The Poppy Factory, the UK’s leading employment charity for veterans with disabilities, has been awarded a grant of £120,000. This grant will help wounded, injured and sick veterans in the South West to find meaningful and sustainable careers.
Specialist employment advice
The Poppy factory’s Employability Consultants work closely with veterans to support them into a role that suits their strengths and ambitions.Over the next two years, this grant will help at least 40 wounded, injured or sick veterans to find employment.
Since 2010, the charity has supported almost 1,000 veterans into work across the UK. The charity also employs around 30 veterans and dependents with disabilities in its factory, making the Remembrance products for The Royal British Legion and the Royal Family, since 1922.
Somerset Freemasons met with a former soldier supported by The Poppy Factory
Tony Daniels, 57, who served in the Gloucestershire Regiment for five years, sought help from The Poppy Factory following a heart transplant in 2016. After being unemployed for 12 years he is now enjoying a new career at regional property management firm Spectrum Property Care.
Tony, who lives in Bristol and works across Somerset, spoke about the support he has received when he met representatives from the charity and Somerset Freemasons at his firm’s depot in Commerce Park, Frome.
I knew I wanted to work again after my heart transplant, and four days after my operation I was surfing social media when I found The Poppy Factory. My employability consultant helped me with my confidence, skills, job searching and most importantly, my CV. and now I’m back at work. I may have lost 12 years of my life, but now I’m mended and taking each day at a time; I feel on top of the world. I want to thank Somerset Freemasons for this donation, which will help lots more veterans like me get vital support from The Poppy Factory.
The Poppy Factory’s Chief Executive Deirdre Mills said: “We are delighted to receive this much-needed funding from Somerset Freemasons. This will enable our dedicated staff at The Poppy Factory to help restore the financial independence of even more veterans with disabilities through sustainable and rewarding employment.”
David Maddern from Somerset Freemasons said: “We’re very pleased to be able to help The Poppy Factory who do outstanding work helping veterans with disabilities get back in to work. Our service people have given a tremendous amount and it’s only right that we give them something in return.”
The post Former soldier welcomes Poppy Factory donation appeared first on Masonic Charitable Foundation.