Secret Postcard Auction 2025
Secret Postcard Auction 2025
We're excited to announce the Combat Stress Secret Postcard Auction, Edition 5. We are proud to have some of the UK's leading artists taking part to auction their artwork in support of veterans' mental health. An exciting new fundraising initiative, funds raised through the Auction will help more former servicemen and women affected by mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. The work we do is life-changing and often life-saving. No one else does what we do.
Register for early bird access
If you register your details, we can keep you up to date with all the latest information regarding the Secret Postcard Auction 2025. New artists will be revealed as they sign-up and you will have the chance to be entered in to a free prize draw to receive two free tickets to our live event at the Bankside gallery.
Why an art auction?
Art therapy at Combat Stress
At Combat Stress, we have veterans explore art therapy during treatment to help them express their emotions and find a way to explore their mental health issues.
Senior Art Therapist at Combat Stress, Jan Lobhan, says: “Taking time to pick up a paintbrush or pencil and let an image emerge and develop can be an investment in mental health. Artmaking can not only be a pleasurable way to distract our thoughts from everyday concerns and pressures, it is also a means of self-expression and a channel for self-discovery.
"For those who find it hard to talk about feelings, art therapy offers an alternative way to express and make sense of experiences and communicate them to others. We offer a creative journey.
"Have you noticed how often we use metaphors, figures of speech, analogies… she got cold feet… life is like a rollercoaster ride… all the world is a stage…
"That is the land of art therapy – symbolic representation. It offers a different angle for approaching mental health issues, looking from a safe distance, which can feel more manageable."
Army veteran Joe, (whose artwork is pictured) says,
“Art therapy sessions made me realise if I can express one iota of an emotion onto paper, then I can get it out of my head."
Our Support for veterans
Please help us to continue providing life-changing treatment to veterans by supporting our Secret Postcard Auction.
£222 funds three virtual art therapy sessions for a veteran to help them make sense of their trauma
£675 funds 25 calls to our 24-hour Helpline, helping veterans to start their journey to recovery
£125 pays for a veteran to have an appointment with a psychologist to help them process their trauma
Are you an artist?
How you can get involved.
If you’re interested in supporting veterans with complex mental health issues by generously donating up to three pieces of artwork, please complete the registration details below so we can get in touch and send out our Secret Postcard Auction pack to you.
The pack includes the postcard templates as well as instructions on returning your donated piece(s) of postcard-sized art. Postcards can be created in any medium, as long as they fit within the postcard guidelines outlined in our Terms and Conditions.
Our Secret Postcard Auction goes live and an exclusive private viewing of all artwork at a date to be confirmed. All postcard art submitted will be entered into the auction anonymously, giving bidders the chance to secure a unique piece of art.
Artwork from veterans who have used art therapy and other creative sessions at Combat Stress will also be included in the auction.