We are delighted to award The Poppy Factory a £60,000 grant to help veterans find new careers.
Army veterans like Holly, a former mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers who now runs her own market café, are set to benefit from new funding for employability support.
We worked with The Poppy Factory to help Holly set up the Hangry Lemons Café in Carlisle last year. Following a temporary closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, the café is now back up and running.
Now, with further funding, more people like Holly can begin new careers through The Poppy Factory’s employability service. It supports wounded, injured or sick veterans on their journey into employment and continues supporting them they face life’s challenges.
The employability service is veteran-centred and helps people of all ages, including many over 50. The men and women it helps move into a diverse range of jobs across dozens of different sectors, from logistics and construction to the charity sector and healthcare.
Deirdre Mills, Chief Executive of The Poppy Factory, said: “Holly’s story is inspiring and serves as an example of how, with the right support, our wounded, injured and sick veterans can achieve real success in a civilian environment.
“This new grant from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity will help The Poppy Factory support veterans with health challenges into meaningful and sustained employment at what is a very difficult and uncertain time.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, added: “We have worked with The Poppy Factory for a number of years and are proud to continue working together to open up new career avenues for veterans. By helping to provide training and the tools to secure a new job, many members of the Army family can better support themselves and their families during these challenging times.”
To find out more about The Poppy factory and its employability service, visit poppyfactory.org/employment