Supporting Army veterans returning to civilian life

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is delighted to award a £20,000 grant to the charity FirstLight Trust, which supports military veterans returning to civilian life.

The charity is committed to ensuring that all Army veterans, including those with mental health conditions and physical injuries, can lead full and independent lives after their military service. FirstLight Trust runs advice and safe space hubs at cafes and other centres across the UK where veterans can walk in and obtain community-based support. The hubs are located in Gosport, Hereford, Lancaster, Scarborough and Hawick.

The charity’s support workers help veterans with housing, benefits, pensions, debt, medical appointments and recovery from substance addiction. Our donation will go towards the annual support costs for the Gosport hub.

Dorinda Wolfe Murray, CEO, FirstLight Trust, said:

“The support work that FirstLight Trust carries out from Gosport is outstanding and, with the current economic climate, there has been a massive uptick in requests for support, particularly around homelessness and all the problems that contribute to it. We are incredibly grateful to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for its support for our life saving work.”

Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, added:

“Our charity supports the important work being done across our local communities to help veterans returning to civilian life who need expert advice and welfare support. We are proud to make this donation to FirstLight Trust’s work and fund the resource needed for its Gosport hub.”

Read more about FirstLight Trust on its website: https://www.firstlighttrust.co.uk/