with it. It was Darren who really helped me. He listened, he understood, and that made all the difference."
Beat the Demon coffee
After brainstorming what they could do to help others, they realised coffee was the answer.
Darren said: "It’s part of so many people’s routines. It’s social, it’s comforting. It’s a reason to sit down with someone and talk. We thought, if we can use something as simple as a cup of coffee to start those conversations, then we’re making a difference."
Scott said: "This isn’t just for military guys. PTSD affects emergency service workers, NHS staff, family members and anyone who’s been through trauma. We want to reach as many people as possible, to let them know there’s help out there.”
Beat the Demon sells coffee and merchandise including hoodies and t-shirts, both online and at occasional markets, including in Bury St Edmunds. But the focus is on creating online communities on Facebook @beatthedemon, Instagram @beat_the_demon, and WhatsApp, where people struggling with PTSD can connect, support each other, and be reminded that they are not alone. You can also find out more about Beat the Demon at https://www.beatthedemon.co.uk/.
Darren said: “Our long-term goal is to support therapy, group activities, and adventure-based recovery programmes for those that need them most. We know we’re not going to change the world overnight. But if just one person reaches out for help because of what we’re doing, then it’s worth it."
Flagship Group became a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant in 2024, pledging to support Armed Forces veterans and their families. Gasway is also a presenting partner of the annual Cumbrian Challenge, a Lake District trek that raises money for Armed Forces charity Walking With The Wounded.