More than 200 jobs have been secured by veterans with mental and physical health conditions since the first UK lockdown, following employment support from The Poppy Factory.
The charity has been providing one-to-one support to ex-Forces men and women throughout the pandemic, with many moving into essential roles in logistics, healthcare and other sectors.
As the UK continues to face severe restrictions in the fight against Covid-19, veterans with health conditions across England and Wales are encouraged to register with The Poppy Factory for employment support.
Among those who found help is former combat medic and Royal Military Police veteran, Bob, who joined the Ambulance Service as an Urgent Care Assistant and has regularly been moving Covid-19 patients to hospital.
Bob said:
“I’d been unemployed for about four years when I first linked up with Kirsty, my Employability Consultant at The Poppy Factory. I’d pretty much given up – every door I was pushing against seemed to be locked on the other side.
“Kirsty helped me to find a door that was open, and I’m proud to have stepped through it and be able to contribute.”
The Poppy Factory helps veterans with health conditions on their journey into employment and continues supporting them whatever challenges they may face. Four out of five of the veterans it works with report a mental health condition. Whatever their situation, and whatever they are going through, its employment support team is on hand with one-to-one advice and guidance.
Deirdre Mills, Chief Executive of The Poppy Factory, said:
“With Covid-19 and the lockdown restrictions having such a huge impact on all our lives, I am proud that the veterans we support are rising to the challenge and making a real difference.
“I am equally proud of the hard work and commitment of our employment support team. They stand ready to help many more veterans make progress on their journey into employment in 2021, no matter what challenges they may face.”
Veterans with health conditions who would like to register for employment support can visit www.poppyfactory.org/employment or call 020 8939 1837.
